Mr. Shapiro is a civil trial lawyer, Board certified by the Florida Bar. He is a graduate of the University of Florida, College of Journalism in 1981. He graduated from Florida State University College of Law with honors in 1985, and was admitted to The Florida Bar that same year. While attending Florida State College of Law, Mr. Shapiro served on the Florida State Law Review, and published articles on The Safety Belt Law as well as Libel and Defamation. Mr. Shapiro also was chosen to represent Florida State College of Law in the National Moot Court and National Mock Trial competitions.

Mr. Shapiro has successfully litigated civil rights cases to the United States Supreme Court involving "access to courts" and rights under the "Rehabilitation Act." Mr. Shapiro is admitted to practice in all of the Florida State Courts, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the United States Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit.

He is a member of The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, an Eagle Member of The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, a member of The American Bar Association and The Sarasota Bar Association. Mr. Shapiro is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocate Forum. He has served as a guest lecturer for several civic organizations in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and nursing home negligence. He has also authored numerous articles in The Sarasota Herald Tribune, The Bradenton Herald, The Englewood Sun Herald and The Suncoast Health Magazine. Mr. Shapiro annually attends specialized programs on the handling of personal injury cases and trial practice.

Back to Top

Mr. Goldman was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1987, and has been practicing exclusively in the area of personal injury and wrongful death. He is a graduate of Hamilton College (1983), and the Tulane University School of Law in 1987. Upon direct appointment of the Governor of Florida, he has served on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit for Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto Counties.

Mr. Goldman was the managing partner of a busy and successful personal injury law practice with offices in Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice before joining the firm. He has been the managing attorney for various law offices in Sarasota and Manatee counties since 1989. He is a member of The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, is an Eagle Member of The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and was given the prestigious Legislative Leadership Award by the organization.

A board member of many civic organizations, he has a long-standing commitment to the community. Mr. Goldman currently works with the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce and the Sarasota African-American Chamber of Commerce. He is the Finance Committee Chairman of his local synagogue, and also serves on its Board of Directors and Endowment Fund.

Mr. Goldman has also served as spokesperson of Floridians For Fair Elections, which helped enact a state constitutional amendment to reform election laws in Florida. He was formerly active in independent politics, was State Chairman of the Reform Party of Florida and was General Counsel for the Reform Party of the United States of America.

Mr. Goldman has been a regular guest columnist for the Bradenton Herald, and was co-publisher of the Sarasota County Watchdog, a consumer newsletter that promoted accountability in government. Mr. Goldman has also written numerous guest columns for newspapers and magazines across Florida, including the Miami Herald, Tampa Tribune, St. Petersburg Times, Orlando Sentinel and Sarasota Herald Tribune.

Back to Top

Michael J. Babboni graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1984 with a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science. In 1987, he graduated from Stetson University College of Law with a Juris Doctor degree. Since October of 1987, Michael J. Babboni has practiced civil and criminal litigation in St. Petersburg, Florida, and has been lead counsel in jury trials from Pasco county to Sarasota county on the west coast of Florida, and from Sanford South to Sebring in Central Florida. Mr. Babboni has also litigated extensively before the Second District of Appeals winning reversals on several important appellate decisions.

Michael J. Babboni also successively argued before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, in the case of Louis Elam vs. Railroad Retirement Board. This case established new guidelines for how the Federal Government determines a permanent disability for a federal employee. Mr. Babboni was selected by the St. Petersburg City Counsel as a charter member of the city's Nuisance Abatement Board, which has served as a model for other large municipalities throughout the state of Florida. Mr. Babboni served on the City of St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Committee that helped attract a major league baseball team to the city. In 1997, Mr. Babboni was certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Circuit Court Mediator.

Back to Top

Rochelle T. Curley graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1987 with a Bachelor of the Arts in Accounting. Ms. Curley was an accountant and a city auditor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before entering law school. In 1993, Ms. Curley graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law with a Juris Doctor degree. In October of 1993, Ms. Curley practiced as an Assistant State Attorney for the Twelfth Judicial circuit in Sarasota, Florida. Ms. Curley has over seven years experience prosecuting misdemeanor and felony cases. Ms. Curley has tried numerous criminal cases in county and circuit court. Before joining the firm of Shapiro, Goldman & Babboni, Ms. Curley practiced civil litigation as a staff counsel for an insurance company for three years.

Rochelle Curley is a member of the Florida Bar, the Sarasota County Bar Association and the Academy of Florida Trial lawyers. She practices exclusively in the area of personal injury, with a focus on auto accidents, premises liability and insurance coverages disputes.

Back to Top

Bernard F. Walsh graduated from the University of South Florida before achieving his law degree from Cumberland School of Law in 1978. During law school, he was picked to be a student clerk intern for a Federal Judge and U.S. Attorney's Office. The National Book Awards for Constitutional Law and Professional Responsibility were earned and awarded to him during law school.

Bernie devoted the next three years doing trial work for the State of Florida. This provided him with the opportunity to concentrate on his trial abilities with numerous high-profile trials concerning serious felony crimes. Since 1982, his practice has been devoted to personal injury law and helping accident victims.

Committed to community service; Bernie is an active member of the Sheriff's Advisory Board, Florida Highway Patrol Advisory Council and the Hundred Club for Law Enforcement. His volunteer efforts to help all levels of law enforcement have benefited both the citizens and law enforcement personnel.

As a guest lecturer on law; he has been asked to make presentations for the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Stetson School of Law, American Inns of Court and Manatee Community College. These lectures include presentations on how to present evidence to both a jury and insurance companies. Lectures included Trial Advocacy and Medical Juris Prudence.

Professionally, Bernie is a member of The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Amercian Trial Lawyers Association, Sarasota Bar Association, Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association and The Million Dollar Advocate Forum. The Million Dollar Advocate Forum is given to attorneys who have achieved career case successes, that include million dollar recoveries, settlements and/or verdicts.

Bernie was the founder of a thirteen office law firm that had offices from Orlando to Tampa, New Port Richey and south to Naples. His experience and expertise are a great asset to helping our firm's clients.

Back to Top