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Welcome to Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm

Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm’s attorneys are top litigators who have worked on both the plaintiff and the defense side. Many of our attorneys have received the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® rating, the highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. Click here to arrange a confidential consultation.

HALICZER PETTIS & SCHWAMM Our firm’s team of attorneys have vast experience handling complex civil cases, with a focus on medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death and catastrophic injuries. Our firm has been consistently ranked as one of the best medical malpractice and personal injury firms in both the Fort Lauderdale and Orlando regions. Our attorneys concentrate on delivering superior client service and achieving the best results.

Testimonials

What Our Clients are Saying...

  • “When my 22-year-old daughter unexpectedly died in a horrible car accident, I wanted answers and I wanted justice. Richard Schwamm and his firm gave me both. He quickly identified the mistakes made, he reached out to the at-fault party to try to seek an early resolution and then used his experience, advocacy and communication skills to aggressively represent us. He resolved our complicated case within just 6 months. My family and I are grateful for his counsel, empathy, and steadfast approach to seeking justice for our daughter and our family. HPS was respectful and careful to honor our daughter’s life. Instead of overwhelming our family with legal complications, they took a straightforward but aggressive path to hold those responsible for her death.”

    - J.M.H. Melbourne, FL
  • “We had to admit my 14 year old son to an extended care facility because of serious impairments which he was born with. We looked long and hard for just the right place. Unfortunately, as a result of the facility’s negligence, as well as the negligence of the physician that they assigned to my son, he died just three days after admission. We were devastated. James Haliczer and his team understood our pain, took our case and obtained for us a very substantial settlement. We thought that he and his team were consummate professionals and we couldn’t be more pleased with the result.”

    - M.H. Boca Raton, FL
  • “My wife received a life-altering injury due to another’s negligence. An insurance professional we know recommended Trisha Widowfield and said that she was the best person in town to consult with to explore our options.We met with Trisha, initially to pursue what we thought was our best option. However, through the expert legal counsel and competence of Trisha and the firm, they came up with a winning strategy that we all agreed upon. We were kept informed at each step in the process and the result was a settlement that was fair and exceeded our expectations, without the need to file a lawsuit with the expense and delays inherent in a lawsuit. We recommend Trisha, Jim Haliczer, and the entire HPS team, unconditionally and without reservation, should you find yourself in need of legal counsel.”

    - S.C. FL
  • “After my wife died tragically, following routine plastic surgery, Richard Schwamm and his team worked exhaustively to hold the doctors and others accountable. He worked tirelessly on our case, even though he lived in a different part of the state and travelled often to get the necessary work done to seek justice. Richard was very caring and supportive of my two young boys who were deposed and had to testify. He diligently prepared the boys, and also my friends, for their depositions and testimony, significantly reducing their anxiety. He went to trial, where we spent long hours together, sharing strategies, stories and tears. In the end, we received justice in the courtroom. I am forever grateful to Richard for his time and efforts. I recommend his firm, without reservation.”

    - L.C. Pensacola Beach, FL
  • “After a routine surgery, my life changed forever when the doctor failed to properly treat a simple post-operative infection that turned into a nightmare. I almost died, but thankfully I didn’t. I was left with horrible scarring, multiple corrective surgeries, and the psychological trauma of disfigurement. Richard Schwamm handled my case with both gentle hand for me and a firm fist against the other side of our case. He kept me informed every step of the way. Ultimately, we received a just result and I’m thankful that Haliczer, Pettis & Schwamm was able to help me.”

    - B.L. Milton, FL
  • “I would like to thank Richard Schwamm and his team at HPS for helping me to get justice for the unexpected death of my husband, after a routine medical procedure. This loss was life-altering and left me alone, scared, and looking for answers. HPS got me the best results possible under very difficult circumstances. I am very satisfied with their legal work and advocacy, and thank them for a job, well done.”

    - C.L. Homosassa, FL
  • “I tragically lost my husband after months of being inadequately treated by the hospital that we placed our trust in. Eugene Pettis provided my daughters and me with the comfort and compassion that we needed. He told us, ‘not only am I your attorney, I am your friend.’ To him, it was not just about seeking justice, but also about showing genuine care and extending kindness to those when they need it the most. Thank you to Mr. Pettis and the entire HPS staff.”

    - A.M. Lauderhill, FL
  • “A friend of ours referred us to Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm after we experienced the heartbreaking loss of our 5 day old infant. Immediately upon meeting Eugene Pettis, he became an extension of our family. We never experienced any legal matters of any kind before this tragedy. Mr. Pettis was so patient and the staff was a dedicated team on a mission. They advocated for us and went above and beyond to make sure that we got what we deserved. We are so grateful for their service and would recommend Mr. Pettis and the firm to anyone facing tragic loss.”

    - DB & KB FL
  • “Before coming to Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm I was working with another litigation law firm, and let’s just say I wasn’t happy. Immediately upon meeting Eugene Pettis, I experienced professionalism at the highest level. He made me feel like he and this firm were sincerely concerned about my health, and gave me complete confidence that they would fight for my family and I to receive the best settlement possible. They communicated with me made sure I was able to fully understand every detail of my case along the way. They were true advocates, which resulted in a settlement more than I had hoped for. If ever needed, I would certainly call upon them again and I would definitely refer this firm to others.”

    - C.W. Pembroke Pines, FL
  • “I experienced permanent and severe nerve damage after an already life-altering surgery. The surgeon kept denying that he was at fault and there were literally no attorneys in my area that would take my case. I found Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm on Google and they were that aggressive team that helped me advocate for myself and search for answers. Eugene Pettis was very compassionate. He even traveled all the way to us and was able to get us a settlement that we were satisfied with. I would recommend their services to anyone who is in need of an attorney to represent them.”

    - J.D. Naples, FL
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    What Makes Us Different

    Longevity.

    When something goes wrong, you’ll want a law firm that has stood the test of time. Established in 1996 by co-founders James S. Haliczer and Eugene K. Pettis, as well as Richard B. Schwamm, who joined the firm’s Orlando office on its first day of operation, we are proud to be entering our third decade, serving the needs of clients in the state and federal courts throughout the State of Florida.

    Experienced Legal Representation.

    Our attorneys have more than 200 years of collective experience litigating complex civil cases. We know how to build a compelling case that gets the results our clients deserve.

    Extensive Medical Knowledge.

    The attorneys at our firm have investigated and litigated more than one thousand medical malpractice cases. This collective experience not only gives our clients a competitive edge in the medical malpractice arena, this also allows us to fully evaluate injuries and damages in all types of personal injury and catastrophic injury cases.

    Client-Focused.

    When you work with our firm, you can take comfort in knowing that we focus 100% of our efforts on our clients. Our attorneys will answer your questions and keep you informed throughout the entire course of your case.

    Respected and Trusted by Peers.

    Attorneys throughout Florida know that when they have a medical malpractice or personal injury case that is beyond their expertise or resources, they can work with us as co-counsel or refer the case to our firm. All our senior partners have earned the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® rating for their high ethical standards and professional skills. Our attorneys are also recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers, and we are ranked as a top firm by Best Lawyers’ Best Law Firms.

    Achieving Justice

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    Broward Bar Buzz #short with Ken Miller: Free Kill Law-Who Can Recover?

    Broward Bar Buzz #short with Ken Miller: Free Kill Law – Understanding Both Sides

    Broward Bar Buzz #short with Debbie Klauber: Artificial Intelligence vs. The Counselor at Law

    Broward Bar Buzz #short with Debbie Klauber: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence with the Human Touch

    Broward Bar Buzz Podcast with Ken Miller: Sovereign Immunity: Obstacles in Medical Malpractice

    Broward Bar Buzz Podcast with Ken Miller: “Florida Free Kill Law”: The Doctor’s Hall Pass For Medical Negligence

    Trial Lawyer Eric Rosen Interview with Attorney Richard Schwamm: Medical Malpractice

    Broward Bar Buzz Podcast with Debbie Klauber: Artificial Intelligence- Misinformation and More in the Legal World

    Broward Bar Buzz #short with Debbie Klauber: Injured? Don’t wait too long to talk to an attorney!

    Broward Bar Buzz #short with Debbie Klauber: Injured by Negligence? Tort Reform can hurt you!

    Broward Bar Buzz Podcast with Debbie Klauber: How Tort Reform Impacts You

    HPS25 EPISODE 01: The Beginning

    HPS25 EPISODE 02: We Built It; They Came

    HPS25 EPISODE 03: Re-plotting the Coordinates

    HPS25 EPISODE 04: 25 Years Fighting for Justice

    COMMON TYPES OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: Failure to Diagnose

    COMMON TYPES OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: Hospital Mistakes

    Our Core Principles

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    Aggressive Advocacy.

    We are smart, tough trial lawyers who will fight aggressively for your rights through trial, and even through the appellate process. Our opponents know that we are a powerful team that has what it takes to prepare and win a case, no matter how challenging or complex.

    Intentionally Smaller Caseload.

    At Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, we measure success by the individual outcome, not the numbers. We are laser-focused in our approach, purposefully limiting our caseload to ensure that every client receives personalized support and exceptional legal representation at every step.

    Compassionate Counsel.

    While we pride ourselves on being aggressive advocates, we are “counselors at heart.” Our lawyers take the time to listen and provide one-on-one guidance and support at every step of the legal process.

    Committed to Diversity.

    Our diversity of gender, race and ethnicity is a strength that we are proud of. We are truly a reflection of the people we counsel and represent.

    Proven Results.

    Our clients come to us because they are looking for results. Our lawyers have a proven track record of success, recovering more than $100 million in the last four years for our clients.

    Meet Our Senior Partners

    Thumbnail of James S. Haliczer

    James S. Haliczer

    Co-Founder and Managing Partner

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    Thumbnail of Eugene K. Pettis

    Eugene K. Pettis

    Co-Founder and Senior Partner

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    Thumbnail of Richard B. Schwamm

    Richard B. Schwamm

    Partner and Shareholder

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    Community Engagement

    Making a difference means more than just being successful in the courtroom. HPS actively supports local civic and charitable groups as well as professional organizations. Members of the team lead various initiatives that help give back and strengthen surrounding communities.