McDonald Toole & Wiggins PA

FIRM OVERVIEW:

McDonald Toole Richman & Wiggins, P.A. (MTRC) is based in Orlando, Florida but its presence in the legal world of trial practice extends nationwide. A boutique of 25 lawyers, MTRC was formed in 2010 with one singular focus when it comes to trials - exceed the expectations of its clients in all manner of the preparation and performance of defending their interests through a verdict. It does so with the latest technological advancements in evidence presentation and convincing arguments but with a business model attractive to both mom and pop type operations as well as Fortune 500 corporations. With a success rate far advancing its size, MTRC tries cases from coast to coast, in large venues and small, against the best and brightest advocates around.

The firm is made up of 5 shareholders, 4 partners, and 16 associates and of counsel. It is committed to not only providing outstanding service, but a team of practitioners who care about their clients, their craft and their profession.

MAIN AREAS OF PRACTICE:

The areas of trial expertise of MTRC can be categorized as follows: automotive product liability, materials handling equipment, toxic tort litigation, amusement park litigation, and wrongful death and serious personal injury matters. These practices involve both early warning situations where the firm is engaged to investigate an incident within hours of its occurrence, all the way to taking over cases that have been in litigation for several years shortly before a trial setting. The firm's automotive clients include industry leaders with familiar names and brands that are sold worldwide. The litigation consists of both tort based personal injury matters to commercial disputes with dealerships and competitors. The firm has confronted every type of design and manufacturing claim imaginable in a motor vehicle. The same is true when it comes to defending the manufacturers of material handling equipment. The claims and defenses are extremely specialized and MTRC lawyers have a combined experience of over 50 years in this particular industry.

In 2013, MTRC embarked on the defense of energy companies in class-wide toxic tort litigation, and has been a part of an extremely successful collaboration of other defense firms in reducing cases that begin in the thousands to a current number below 50. This effort has been accomplished without the need to try a single case, all because of the extensive use of rule 702 in getting cases dismissed due to the lack of acceptable expert witness testimony. MTRC prides itself on the use of dispositive motions in reducing cases that would otherwise be tried.

Central Florida is the home to some of the most popular amusement parks in the world. MTRC has represented the largest of those parks in all kinds of personal injury litigation since it began in 2010. The parks have found MTRC's extensive bench and commitment to a diverse team of lawyers attractive for its business interests.

Finally, MTRC sets itself apart from typical defense firms that may understand litigation, but not the art of trial practice. It is not unusual for MTRC lawyers to be contacted weeks before a trial setting and asked to take over catastrophic cases that appear to be unwinnable to some. In many instances, MTRC has taken over first chair trial roles and been instrumental in obtaining successful results.