On Thursday night, Ervin Gonzalez, a premier civil trial attorney who has led some of the most significant personal-injury and class-action cases in Florida, was found dead inside his Coral Gables home. Gonzalez, 57, a partner with the prominent Coral Gables law firm Colson Hicks Eidson and a former president of the Dade County Bar Association, was kind, charismatic, and brilliant. It is alleged that he suffered from depression.
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His death, which was ruled suicide, has sent a shockwave through the legal community.
His firm remembered him as a caring and masterful trial attorney, and said, in a statement:
“‘He will be remembered for his intellect, skill and ability to befriend and defend the rights of people from all walks of life with a zest and dedication that was unrivaled,’ partner Dean Colson said.
‘Ervin’s passing reminds all of us that mental illness can strike anyone regardless of how accomplished or content they might appear,’ Colson’s statement said. ‘Like the Ervin we all knew and loved, he valiantly fought this personal challenge with unmatched effort. He simply was unable to win his hardest and final trial.’” 1
Miami attorney Dennis Kainen, who described his colleague as a phenomenal lawyer said, “But there are a lot of phenomenal lawyers in this town. Ervin was also a really good human being. He was willing to help anyone. He was the most controlled and disciplined person I knew. He was the epitome of integrity.” 2
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U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno said, “He was a friend of judges and lawyers, but also most importantly of this community. He was a credit to his Cuban heritage. He rose up from almost nothing.” 3
Miami lawyer Ben Kuehne, who called Gonzalez “the quintessential fighter for justice,” said, “His advocacy made the community a better place.”4
Gonzalez was not only respected and remembered fondly by his peers, he was also well known for his incredible career:
- In 2005 Gonzalez won a $65.1 million verdict for the family of a 12-year-old boy who was electrocuted at a Miami bus shelter during a storm.
- He was one of two Florida lawyers appointed to serve on the national committee overseeing plaintiffs’ claims stemming from the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
- He represented hundreds of homeowners who were victims of high-sulfur Chinese drywall in the construction of new homes, and he won the first jury verdict in the country. He assisted in securing a $1 billion settlement with a Chinese manufacturer of the drywall and in negotiating other large settlements.
- Gonzalez also survived a scandal involving a former high-profile plaintiff’s attorney named Robles. Evidence showed Gonzalez was unaware that Robles was operating a Ponzi-type scheme, by diverting settlement payments owed to clients to finance his lavish lifestyle in a Key Biscayne waterfront mansion, and thankfully the scandal “enhanced Gonzalez’s reputation as a trusted, go-to trial attorney, leading to his successful run with Colson Hicks Eidson, the powerhouse boutique law firm.” 5
Our heart goes out to his wife, Janice, to all his friends, and to the community he leaves behind.
