Key West Injury Lawyer Blog

Published on: June 24, 2026

Here’s Why Forecasters are Warning Floridians to Stay Indoors. What to Know.

A major heat risk is in effect for South Florida Monday, forcing forecasters to warn against outdoor activities; here’s what the rest of the week looks like, according to data from the National Weather Service.

A map of South Florida swathed in hues of orange, yellow, and red, is displayed on the NWS website this week. The colors stand for risky temperatures that range from minor to major. For

Forecasters are urging people to hydrate, use their air conditioning systems, and to stay in cool places. The heat is expected to get especially bad starting in the afternoons. All outdoor activities should be limited from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. due to the risk, NWS officials said.

Published on: June 18, 2026

Two Injured Following Monroe County Plane Crash. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least two people were injured following a small plane crash at the Key West International Airport.

The incident happened early Sunday afternoon after the aircraft lost power, according to officials with Monroe County Fire Rescue. The issue occurred after takeoff when the airplane was at about 200 feet in the air.

The aircraft “landed in the mangroves on the east side of the runway about 100 feet or more from the airport,” MCFR said in a statement on its official Facebook page.

Published on: June 10, 2026

Lounge Chair Recalled Over Consumer Safety Risk: What to Know

By Leesfield & Partners

The Florida Keys is canonically associated with margaritas and lounge chairs, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is only warning users about the latter.

At least 1500 Giantex outdoor lounge chairs were recalled due to amputation concerns, according to the USCPSC. Those with the blue model number NP10025NY measuring 76-inches long, by 23-inches wide, by 13-inches high are instructed to contact Giantex for a full refund. Consumers may request a prepaid return package or will be asked by the company to destroy the recalled chair and provide photographic evidence of destruction, according to USCPSC officials.

Consumers may destroy their product by detaching the headrest pillow and cutting the fabric. The recall comes after at least one report of a consumer’s finger being amputated while they adjusted the lounge chair.

Published on: June 10, 2026

Florida Keys Community Bands Together to Support ‘One of Our Own.’ What Happened?

By Leesfield & Partners

Community members throughout the Florida Keys are rallying together to support a house fire relief fund after a tragic fire displaced two law enforcement officers this week, according to a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Facebook re-post.

The incident occurred Thursday, May 7 and involved the home of Mike Pettee and Tiffany Rodda. Pettee is an officer for the Key West Police Department and Rodda is a deputy with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

“In a matter of moments, everything they worked so hard to build was gone,” community members wrote in an update to the couple’s GoFundMe, an online fundraising platform.

Published on: June 3, 2026

Leesfield & Partners Returns to Key West to Award Scholarship, Continue Popular Courtroom Series for Florida Bar Members

By Leesfield & Partners

During a busy 48 hours, Leesfield & Partners’ Ira H. Leesfield and Justin B. Shapiro were warmly welcomed by Key West High School to honor the life and legacy of the late Dexter Butler at the school’s Class Night.

Joined by Anita Butler and her family, Mr. Leesfield presented the second annual college scholarship award to senior James Osborne. The Dexter Butler College Scholarship was created by The Leesfield Family Foundation and Leesfield & Partners to preserve the legacy of community, kindness, and mentorship exemplified by Mr. Butler throughout his life. In his application, James wrote movingly about the loss of a mentor and how that experience inspired him to embody the values Mr. Butler instilled in him by serving and uplifting others in his community.

“He saw something in me long before I ever saw it in myself,” James wrote. “He pushed me, protected me, challenged me, and—most importantly—he believed in me with a sincerity that changed my life.”

Published on: May 13, 2026

Two Dead in Separate Florida Keys Diving and Snorkeling Incidents. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A 56-year-old man snorkeling near Key West Sunday afternoon died after being found unconscious in the water on Sunday, May 10, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Benjamin Lee Millspaw, of Belmont, North Carolina, was swimming off Cottrell Key around noon when he was pulled from the water. Millspaw was with a commercial snorkeling company, officials said.

He was taken to the Lower Keys Medical Center and was pronounced dead.

Published on: May 11, 2026

Summer Water Safety Tips from Leesfield & Partners

By Leesfield & Partners

No one wants to be the wet blanket — or in this case, the towel — when it comes to summer fun, but water safety is no joke, and no one knows that better than a personal injury attorney.

Leesfield & Partners, one of the top personal injury law firms in Florida and the longest-serving firm in Coconut Grove, has repeatedly seen the havoc that negligence on the water can have on the lives of families. From horrific drowning incidents to parasailing and boat crashes, these unthinkable incidents are not impossible. When they occur, it is the job of firms like Leesfield & Partners to hold responsible parties accountable for the damage that has been done.

With offices in coastal cities like Miami and Key West, our attorneys know just how integral the water is to life in Florida and that it is a major attraction for thousands of out-of-state visitors annually. From unwitting tourists in jet ski accidents to parents expecting fun days at the pool with their children, our attorneys have also seen just how quickly that attraction can become a danger.

Published on: April 24, 2026

Here’s What the Data Says About Key West Cruise Travel. What You Should Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

While hotel and air travel numbers to Key West have remained strong thus far in 2026, cruise ship and ferry traffic have declined, according to the Key West Citizen.

The cruise passenger counts and ferry arrivals show declines compared to 2025, which saw 639,412 passenger arrivals — the most since 2019. These numbers come from data collected by the Greater Key West Chamber of Commerce. By January of 2026, there was a 15% decrease in passengers at 49,883. In January of 2025, the area recorded 58,993 passengers.

Despite cruise travel declines, hotel and air travel remains strong. Key West International Airport, which has recently upgraded certain areas, is seeing an increase that is expected to continue into 2026. Last year, the airport reported 734,150 arrivals. In 2024, the airport reported 718,597. In 2023, that figure was recorded at 652,473. In January alone, there were an estimated 74,707 arrivals — one of the highest January totals reported in the past decade.

Published on: April 3, 2026

Boat in Deadly Biscayne Bay Hit-And-Run Crash Found, police say

By Leesfield & Partners

Boater in Deadly Biscayne Bay Hit-And-Run Crash Found, police say

Police say they have found the boat they believe was involved in a hit-and-run boat crash on Biscayne Bay that killed a father and injured his son last week in Miami, according to local media.

Police did not name the owner of the boat or say who was operating the vessel the night of the deadly crash.

Published on: March 24, 2026

Man Who Died in Florida Keys Scuba Diving Incident Identified. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

An Indian tourist has been identified as the man who died Wednesday, March 16, while scuba diving, according to reporting from The Miami Herald.

Abhinav Lamba, 43, was found in distress by a commercial dive crew on Molasses Reef at around 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 16. The crew brought him onto their boat and performed CPR while taking him to shore. Emergency responders took him to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier where he later died.

An autopsy will be performed to determine a cause and manner of death, however, officials told reporters that they do not suspect foul play.