Justin B. Shapiro

Published on: June 12, 2025

Hoping to Get a Selfie with Key West’s Most-Photographed Landmark this Summer? You’re out of Luck.

Key West’s iconic Southernmost Point Buoy will not be available to the public for about a year, according to city officials.

Due to recent storms, the seawall and other damages at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets call for repairs and the closure of the area. The repairs will begin in mid-August or the beginning of September, according to reporting from local media. While the real buoy is under construction, the city announced it is working on a temporary replacement, which will be located on the Duval Street Pocket Park at 1400 Duval.

“It is smaller, but still taller than a person,” Alyson Crean, a city spokesperson, told reporters with the Tampa Bay Times. “The ocean will still be visible, but the temporary location is farther away from the ocean.”

Published on: June 12, 2025

This Florida Town Ranked Among ‘Most Charming’ in Florida. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

World Atlas named Key West among the 10 most charming small towns to visit in Florida, here’s why.

The southernmost island in the Florida Keys owes its popularity to crystal-clear waters, historic charm, and quirky locals. With must-see locations like its famed lighthouse and the six-toed cat oasis of the Ernest Hemingway Home, it’s easy to see why thousands of out-of-state visitors choose to vacation in Key West. And that’s not the only place for history buffs. Other historic sites to see include Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and the Truman Little White House.

Whether looking for educational places to visit, trying to work on a tan, or hoping to snorkel among vibrant marine life, Key West has a little something for everyone.

Published on: June 3, 2025

Influencer’s Son Drowns at Family Home in Arizona. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

The 3-year-old son of popular lifestyle influencer, Emilie Kiser, died from a drowning incident at the family’s home in Chandler, Arizona.

Emergency responders were called out to the home around 6 p.m. on May 12 after an incident in the family’s backyard pool where they allegedly found the boy, Trigg, unresponsive. The child was taken to Chandler Regional Medical Center before he was transferred to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in critical condition. He died just six days later, according to media reporting.

Local authorities will be investigating this tragic incident.

Published on: May 20, 2025

Second Boat Crash Over the Weekend in Florida Keys Shows Need for Boating Safety Reform. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least two people were hospitalized after their boat hit a coral reef near the Lower Florida Keys and flipped over Saturday, according to local media.

The incident happened around 3:50 p.m. near Big Torch Key. Both the operator and passenger were ejected from the vessel, which Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials told reporters was allegedly going at a high rate of speed. They were taken to a local hospital and no update on their conditions was available as of Tuesday morning.

The crash is being investigated by the FWC.

Published on: May 20, 2025

Seven Passengers Ejected Following Seven Mile Bridge Crash Over the Weekend in the Florida Keys.

By Leesfield & Partners

Several boat passengers required air transport to a hospital after the boat they were on crashed into the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys Saturday, according to local media.

The incident happened Saturday and involved a 17-foot Mako, a brand of inshore fishing boat, allegedly being operated by a minor when it crashed. At least seven people were ejected from the vessel, including the young girl who was driving, according to local media. Several passengers were airlifted to a hospital in Miami.

There was no update on the condition of the injured as of Monday.

Published on: May 7, 2025

House Bill Aiming to Improve Swimming Pool Safety Fails in Florida Legislature. What to Know About Swimming Safely in Florida this Summer.

By Leesfield & Partners

A House Bill meant to improve swimming pool safety – the number one killer of children under 5 years old in the state – recently died in subcommittee.

The bill provided for the enhancement of safety measures for residential swimming pools in the state, particularly during property transfer or sales. It also specified that title companies and inspectors report non-compliance to local agencies.

Current law, Florida Statutes § 515.27. requires that houses built or remodeled after Oct. 1, 2000, be equipped with one of five safety features. These features range from barriers surrounding the pool, an in-water alarm, a self-latching lock on doors or on fences around pools, a pool safety cover or an alarm on any doors and windows that would give curious children direct access to a swimming pool. Penalties for noncompliance with state law include a fine and/or possible jail time.

Published on: May 7, 2025

What Sarasota Police Didn’t Find on Out-of-Control Boat Raises Concerns on Important Safety Issue in Florida.

By Leesfield & Partners

Police in Sarasota chased down a speeding and out of control boat this week, but there was no operator on board to be investigated.

That is because the vessel’s operator, who was not wearing the kill switch, had been ejected when the vessel hit a wake. As a result, the man was thrown into the water without a life jacket as his unoccupied vessel sped off at 40 mph. When the vessel’s operator was thrown off, he broke two fingers but was otherwise uninjured, according to reporting from Fox News.

Fortunately, officers with the Sarasota Police Department’s Marine Patrol were able to catch up with the vessel, hop on and shut it off before anyone else was injured.

Published on: April 24, 2025

Arizona Couple Makes National Headlines Following Husbands Jet Ski Death. How Personal Watercrafts are Responsible for Hundreds of Injuries, Deaths Annually.

By Leesfield & Partners

Just like motorcycles on land, jet skis are the coolest ride on the water; however, with that level of thrill comes serious responsibility.

From improper training from rental companies to inexperienced riders, jet skis and other watercrafts are responsible for over 1,000 deaths in the United States from 2020 to 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Report, which was released on May 16, 2024. A little over 17% of these deaths occurred in July.

A couple in Arizona made national headlines this week after a wife tragically discovered her husband floating in a lake after he fell from a rented jet ski on Sunday at Lake Pleasant. The couple had rented the jet ski at Scorpion Bay, according to reporting from The Miami Herald, and experienced a “mechanical issue.” When they attempted to make a U-turn, they fell into the water.

Published on: April 23, 2025

Case Filed on Behalf of Woman Who Incurred Spinal Injury at Key West Resort.

By Leesfield & Partners

Leesfield & Partners has filed a case on behalf of a woman who attempted to lie down on an improperly installed and inadequately maintained hammock at a Key West resort. The hammock flipped her and sent her head-first to the ground, resulting in a severe spinal cord injury.

Not only was the hammock improperly installed and negligently maintained—a defect that has left the resort’s guests vulnerable to injuries of this sort—but the resort failed to remedy the defect or warn people about the risks associated with the use of the hammock.

As a result of this horrific and preventable incident, our client was severely injured and required invasive surgery. A year later she continues to suffer daily pain due to this incident.

Published on: April 22, 2025

Leesfield & Partners Representing Client in Key West Motor Scooter Accident Case. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Leesfield & Partners is representing a Key West motor scooter rider whose life was upended after a negligent driver struck him, leaving him with a traumatic brain injury

Our 46-year-old client was approaching a Key West intersection on his motor scooter when a driver, who had a stop sign, failed to yield the right of way to our client, causing a collision between the vehicle and the scooter. Our client was ejected from his scooter and hit the driver’s windshield, significantly cracking it before falling unconscious to the ground. He was transported to the hospital with a crushed left tibia and fibula and severe head trauma.

When speaking with the authorities at the scene, the driver claimed to not have seen our client.