"Leesfield & Partners"

Published on: December 9, 2025

Coast Guard ends Search for Missing Diver in the Florida Keys. What to Know.

The search for a diver reported missing over the weekend was suspended Sunday, pending further information, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Ellen Ruth Domb, 79, of North Palm Beach, was reported missing following a dive Friday morning at the USNS Hoyt S. Vanderberg wreck off of Key West. In an online statement from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, officials said that Domb was separated from her dive buddy within minutes of entering the water. There were strong currents that day, according to the statement.

The 150-to-200-foot dive is a popular one, attracting thousands of divers annually. It is the second largest shipwreck in the world. The former missile tracking ship was intentionally sunk nearly seven miles south of Key West in 2009 to be used as an artificial reef, according to the Miami Herald.

Published on: November 26, 2025

Man Dies Following Dive at Florida Keys Shipwreck. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

A 50-year-old man has died after losing consciousness following a scuba dive at a Key West shipwreck over the weekend, according to local media.

Nicholas James Strazzulla, a certified diving instructor of Inverness, Florida, lost consciousness following the 150-to-200-foot dive to the USNS Hoyt S. Vanderberg. The former missile tracking ship was intentionally sunk nearly seven miles south of Key West in 2009 to be used as an artificial reef, according to the Miami Herald.

He was brought back to the dive boat and others in the group he was with performed CPR on him, officials told local media. He died at the Lower Keys Medical Center.

Published on: November 24, 2025

Two Injured in Florida Keys Boat Crash. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least two people were injured over the weekend when the boat they were on hit a channel marker in the Florida Keys, according to reporting from ABC Channel 7 News.

The incident happened Sunday, Nov. 16, when the boat hit the 74A channel marker in Cowpens Cut, west of Plantation Key, the U.S. Coast Guard said in an online statement. The marker was missing from the structure immediately following this incident.

Both people aboard the vessel were rescued by a nearby Good Samaritan and were taken to the hospital.

Published on: November 24, 2025

Ever-Evolving Shifts in E-Bike Regulations Leave Floridians with Questions. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

As e-bike regulations in Florida continue to evolve, riders face a patchwork of questions concerning liability and fault, especially in the Florida Keys.

Thanks to the provisions already in effect with Senate Bill 462, which took effect in July 2025, local governments may create minimum age limits, among other regulations. This allows every city to create their own standards based on their local traffic and safety concerns, including setting a minimum age limit. But, as legislators consider House Bill 243, which aims to establish statewide regulations, the rules could shift once more.

HB 243 is still under review, however, if it passes in its current form, it could go into effect by July 1, 2027. HB 243 would prohibit certain high-powered “electric motorcycles” from being operated by people under 16 and would require a license to operate Class 3 e-bikes.

Published on: October 22, 2025

Children Injured, Man Charged Following Florida WaveRunner crash this week.

By Leesfield & Partners

At least two children were hospitalized, one with life-threatening injuries, after a man accused of being under the influence slammed into them on a WaveRunner along Florida’s Gulf Coast this week, according to reporting from local media.

The incident happened around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12, near Madeira Beach where multiple adults were allegedly racing near where a man was riding a jet ski with two young children.

One man, identified by the Pinella’s County Sheriff’s Office as 48-year-old Daniel Patrick Grubert, of Piermont, New York, has since been charged with two counts of boating under the influence, causing serious bodily injury. Grubert was also charged with one count of reckless operation of a vessel.

Published on: October 22, 2025

‘Look for these kids who dart out of nowhere:’ Monroe County Sheriff Offers Advice for the Area Ahead of Halloween.

By Leesfield & Partners

Monroe County, a cluster of islands off Florida’s southern coast, is accustomed to an influx of tourists during events like Halloween, but, this year, the sheriff is emphasizing one priority above all — public safety.

In an advisory posted Monday, Oct. 20, to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office official Facebook page, Sheriff Rick Ramsey noted that the increased crowds in the keys in the week leading up to Halloween might cause traffic and other issues.

“So, look for officers giving you directions, but, more so, look for these kids who dart out of nowhere … ” he said. “Put your phones down, no distracted driving.”

Published on: September 25, 2025

Child on the mend after shark bite in the Florida Keys. There’s another hazard in the area you’re more likely to face.

By Leesfield & Partners

The family of an 8-year-old boy from Pinecrest, Florida, who was attacked by a shark while snorkeling near Key Largo said he is getting stronger each day.

The boy, identified as Richard Burrows, was snorkeling with his father, David, and 10-year-old sister, Rose, around 3:24 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 1. when he was bitten by a blacktip shark, according to reporting from national media.

A Good Samaritan helped Burrows apply a tourniquet to Richard’s right leg while they waited for emergency responders. He was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami where he underwent surgery.

Published on: September 18, 2025

Which Florida Airports Made the Cut? See the Traveler’s List & Vote for Your Favorite.

By Leesfield & Partners

These Florida airports have landed three spots on a USA Today-compiled list of nearly two dozen standout small airports nationwide; now, you can vote for your favorite.

Key West International Airport, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, and Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport all earned recognition — and now travelers are invited to cast their votes to help decide the nation’s top 10.

With decades of personal injury practice, Leesfield & Partners attorneys know that it’s not just dining options, design, or convenience that make a good airport. Having represented countless families in aviation and other air-travel-related accidents over the past 49 years, our attorneys understand that safety remains the most critical measure of a great airport.

Published on: September 18, 2025

Man Drowns After Florida Boating Incident. Here’s What You Should Know About Boating Safety.

By Leesfield & Partners

A man tragically drowned Sunday while fishing with at least one other person on lake Damon in Avon Park, about 75 miles south from Orlando.

Chase Winton Parrish, 29, was identified as the fisherman who died, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. Parrish was with one other man, whose identity has not been released, when they both fell into the water from their 13-foot boat. Parrish struggled in the water and the other man attempted to help him, but could not and swam back to the boat to call 911.

When emergency responders arrived, they found Parrish unresponsive in the water and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Published on: September 9, 2025

World Atlas Names Florida’s 11 Most Scenic Drives. Can You Guess Where?

By Leesfield & Partners

World Atlas has released the Sunshine State’s 11 most scenic drives and the Florida Keys’ iconic Overseas Highway was first on the list.

The road, which stretches 113 miles from Key Largo to Key West, boasts breathtaking, panoramic views of the water around it. The bridge spans 43 islands and serves as the only road connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland.

Leesfield & Partners is a personal injury law firm with offices in Miami, Orlando and Key West. The firm’s nearly five decades of experience across the state has resulted in numerous record verdicts and settlements obtained on behalf of individuals or grieving families. In that time, the firm has handled numerous motor vehicle accident cases, including several on the Overseas Highway.