Firm News
Our law firm maintains a popular presence in the greater Tampa Bay area and throughout Florida. We have included the following news and articles about our attorneys and our law firm's accomplishments.
Attorney Eric E. Ludin Elected President of the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation
Senior attorney partner Eric E. Ludin has been elected President of the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation and will be installed as President June 2013. This is the second time Mr. Ludin has served in this capacity. He had been President of the Foundation from 2004 - 2006. Before that he served as President of the St. Petersburg Bar Association and was one of the founding members of the Foundation.
The President of the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation is elected by its board of directors. The mission of the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation is to fund, develop and promote efforts which enhance the legal profession and encourage better public understanding of and access to the judicial system.
Lawsuit Filed Against Braun Company Alleging Defective Wheelchair Lift
The law firm of Tucker & Ludin, P.A. together as co-counsel with the Cohen Law Group have filed a multi-count law suit against the Braun Corporation of Winamac, Indiana. The suit filed by the Tampa Bay Law firms alleges that the wheel chair lift manufacturer built a defective product resulting in the death of Patrick O’Connell.
On December 15, 2010, Mr. O’Connell, who used an electric scooter due to his physical disability, was being transported in a van equipped with a Braun wheelchair lift. When he arrived at his destination and was exiting the van on to the wheelchair lift, Mr. O’Connell’s scooter came in contact with the outer roll stop barrier. The roll stop barrier is designed to prevent wheelchairs and scooters from rolling off the end of the lift when the lift is elevated. However, when Mr. O’Connell’s scooter touched the barrier, it folded, failing to stop the scooter, and Mr. O’Connell’s scooter fell onto the ground. As a result, Mr. O’Connell’s was killed when his head struck the pavement below.
According to the suit, the roll stop barrier did not function properly because the roll stop latch failed to engage due to defective design or construction. In this case, the specific lift was the Century II model built in August 2010, just 4 months prior to the accident. This model lift was the subject of a national recall in 2012 to correct the outer barrier defect.
Anyone with experiences involving Braun Wheelchair lifts is urged to call attorney Eric E. Ludin of Tucker & Ludin, P.A. in Clearwater, Florida at 727-572-5000 or attorney Keith Thomas of The Cohen Law Group in Tampa, Florida at 813-225-1655 or go to their website at http://www.tampalawfirm.com/ .
Upcoming Events
Recent Events
On February 8, 2013, John Tucker presented a lecture to attorney members of the Florida Chapter of the National Employment Lawyers Association titled “An ERISA Overview for Employment Lawyers” at a conference in Orlando, Florida.
On January 18-19, 2013, John Tucker was a featured lecturer at the American Association for Justice “Social Security Success!” Seminar in New Orleans, LA. Mr. Tucker is currently the Chair of the AAJ Social Security Disability Law Section.
On January 26, 2013, John Tucker presented a lecture to other attorneys that handle ERISA cases on the subject of discovery in group disability insurance benefit cases at the American Conference Institute’s 14th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Claims in New York, NY.
On July 21, 2013, John Tucker served as a co-moderator for a joint seminar presented by the ERISA Litigation Group, Social Security Disability Law Section, and Worker’s Compensation Law Section of the American Association for Justice at its Annual Convention in San Francisco, CA.
On December 28, 2012, John Tucker was a lecturer at The Rossdale Group’s national legal education teleseminar titled, “Medicare, Social Security, & Medicaid Benefits.” Mr. Tucker presented a lecture titled, “Building Your Client’s Social Security Disability Case.”
Attorney Ahmad Yakzan of Tucker & Ludin P.A. spoke to the Marital & Family Law Section of the St. Pete Bar Association on December 11, 2012. The Section is comprised of local attorneys who practice family law. He discussed several immigration law topics including family based immigration petitions and self-petitions for battered spouses of American citizens and lawful permanent residents.
On November 15, 2012, attorney John Tucker spoke at a seminar presented by the Clearwater Bar Association on representing Veterans, Active Servicemembers and Military Retirees. Mr. Tucker's topic related to Service connected disability Issues.
On July 13, 2012, Tucker & Ludin, P.A. was the Presenting Sponsor of the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation "Evening with the Rays." The event included a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game and a concert by the band Train. Proceeds benefited the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation. Proceeds from the event supported the many charitable causes funded by the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation .
On October 14, 2011, John Tucker presented a paper and lecture to other Social Security Disability attorneys at the American Association for Justice Social Security Success Seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada. On September 15th, Eric Ludin lectured at the Clearwater Bar Association Civil Practice Section on the topic of pursuing securities claims against Broker/Dealers. On August 23, 2011, Florida Social Security Disability Attorney John Tucker served as a presenting lecturer on Social Security Disability Topics at a Seminar in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Tucker will be lecturing on the Hearings and Appeals Process, as well as Ethical Considerations for Attorneys in Representing Social Security Claimants. On July 10, 2011, Florida disability attorney John Tucker presented a lecture on representing Veterans in Veterans Administration Benefit Claims to a joint seminar offered by the Social Security Disability Section and the ERISA, Disability, Health, and Life Insurance Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice at their Annual Convention held in New York city. On June 23, 2011, Florida commercial litigation attorney Eric Ludin delivered a seminar to the Business Law Section of the St. Petersburg Bar Association. The topic of his lecture was A Business Lawyer's Guide to Recognizing Claims Against Stockbrokers. 
We are proud to announce that the team of Tucker & Ludin placed 7th in the Gasparilla Half Marathon Team Challenge for our division in February! Pictured from left to right are: John Tucker, Kristy Tucker, Eric Ludin, Dr. Katherine, Judy Ludin, Amanda Meadows, Kim Ford, and Matthew Mullinax. On January 12, 2011, John Tucker lectured at the 11th Circuit ERISA Conference in Tampa, Florida on the topic of "Taking an ERISA Deposition."
Contact us
Tucker & Ludin attorneys are prepared to handle your personal injury, insurance, securities, and ERISA claims. Serving mostly the greater Tampa Bay area, our firm has the resources to assist clients throughout Florida in commercial litigation and nationally in veterans' disability claims. Contact us today for experienced legal counsel in these matters.
