MIAMI (February 6, 2001) — The Law Firm of Colson Hicks Eidson today announced that Mike Eidson, senior partner at the firm, was installed as President of the Miami chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a national organization with over 5,000 members.
The courtyard reception took place at Books & Books—which is adjacent to the firm’s new office building—on Aragon Avenue in Coral Gables.
United States District Judge Rosemary Barkett was the featured speaker at the event. Judge Barkett, the first woman on the Florida Supreme Court, sits on the U.S. 11thCircuit Court of Appeals, which reviews cases from Florida, Alabama and Georgia.
“ABOTA was established to defend and protect one of the most cherished rights we have in America: the right to trial by jury,” stated Eidson. “I am proud to represent the outstanding members of the Miami Chapter and look forward to working with them on worthwhile ABOTA projects.”
Entrance into ABOTA—which is divided evenly between defense and plaintiff civil trial lawyers—is very rigorous because of the association’s four-tier admission process. Existing members must first nominate lawyers who wish to be members, and then nominee names are submitted to the Executive Committee for a vote. Once approved, names go before the full chapter and lastly, the National Committee approves candidates submitted to it.
A veteran civil trial lawyer, who handles primarily product liability, aviation and class action cases, Eidson has been practicing in Miami for 25 years.
On a national level, Eidson—most recently know as the co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs’ personal injury and wrongful death cases in the Firestone/Ford Federal Multi-District litigation in Indianapolis, Indiana— is Chairman of the Aviation Law Section as well as member of the Executive Committee, Budget Committee, and Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA).
Eidson—who is also President of the Miami City Ballet—is a member of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, as well as recipient of the AFTL 1999 Masterson Award for Professionalism. In addition, Eidson has written numerous books and articles, and has spoken throughout the country on trial law.
Colson Hicks Eidson is one of South Florida’s oldest and most prestigious trial law firms. The members of the firm, who are listed among the top trial lawyers in the United States, specialize in personal injury and wrongful death practice, commercial, securities, business tort, insurance, professional liability litigation, class action, white collar criminal defense, and domestic and international arbitration.
Herman Russomanno, President of the Florida Bar, Joe Milton President of the Florida Chapter of ABOTA, Judge Rosemary Barkett, U.S. Circuit Court, 11th Circuit, Mike Eidson, the new President of ABOTA’s Miami Chapter, and Chuck Baumberger, past President of ABOTA’s Florida Chapter were on hand to commemorate Eidson’s appointment as President.
