Fermin Lopez (En Español)
Personal
Fermin Lopez strongly believes in service to others. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Lopez served with the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia, Africa. He also served with the 2nd Infantry Division in Camp Casey, South Korea and later as a paratrooper with the 18th Airborne Corps in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. A decorated soldier, Mr. Lopez is not only certified as a military parachutist, but the U.S. Army also awarded him the distinguished Air Assault badge, certified him in Military Mountaineering and Rappelling, classified him as an “expert marksman” as well as a making him a U.S. Army Master Fitness Trainer. He is also a “distinguished graduate” from the Army’s Primary Leadership Development Course, from which Mr. Lopez graduated with honors. He completed his collegiate undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida and graduated from the University of Florida College of Law with honors in trial advocacy.
Mr. Lopez was an adjunct professor at the Barry University School of Law from 2006 to 2019, while also serving as a head coach for their mock trial program. He is also a past-president of the Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Lopez has served on multiple local boards of directors, including the Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida, the Orange County Bar Association, and most recently serving on the Board for the COAMED Foundation which provides medical services to under-served communities in Central and South America and with whom Mr. Lopez has participated on medical mission trips.
Education
- University of Central Florida, B.A, 1999
- University of Florida College of Law, J.D., 2003
Practice Areas
- Personal injury
- Wrongful death
- Nursing home neglect
- Medical malpractice
- Product Liability
- Negligent Security
Languages
- Spanish
- English
Career Experience
- U.S. Army, Sergeant, 1991–1996
- Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano, Clerk, 2002
- Payas, Payas & Payas, Trial Attorney, 2003–2012
Jurisdictions and Courts Admitted to Practice
- Florida, 2003
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 2004
Awards, Recognition, and Professional Associations
- Central Florida Trial Lawyers, Board of Directors, 2009–2012 (former president)
- Florida Justice Association, 2005–Present
- Florida Trend Legal Elite 2015 – Present
- Hispanic Bar Association of Central Florida, Board of Directors, 2012 – 2017
- Board of Directors of the COAMED Foundation
- Florida Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2010 -2013
- Florida Super Lawyers 2018 – Present
- Florida Super Lawyers Top 50, 2019 – Present
- American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- Selection as Super Lawyer: Mr. Lopez has consecutively been selected as a “Super Lawyer” in the State of Florida since 2018, and Top 50 Super Lawyers in the state of Florida since 2019. Previously, Mr. Lopez had been selected to the “Super Lawyers Rising Stars” for the years 2010-2013. Only five percent (5%) of the lawyers in each state or region are named to Super Lawyers.
Case Results
- $1,676,109.00 Premises Liability verdict – Orlando, Florida
- $1,536,231.99 Night Club Negligence verdict – Orlando, Florida
- $1,400.000.00 Wrongful Death verdict – Sanford, Florida
- $1,530,000.00 Retention Pond Negligence settlement – Orlando, Florida
- $5,250,000.00 Wrongful Death Auto Negligence settlement – Orlando, Florida
- $175,000.00 Auto Negligence verdict – Jacksonville, Florida
- $600,000.00 Auto Negligence settlement – Tampa, Florida
- $750,000.00 Medical Negligence Settlement – Orlando, Florida
- $990,000.00 Auto Negligence settlement – Kissimmee, Florida
- $1,500,000.00 Product Liability settlement – Lakeland, Florida
- $502,500.00 Traumatic Brain Injury settlement – Daytona Beach, Florida
- $750,000.00 Negligent Security settlement – Orlando, Florida
- $450,000.00 Auto Negligence settlement – Orlando, Florida
- $495,000.00 Auto Negligence settlement – Lake County, Florida
Florida Legal Elite
- 2021 Florida Trends Legal Elite
- 2017 Florida Trends Legal Elite
Classes/Seminars
- Insurance Law Professor, Barry Law School, 2004 – 2012
- Mock Trial Coach, Barry Law School, 2004 – 2012
- Adjunct Professor of Legal Studies at the University of Central Florida , 2014
- Adjunct Professor, Barry University School of Law, Present Day
- Pro Bono Activities
- Legal Aid Society-GAL program, 2005
