Justice for Kids, a division of Kelley Kronenberg, is pleased to announce the division and several of its attorneys have been recognized on Top Verdict’s list of the top 50 plaintiff’s jury verdicts obtained in Florida in 2023. These include: $15 million verdict on behalf of a brain-damaged 8-year-old child... View Article
Results & verdicts
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DCF Must Pay $15 Million to a Child for Failing to Protect her From Horrific Abuse, a Jury Decided
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) failed to investigate complaints that the mother was using drugs and endangering her child, who suffered “catastrophic” permanent injuries from severe abuse and neglect. The child, H.H., is now eight years old and completely dependent on others for all aspects of her daily... View Article
Family Awarded $13.5 Million for Adoption that Led to Sexual Molestation Following a Trial Led by Justice for Kids
Following a seven-day trial led by the Justice for Kids Team, a jury awarded $13.5 million to a family that suffered harm after the adoption agency Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) failed to warn them about psychological problems that make their adopted son unsafe to be around their daughters, one... View Article
Orlando Sentinel: Jury orders Florida to pay $15 million to Volusia girl tortured by parents
A young girl has been awarded a $15 million verdict against the Florida Department of Children & Families for negligently investigating abuse reports. Stacie Schmerling and Lisa Elliott, attorneys with the Justice for Kids Division of Kelley Kronenberg, represented the eight-year-old girl, who was tortured and suffered permanent traumatic brain... View Article
Jury Awarded Father $4.5 Million in Damages in Wrongful Death Case Involving Broward Sheriff’s Office
Christopher Nevarez, the father of Makenzie Nevarez, a 6-month-old baby girl who suffered catastrophic injuries and later passed away from blunt force trauma, has been awarded $4.5 million in damages in a wrongful death case involving the Broward Sheriff’s Office for failure to protect his daughter. Justin Grosz and... View Article
Sun-Sentinel: Family of baby killed in abuse case seeking $15 million from Broward Sheriff’s Office
Jury deliberations are underway in this Justice for Kids case involving the death of 6-month-old Makenzie Nevarez. Her family is accusing the Broward Sheriff’s Office of negligence. Read more here.
Sun-Sentinel: A baby girl who was the subject of an abuse investigation was killed. Now, a trial begins that accuses child-welfare officials of negligence.
Justice for Kids is in court this week regarding a lawsuit about 6-month-old baby Makenzie Nevarez, whose babysitter went to prison in her death. They have alleged that Broward Sheriff’s Office was negligent, arguing the child protection investigator, under the auspices of the agency at the time, could have done... View Article
Sun-Sentinel: Lawsuit claims Florida hotels didn’t stop sex trafficking
According to an Associated Press article that was published by the Sun-Sentinel, “Two Florida women who were victims of sex trafficking have sued almost two dozen hotels where they were forced to have sex, claiming the businesses did nothing to stop the illegal activity.” Read more here.
DBR: Legal Aid Groups Bring Class Action Against Florida Agencies Over Medicaid Terminations
Hear from our firm founder Howard Talenfeld in this article from the Daily Business Review regarding a new proposed class action lawsuit in Florida. While Talenfeld is not involved in the class action, he comments on his experience with Florida’s welfare and disability programs. Click here to read more from... View Article
Miami Herald: BSO could have intervened to protect this abused baby. It didn’t. She died violently.
This is yet another devastating example of the mishandling of a child’s safety when red flags had previously been raised about the child’s care. Talenfeld Law partner, and former BSO child abuse investigator, Stacie Schmerling discusses the recent lawsuit in this article from the Miami Herald. Click here to view... View Article