The Law Offices of Stephen R. Koons, P.A. Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer
Offices in Melbourne and West Palm Beach, Florida - HABLAMOS ESPAÑOL

What's New

Redlight Camera Litigation
Mr. Koons successfully obtained dismissal on all red light camera cases submitted to him for defense.

As a result Mr. Koons has filed the first Central Florida Civil Action against the city of Cocoa Beach, to obtain refunds for all fines paid by victims or the red light camera campaign. The amount claimed exceeds $1,000,000.00 in damages plus all attorneys’ fees and costs.

Mr. Koons has discovered that municipalities have intentionally or negligently “short yellowed” motorists which virtually guaranties a violation, especially for elderly drivers.

In many instances the difference in standard yellow time and actual yellow time differs as much as two seconds. Mr. Koons invites all victims of any type of red light case; especially collisions to contact Mr. Koons for free consult.

New West Palm Beach Office
Mr. Koons has moved back to his Downtown office 316 Banyan Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
Mr. Koons joins a group of lawyers who have long standing roots in the West Palm Beach community and are well recognized in the community and in the state.
Mr. Koons invites all of his Palm Beach clients to come to this new office, located at the address above. The facilities are impeccable with video conferencing capabilities and is conveniently located across the street from the Palm Beach County Courthouse.

Settlements v. Trials 
It seems that this has become an age of settlements. Over the past 10-15 years, Mr. Koons has noticed that there seems to be a great deal of skepticism and even hostility for injured Plaintiffs bringing claims before juries in the state court system located in Central and South Florida. If pre-suit settlement is not fruitful and your case goes into litigation, you can rest assure that Mr. Koons will push your case to the earliest possible resolution. Mr. Koons prepares each case knowing full well that he will have to try it if the defendant’s insurance company is not convinced of the case’s true value.

Therefore, in view of the type of climate that is now in existence, it is, all the more necessary that an injured Plaintiff obtain the most experienced and aggressive Plaintiff’s lawyer that can be found. The reality that is now facing 90% of all litigants in these types of cases, is that their case will ultimately be settled. The amount of the settlements that will be received varies greatly with the facts of each case and also with the ability of the lawyer representing the injured Plaintiff.

Mr. Koons counsels all of his clients that in the event after litigation and mediation process, that if a settlement is offered by an insurance company, which falls in the range of being reasonable, one should seriously consider taking it. Mr. Koons maintains his ability to try any case that he feels honestly compelled by the facts to try and is confident that a recovery can be made. Not withstanding that, if the insurance carrier has acted in good faith and has been convinced by able counsel that a person is deserving of a settlement that is in at least the serious 6 figures, that Plaintiff should seriously consider taking the settlement, inasmuch as the case then is concluded, there is no uncertainty in trial, and there is no subsequent appeal.

With that backdrop in mind, Mr. Koons approaches all of his cases with an effort to resolve any and all cases that he has even before suit is filed for the absolute maximum that he believes can be recovered on behalf of injured Plaintiffs. This approach, has been very beneficial to his clients inasmuch as most of them receive their recoveries before suit is even filed and within the shortest period of time.

Commercial Truck Litigation
It seems recently that the incidence of serious motor vehicle commercial truck collisions are occurring in Central and South Florida.
 
Mr. Koons has recently concluded three commercial vehicle and commercial truck cases involving substantial recoveries to all clients. One client has received $650,000.00 in a partially structured settlement, one client received $210,000.00, and most recently one client recovered $1,000,000.00.
 
These cases are particularly complicated and need an experienced practitioner inasmuch as the rules relating to commercial trucking play a very important role in how the case is prosecuted on behalf of injured Plaintiffs.

Medical Malpractice
Mr. Koons has recently concluded two highly contested medical malpractice cases with confidential settlements. The exact amounts or even a description of the amounts of the actual recovery to the clients are privileged and are confidential pursuant to an agreement reached with the insurance company for both healthcare providers.
 
Mr. Koons is gratified that he was able to obtain this type of resolution on behalf of both of these very satisfied clients after extensive litigation and would remind all persons who might have claims against health care providers, that recovery has been very difficult, inasmuch as law protecting patient’s rights in Florida has been seriously eroded due to statutory and constitutional amendments.
 
Nonetheless, Mr. Koons was successful in obtaining these results to the satisfaction of both of his clients.

Mr. Koons obtained a $500,000.00 verdict for the survivor of a patient who died of an overdose of controlled substances against a “ Pill Mill” physician. The judgement is now on collection.

Hurricane Litigation
Mr. Koons recently represented a large luxury condominium association located in Melbourne Beach, and was successful in obtaining recovery of $1.7M dollars from the Citizens Property and Casualty Company for hurricane damage in a dispute involving a public adjuster.
 
Mr. Koons continues to be involved in litigation involving insurance carriers on a selective basis.

Criminal Law
Mr. Koons recently represented a statewide contractor in a criminal prosecution located in Brevard County where the contractor was prosecuted for environmental violations and commercial dumping.
 
Enclosed is the text of the front page article reporting Mr. Koons successful effort in persuading the State Attorney’s Office to dismiss all charges against his client.
 
Mr. Koons continues to represent the persons charged with the crime only on a select basis on certain types of criminal matters. In reviewing Mr. Koons biography, you can see that he has an extensive background in criminal law dating back to the mid 1970’s, when he was an Assistant State Attorney and Assistant General of Florida.

Premises Liability
Mr. Koons recently concluded a premises liability case involving a closed head injury with a mild brain damage involving a gentleman who was attempting to navigate his bicycle down a sidewalk located in Melbourne, Florida. He struck an obstruction overhanging the sidewalk that was placed there by a real estate company on behalf of their commercial client.
 
This case was resolved with a $245,000.00 settlement immediately before trial.

Family Law
Mr. Koons continues to practice family law on a selective basis. Mr. Koons recently concluded a trial in the Circuit Court in Brevard County, where the major issue in dispute was the equitable distribution of all marital property.
 
Florida is an equitable distribution state which means that all marital property is to be equitably distributed between the husband and wife upon dissolution.
 
There is a great misconception that this means that there is a 50/50 split of all martial property. That is not the case and is not the law.
 
Mr. Koons recently concluded the equitable distribution case as mentioned above in which his client, the wife received 70% of the marital of the property and the husband received 30%.
 
These cases are handled on an hourly basis and not on a contingency basis and Mr. Koons always approaches these cases in a very business like manner. Once a marriage has ended, it is really just a matter of concluding the business of the marriage and that is the equitable distribution of the martial assets.
 
Mr. Koons has also been involved in custody disputes. He would remind those litigants that the primary consideration of any custody determination is what is in the best interest of the child. Sometimes the parent doesn’t understand that is the primary consideration and will be the overriding concern of the court in determining appropriate custody matters.