Frederick "Rick" E. Hasty, III, a Partner in the Miami office, joined Wicker Smith in 1985 and is the department head for the firm's Insurance and Bad Faith practice group. In his 30+ year career, Mr. Hasty has engaged in active civil trial practice in both the state and federal courts, focusing on the defense of professional and corporate institutions. An ardent litigator, he has served as lead counsel or sole attorney in numerous civil jury trials involving medical malpractice, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, premises liability, products liability, commercial litigation, environmental law, construction law, legal malpractice, nursing home abuse and sexual abuse.
Mr. Hasty earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida in 1973 and a Juris Doctor from Mercer University in 1976. He became a member of the State Bar of Georgia in 1976 and served two years as a Legal Advisor to the City of Macon, Georgia, defending the City in the United States District Court on all cases of alleged police brutality and civil rights violations. In 1978, Mr. Hasty was admitted to the Florida Bar and served a year under Janet Reno as an Assistant State Attorney in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit for Dade County before transitioning into civil trial practice. For the next five years, he developed his civil trial practice, working at two different local firms before making his permanent residence at Wicker Smith.
An "AV" rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, Mr. Hasty is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations. In 1987, he was named Who's Who in American Law and he has been named among the "Top Lawyers" by the South Florida Legal Guide each year since 2005. Throughout his career he has actively lectured to over 7,000 physicians and dentists through Risk Management Seminars, presenting mock trials and other trial advocacy techniques.
Professional & Civic Affiliations:
· The Florida Bar (Health Law Section, 1983-present)
· State Bar of Georgia
· American Bar Association
· Dade County Bar Association
· Florida Hospital Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section
· Dade County Defense Bar Association
· International Association of Defense Counsel
· Florida Medical Malpractice Claims Council (General Counsel, 1985-1992)
· Defense Research Institute
Honors:
· Legal Advisor, City of Macon, Georgia, 1976-1978
· Assistant State Attorney, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, 1979
· Who's Who in American Law, 1987
· South Florida Legal Guide "Top Lawyer," 2005-2012
Speeches & Publications:
Bad Faith, Wicker Smith Annual Claims Seminar (2007)
Bad Faith Seminar, Emerging Trends in U.S. Claims Handling, Underwriters at Lloyds, London, England (2004)
Florida Medical Malpractice Claims Counsel (FMMCI) annual meetings (1995)
Mid-year Meeting, Boca Raton of the International Academy of Defense Counsel - Transmission Transmitted AIDS (1994)
State Meeting of PACU Nurses, Orlando, FL (1994)
Cuban American Medical Society, Miami Beach, FL (1992)
Greater Miami OB_GYN Society, Miami Beach, FL (1987)
Florida Academy of General Dentists (1984)
*Complete List Of Presentations Available Upon Request.
The Many Sides of Medical Malpractice, Miami Medicine (January 1987)
When the Patient Takes Over the Doctor Can Get Sued, Medical Economics (June 10, 1985)
Your Most Dangerous Malpractice Gamble, Medical Economics (July 9, 1984)
News:
Mar 28, 2012
Wicker Smith Partners Ford, Hasty, McCormick, Nickas and Wicker Invited to Join the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance
Jan 09, 2012
Wicker Smith Named to South Florida Legal Guide's 2012 Top Law Firm List
Dec 20, 2010
Wicker Smith 2011 Top Law Firm; Top Lawyers By South Florida Legal Guide
Nov 16, 2009
South Florida Legal Guide Names Wicker Smith 2010 Top Law Firm; Top Lawyers
Nov 18, 2008
Wicker Smith Named 2009 Top Law Firm; Top Lawyers By South Florida Legal Guide
Nov 16, 2007
Wicker Smith Named 2008 Top Law Firm; Top Lawyers By South Florida Legal Guide
Nov 14, 2006
South Florida Legal Guide Names Wicker Smith Among 2007 Top Law Firms, Top Lawyers
Events:
Jun 10, 2011
2011 Wicker Smith Claims Seminar
Jun 11, 2010
2010 Wicker Smith Claims Seminar