GOLDLAW – West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyers, Car Accident, Slip & Fall – Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb

Category: Firm News

firm news & announcements from the team at the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, PA

  • Employee Spotlight: Emanuel McMiller

    Ask ten different lawyers if it’s possible for any particular young kid could be destined to become a lawyer, and you’ll probably hear ten different answers. But for Emanuel McMiller, the obvious answer is “yes”. Born in 1991 in Indianapolis, Indiana, Emanuel moved to West Palm Beach when he was twelve. Raised by his grandmother and homeschooled until sophomore year of high school, Emanuel describes himself as a shy kid who immersed himself in all kinds of books, spending much of his free time at the library.

    It was the assistant principal at Palm Beach Lakes High School that encouraged Emanuel to join the pre-law magnet. He did, and soon won several mock trial competition awards, taking home the Overall Best Lawyer Award his senior year. “The pre-law program just confirmed for me what I had always known – that I’ve wanted to be a lawyer from a very young age.”

    The first in his family to graduate from college, Emanuel earned his fouryear political science degree from Williams College in Massachusetts on a scholarship. He joined the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. as an Intake Specialist two years ago as his first job out of college.

    Emanuel was promoted to Closing Assistant earlier this year, which afforded him the unique opportunity to see how personal injury cases are handled, from start to finish. “It’s really great to work for our clients towards the end of the process, when they are feeling the relief of their case coming to a satisfactory conclusion”, Emanuel says of working in the closing department.

    After a grueling year applying to law schools, in May of this year, Emanuel announced that he will be attending Notre Dame Law School. Bitter sweetly, his last day with the firm was July 15th, 2016. Emanuel says that among his several internships and jobs with local law firms, Craig Goldenfarb has been particularly influential. “Mr. Goldenfarb is a great lawyer, but what makes him special is that he takes time to give back to the community in so many different ways”, Emanuel said.

    “I’ve always known that I want to be the kind of lawyer that makes a difference in my community. My concern is for less fortunate youth who don’t have the guidance or mentorship needed to fully realize their potential”, Emanuel says of his future plans. “That was me.”

    Craig Goldenfarb was so moved by Emanuel’s incredible achievements despite tremendous odds, that he has created and endowed the Emanuel McMiller Scholarship for Higher Education. The fund will be administered by Urban Youth Impact, a local non-profit Emanuel has benefited from, to financially assist youth in their college admissions and matriculation needs.

    Emanuel will stay active and involved in the scholarship that bears his name as a mentor and advisor. And hopefully, he will keep in touch with us during law school and beyond. For now, though, the pivotal time has arrived for this young man to begin his training to become the gifted lawyer he is no doubt destined to be.

  • Craig Goldenfarb Announces the Emanuel McMiller Scholarship for Higher Education

    Craig Goldenfarb Announces the Emanuel McMiller Scholarship for Higher Education

    For Immediate Release – 3/9/2016 (West Palm Beach) – Craig Goldenfarb, personal injury lawyer in West Palm Beach and owner of the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A., is pleased to announce the establishment of the Emanuel McMiller Scholarship for Higher Education, which will be awarded to inner-city youth to help them apply and matriculate to college or graduate school.

    The scholarship will be available to high school seniors who are or were graduates of Urban Youth Impact, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in West Palm Beach. The scholarship will be awarded each spring beginning in 2017.
    The primary use of the $1,500.00 scholarship will be to fund the costs of applying to various undergraduate and graduate college programs for as many as five college-bound students. Urban Youth Impact students who are considering a graduate education in law, medicine, or business are especially encouraged to apply.

    The namesake of the scholarship, Emanuel McMiller, credits his time as a student with Urban Youth Impact as formative and life-changing. Upon graduation from college, McMiller was hired by Mr. Goldenfarb to work in various capacities at his law firm. It was by learning of McMiller’s life story that Mr. Goldenfarb discovered Urban Youth Impact, and took an immediate interest in supporting the organization. Mr. Goldenfarb was a doner to 2016’s Summer Jam, a program designed to keep children engaged in positive activies during summer break.

    When Mr. Goldenfarb discovered that McMiller was planning to attend law school, he offered to help pay for the cost of his LSAT testing and law school applications.

    “Then I found out that Emanuel had been accepted to several law schools, including my alma mater, the University of Florida, which was just really touching,” says Mr. Goldenfarb. “This young man is just such a fantastic person, and it’s really an honor that he has allowed me to be a part of his journey. Emanuel has inspired me in so many ways, including my decision to make this scholarship commitment that will benefit students just like him for years to come.”

    Given that Mr. Goldenfarb is a member of the Board of Influence for Urban Youth Impact, the scholarship is a wonderful opportunity to create a lasting partnership and a legacy with the organization and its students, he says.

    Bill Hobbs, Urban Youth Impact’s President and Founder, applauded Goldenfarb and the support of the community. “It is our mission to love, equip and empower inner city youth, and to provide opporunities for them to achieve their dreams. Support and mentorship from positive role models is missing from many of our kids lives. With that, we can make a difference in their futures.”

    Details on the application process for the Emanuel McMiller Scholarship for Higher Education will become available later this year in partnership with Urban Youth Impact.

  • Casey Smith Brings Client Hospitality to LOCG

    If there is only one thing you should know about Casey Smith, it’s that she is an eternal optimist. Her joyous disposition in life is never disturbed. Here’s a case in point. As the afternoon sky turned to blackness and thunder in typical summer fashion during her interview, and the rain began to pound the windows, Casey describes how much she loves South Florida, and how she could never leave. “I live in paradise! We live where other people vacation. How cool is that?”

    As our Client Relations Manager, Casey’s ability to find the upside to everything is a commanding trait. It’s also just one of the reasons she is so obviously skilled and perfectly fitted for her role. Most of our clients will come into contact with her at some point during their case. Her main duty is to be a source of information, problem-solving, and knowledge for all of our clients.

    Perhaps not surprisingly, this job was actually created specifically for Casey. Nearly three years ago, when one of our case managers heard that LOCG would be hiring for a “client hospitality” role, she thought of her friend, Casey, and encouraged Casey to apply. After just one interview, she was hired. Casey was perfect for this new role.

    Casey has created her own approach to keep clients satisfied. “If you come to my home, I’m going to make you feel comfortable and welcomed. So I treat our firm’s clients as if they were stepping into my home each and every time we talk”, Casey explains.

    First, she says, hospitality is about creating an experience that has a lasting impression for the client. That way, they will want to talk or meet with her again in the future. Second, she is always focused on problem-solving. If a client has an issue of any sort that she can help with, her goal is to find a solution.

    Lastly, and most important, Casey says that she won’t let a client go until she knows they are satisfied. “I listen to a client’s concerns very closely, so I can figure out how best to help them. I want them to feel important, and when the call is finished, they should feel a sense of relief.”

    We asked Casey to tell us something no one in the office knows about her. “I have what I call my ‘Inspirational Staircase’!” she said, with great excitement. “The staircase in my home is lined with frames of inspirational quotes.

    What’s her favorite quote?

    “The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.” Casey takes this one to heart. She runs from no problem.

  • Urban Youth Impact Receives Donation from Craig Goldenfarb

    At Urban Youth Impact in West Palm Beach, the 33,000 square foot campus hums with activity all summer long. Craig Goldenfarb took a visit of the building in July, accompanied by founder Bill Hobbs, to meet some of the children who benefit from the programs and learn about the non-profit organization’s mission. Craig was also there to make a $500 donation to the organization.

    Craig’s donation will be matched by the Board of Directors for their summer fundraising drive, turning it into $1,000 – money that will go a long way in funding Urban Youth Impact’s programs while kids are out of school.

    Urban Youth Impact is a Christian-based non-profit that seeks to empower and equip inner-city youth with life skills through programs that provide education, job training, and mentorships. Thousands of children from all around Palm Beach County each year participate in Urban Youth Impact’s main program, an after-school reading tutorship.

    During the summer, when these children are out of school, the facility turns into one big exciting summer camp, keeping these children entertained, engaged in positive activities, and off the streets. “We focus on this community because these children and young adults need to know that they are important, and their lives matter” said Hobbs of the young boys and girls he is surrounded by every day. Hobbs has but one goal: to make these kids understand that they are loved, and that they have a purpose in life.

    In addition to the $500 donation, Craig will also be providing equipment and goods, including a large flat-screen television to use on campus.

    To learn more about Urban Youth Impact, and find out how you can donate to the organization’s summer fundraising drive or volunteer your time, please visit www.urbanyouthimpact.com. Remember that 94% of all donations go directly to programming that will impact the lives of the children UYI serves.

    UYI and Craig Goldenfarb

  • Hoops4Heroes Basketball Tournament Raises Thousands for Wounded Warrior Project

    We’ve reached the conclusion of the first annual Hoops4Heroes 3ON3 Basketball tournament, which saw a total of $4,341 raised for wounded veterans who are in need of housing, education, meals, medical treatment, and much more. Hoops4Heroes accepted donations from players, teams, and the friends and family of the event’s organizers and participants, and 100% of the proceeds went to the Wounded Warrior Project.

    Here at the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A., we are tremendously proud to have made this event possible. As the sole corporate sponsor and underwriter of the event, our firm covered all costs to allow the full proceeds to benefit combat veterans. Attorney Goldenfarb said, “We [the organizers] have been kicking around the idea of doing something for veterans for a long time. This year was finally the year we did it.”

    The tourney took place on Sunday, November 9th at the Palm Beach Atlantic University, falling just two days shy of Veteran’s Day, and was the brainchild of our very own Tom Copeland, Marketing Director at our firm. Copeland said he had the idea for the tournament while playing basketball with Goldenfarb and his adult men’s league. After researching local basketball tournaments, he found that there wasn’t currently one held in West Palm Beach.

    “The ‘Proud Supporter’ platform that Wounded Warriors has created allows anyone who is passionate and committed enough to organize their own sports-related fundraiser, and just go do it. A basketball tournament is unique because it hasn’t been done here before, and I knew it would raise a lot of attention”, says Copeland.

    With the help of a few key volunteers, Copeland organized and promoted the event. He partnered with the men’s basketball team and athletic staff at Palm Beach Atlantic University, as well as the staff of ESPN West Palm. ESPN West Palm was generous enough to donate advertising space and promotion of the event, in addition to their time.

    Twelve teams registered for the tournament, which added up to a total of 48 players. The teams each donated a minimum of $60 in the form of a registration fee, and then played in front of more than 200 spectators. The winning team was “Battiers Not Included,” and they took home individual medals along with a beautiful engraved trophy.

    The Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. would like to especially thank Thomas Roush of Roush Spine in Lantana and Backsaver LLC’s Dr. Christopher White for their particularly generous donations in the name of Hoops4Heroes.

  • LOCG Moves to New Office Space: 1800 S Australian Ave #400

    After over ten long and wonderful years at the Legacy Bank Building, our firm is excited to announce that we will be moving our offices to the Gold Commerce Building.

    Our new office address will be 1800 South Australian Ave #400, West Palm Beach, FL 33409, located just south of the Australian Ave overpass crossing Okeechobee Blvd. The building is adjacent to the Hilton, and is accessible from Old Okeechobee Road.

    The new building offers charming character more closely matches our firm’s distinct personality and culture. We are known as the “gold” firm to many of our clients and partners, a moniker we’ve adopted and used as Gold Law in various ways throughout our branding over the years. So finding office space that can accommodate our growing and unique firm in a building called the Commerce Gold Building is an incredibly lucky coincidence.

    The Commerce Gold Building is identifiable by its alluring gold-tinted floor-to-ceiling windows, which cover all sides of the building. Inside, the beautiful granite flooring leads you to the elevators. Go to the fourth floor, and you will enter our bright, comfortable reception area, where you’ll be greeted, as always, by Jessica, and now by a new face – our second receptionist – Debbie!

    Make sure you mark in your address book the new address. We will be moving in on Friday, August 1 st, 2014, and will be full moved in and operational come Monday morning, August 4 th, 2014.

  • 5 Secrets Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know

    Insurance company secrets

    Car insurance companies want you to think that you are in “good hands” with them, and that they are your “good neighbor”, but the truth is that they are in business to make a profit. That profit is increased by every dollar they don’t pay out in insurance claims.

    As a personal injury firm representing those hurt in car accidents, we are the team that is on your side, not your insurance company. To demonstrate what we know about the insurance industry, here are five things you will never hear an insurance company admit in a television or print ad.

    1. The insurance company is not allowed to raise your premium because of an accident where you were not at fault.

    Insurance companies are always looking for reasons to raise your premiums, but in accordance with Florida law, they cannot do so just because you were involved in an accident that was not your fault. The statute only allows the insurer to raise your premiums if you are found to have been “substantially at fault”, or more than 51% at fault, for an accident.

    The insurance company is also required to reimburse your for any surcharge or increase in premiums that were levied if you can prove at a later date you were not at fault for the accident. Proof includes your ticket being dismissed in court, or in the case of a “hit-and-run” accident in which you were the victim, as long as you reported the accident to authorities within 24 hours.

    Read more on the specific Florida law on this issue here: UNFAIR INSURANCE TRADE PRACTICES (ss. 626.951-626.99)

    2. Signing anything is a mistake without first talking to a lawyer.

    The insurance company’s claims department is run by a group of very smart people. They know that the sooner they can get you to sign on the dotted line to settle your insurance claim, the less money they have to pay out.

    After a car accident, the average person wants to simply put the experience behind them. Accepting the insurance company’s offer to settle your claim is the easiest way to do that. However, unless you are a lawyer who is familiar with the practices and process of auto insurance claims, you really don’t know what you are signing!

    You could be waiving your right to bring a claim for injuries in the future, or settling for an insultingly small amount of money compared to what you deserve. Don’t ever sign anything from the insurance company without consulting a competent personal injury attorney.

    3. The insurance adjuster is not there to help you.

    The auto insurance claims adjuster works for the insurance company, not you. Their job is to establish a value for your claim on behalf of the insurer. They have a lot of open claims, and their primary interest is to close your file for as little money as possible and move on.

    As a result, your need for a fair amount of money on your claim is not their priority. Auto claims adjusters are seasoned professionals with strong negotiation skills. Don’t try to make friends with them, and don’t try to negotiate – call a personal injury lawyer instead.

    4. You can still call a lawyer even if you have already spoken to your insurance company following an accident.

    Of course, the insurance company would never tell you this! Your car accident attorney can step into the process anytime, as long as you haven’t yet signed and accepted their offer. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the better, of course, so don’t wait too long after the initial contact with the insurance company – especially if you have been hurt in the incident.

    5. You are not in good hands, and the insurance company is not your good neighbor.

    Insurance companies are businesses, not people. While the peace of mind that you gain as a car insurance policyholder is valuable, so too are the personal losses you experience, both emotional and physical, after an accident.

    Insurance companies do not have your best interests in mind when it comes time to settle your claim. They exist to generate and protect profits. Adjusters are encouraged to offer less than your case is worth and get the claim closed. Don’t fall for their entertaining marketing gimmicks and slogans. Instead, call a car accident injury attorney you can trust.