Ronald M. Zakarin is licensed to practice law in Florida, New York and the District of Columbia. He specializes in domestic relations, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Ron has nearly 30 years of litigation experience and has successfully tried family law matters and medical malpractice/wrongful death cases throughout the State of Florida.
Ron’s dedication to his clients is second to none. He works diligently to resolve cases where he can, and tries them in the court of law when he must. Ron has tried complex divorce cases involving business valuations, vocational assessments, social investigations, psychological evaluations, custody and relocation to name a few. In recent years, Ron has received multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for his clients in medical malpractice and personal injury matters. His reputation and professionalism follows him wherever he goes.
Ron has an extensive background in domestic relations, including dissolution of marriage, child custody issues, and the drafting of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. He has handled many domestic relations cases over the years in Miami, Broward and Palm Beach Counties and maintains a good rapport with his clients. Many of his current clients come to him through referrals. Knowing that divorce can be an emotional time and a financial burden to couples, Ron is a proponent of marriage counseling and mediation when appropriate. Ron understands that every case is different, and he will evaluate, present the legal options, and provide practical advice and realistic expectations.
In addition to family law, Ron has years of experience handling medical negligence cases. In a medical malpractice case in 2011, Ron was victorious in obtaining a $1.9 million jury verdict for the family of a middle-age woman who died unexpectedly under the care of her doctors. He also was the lead attorney in a $6 million settlement where an infant suffered severe brain damage as a result of the negligence of the hospital staff. Most recently, he represented a young man who suffered a brain injury when hit by a vehicle crossing the street. Ron was able to settle the insurance claim for the limit of the policy, that being $3.3 million dollars. Ron works countless hours bringing a case to trial, including depositions, legal research, hiring experts to prepare reports and testify, and gathering documents for evidence. His tireless efforts and his understanding of the law have helped clients, who have experienced great loss, finally obtain some closure in their lives.
As the primary litigator, Ron has worked on many significant cases with impressive outcomes including: Dobard v. St. Mary’s Hospital, an obstetrical/neonatal medical malpractice action, Weissman v. Radiology Associates, of Ocala, P.A., a medical malpractice/wrongful death action, Best v. Public Supermarkets, Inc., a pharmaceutical negligence action, and Murante v. South of the Border, a products liability action.
Ron was admitted to practice before the Florida bar in 1984, the District of Columbia bar in 1986 and the New York State bar in 1987, the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida Bar in 1985, and U.S. District Southern District of Florida Trial Bar, 1989. He also chaired the Florida Bar Grievance Committee from 2003 to 2004, and participated in the Broward County Guardian Ad Litem Program for five (5) years, from 1989 through 2004. Ron is also in good standing with the American Bar Association.
Ron was born in Queens, New York. He received his B.S degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida in 1980 and his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in 1984. On a personal note, Ron enjoys martial arts, golf, skiing, physical fitness, boating and reading. He spent many years coaching girls’ and boys’ soccer in his hometown of Coral Springs, Florida and also participated in the Maccabi Games, through the Boca Raton JCC, from 2000 through 2004.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
- Born Queens, New York, March 31, 1959
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Schwartz, Gold & Cohen, P.A.
- Schwartz, Gold, Cohen & Zakarin, P.A.
- Schwartz, Gold, Cohen, Zakarin & Kotler, P.A.
EDUCATION
- University of Florida (B.S.B.A., 1980)
- Stetson University (J.D. 1984)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- The Florida Bar, 1984
- District of Columbia Bar, 1986
- New York State Bar, 1987
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida Bar, 1985
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida Trial Bar, 1989
- The Florida Bar Grievance Committee (Chair 2003/2004) Term Expired
- Broward County Guardian Ad Litem Program (1989-2004)
- American Bar Association
- The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- South Palm Beach County Bar Association
- Certified Florida Guardian Ad Litem for neglected and abused children in judicial proceedings.
SIGNIFICANT CASES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Dobard v. St. Mary’s Hospital, et .al.
(Obstetrical/Neonatal Medical Malpractice – $6,000,000 Recovery) - L v. Z
(Automobile negligence, $3,240,000.00 settlement) - Weissman v. Radiology Associates of Ocala, P.A. et al.
(Medical Negligence/Wrongful death, $1,860,000.00 verdict) - Ensign v. North Broward Hospital District, et.al.
(Medical Negligence – confidential settlement) - Furr v. Goodman, et .al.
(Plaintiff, settlement, obstetrical malpractice) - Kassal v. Jacobs
(N.Y. Plaintiff, settlement, plastic surgeon malpractice) - McKinley v. Broward Surgical Associates
(Defense, dismissed on Summary Judgment, medical malpractice defense client) - Best vs. Public Super Markets, Inc.
Broward County, Florida
(Pharmaceutical Malpractice – Confidential Settlement) - Marmorstein vs. UNUM
Life Insurance Company of America
District Court
(Breach of Contract) - Lindvall vs. Allstate Insurance Company
(Automobile Negligence) - Murante vs. South of the Border
United States District Court
Southern District of Florida
(Products Liability) - Knowles vs. The City of Delray Beach
Palm Beach County, Florida
(Violation of Civil Rights) - Debettencourt vs. DeBettencourt
Palm Beach County, Florida
(Domestic Relations) - Gooding, a minor vs. Gieco Insurance Company
(Automobile Negligence) - Heller vs. Boca Raton Community Hospital
Palm Beach County, Florida
(Medical Malpractice) - Strobis vs. Strobis
Palm Beach County, Florida
(Domestic Relations) - Hitt vs. Hitt
Broward County, Florida
(Domestic Relations) - Albert vs. Albert
(Domestic Relations)
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Admitted to The Florida Bar, 1984
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1985
- District of Columbia Bar, 1986
- New York Bar, 1987
- U.S. District Court Trial Bar, 1989
PERSONAL INTERESTS
- Coach and Sponsor: Coral Springs Youth Soccer 1991-2008
- Coach and Sponsor: Coral Springs Basketball League 1991-2008
- Coach: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Maccabi Games, Florida
- Martial Arts