Appellate Practice

The Appellate Division of George, Hartz & Lundeen, has almost 20 years of experience in the appellate arena and handles appeals in all of Florida's District Courts of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court, The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. The division is headed by Esther E. Galicia, Esq., a partner with the firm.

Ms. Galicia concentrates her practice in civil litigation/trial support, insurance coverage disputes and civil appeals at all levels. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in Psychology from Florida International University (1982) and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law (1985). She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1985.

Ms. Galicia is licensed to practice before all Florida state courts; the United States Supreme Court; the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; and the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. She is a member of the Appellate Practice and Advocacy Section and Civil Appellate Practice Committee of the Florida Bar; the Dade and Broward County Bar Associations; and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association. She is also an Editorial Board member of the FDLA's Trial Advocate Quarterly and participates in the FDLA's Amicus Curiae program.

Ms. Galicia has participated in over 130 published appellate decisions and an equal number of appeals decided without written opinions. She has, in particular, participated in the following published decisions:
    D'Angelo v. Fitzmaurice, 863 So. 2d 311 (Fla. 2003) (set-off of economic vs. noneconomic portions of settlement; apportionment of joint proposal for settlement by plaintiff husband and wife);

    Gonzalez v. Metropolitan Dade County Public Health Trust, 651 So. 2d 673 (Fla. 1995) (interference with dead body);

    Gold Coast Publications, Inc. v. Corrigan, 42 F. 3d 1336 (11th Cir. 1994) (the constitutionality of municipality's ordinance regulating newsracks);

    Stockwell v. Drake, 902 So. 2d 974 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005) (jury selection and expert witness issues);

    De Souza v. Ortiz, 901 So. 2d 269 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005) (stay of trial court proceedings pending appeal from NICA proceedings);

    Marin v. Dealer Network Association, Inc., 870 So. 2d 857 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004) (product liability issues);

    Wright v. American Multi-Media, Inc., 866 So. 2d 218 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004) (fraud on the court);

    Lincoln Insurance Company v. Home Emergency Services, Inc., 812 So. 2d 433 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001) (exclusion of coverage under commercial general liability insurance policy for spoilation of evidence claim);

    Gayon v. Bally's Total Fitness Corp., 802 So. 2d 420 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001) (enforceability of exculpatory clauses and waiver and release provisions).

Practice Areas

Commercial

Family Law

Insurance

Litigation

Real Estate and Property

Trusts and Estates