Andrew B. Yaffa

Practice Areas

Andrew B. Yaffa is ruthlessly dedicated to his clients. He concentrates his efforts on personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and medical malpractice litigation. Andy’s passion for his clients extends far beyond the realm of the cases he tries—he takes each case personally and ensures that his clients are provided for in every way possible.

Career

Andy is considered one of Florida’s most accomplished attorneys and, individually, has recovered more than $500 million for his clients since his legal career started in 1991. He has been intimately involved in some of South Florida’s most recognizable cases that not only impacted the families involved but also impacted legislation, policy, and society.

One of the most pivotal cases of his career includes Francisca Herrera and Abraham Candelario v. Ag-Mart Produce, Inc., which dealt with a young boy, Carlito Candelario-Herrera, who was born without arms or legs as a result of his mother being sprayed with pesticides while working in various tomato fields. Discovery in the case uncovered numerous violations by Ag-Mart, the company employing Carlito’s mother, including sub-par work conditions. During the course of this case, Andy traveled to Washington D.C. to testify before a Congressional Subcommittee on the treatment of workers in these situations and, as a result, Ag-Mart has implemented new policies to ensure its employees are safe and protected. In addition, his work on this case was featured in the book Tomatoland, an exposé on the inappropriate mass production of tomatoes in America.

In another case that Andy spearheaded, he represented the family of the late Deputy Todd Fatta, who was shot and killed while serving a warrant on a registered sex offender suspected of being involved with child pornography. Andy filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Broward Sherriff’s Office (BSO) and as a result of the case, BSO changed its protocol for Officers serving warrants, which will save lives.

In one of the firm’s saddest cases, Andy represented the family of two-year-old Haile Brockington, who died after being left in a sweltering daycare center van unnoticed for almost seven hours. This case not only prompted the daycare center, Katie’s Kids, to lose funding and ultimately close, but it also created a legislative effort spearheaded by Florida State Senator Maria Sachs requiring all daycare vans to install an alarm that forces a driver to walk through the van to turn off the alarm and ensure no child is left behind. Andy has since represented numerous other families who have lost children in the same fashion where these alarms were not installed.

He has provided pro bono legal representation to victim families of the September 11th attacks through Trial Lawyers Care, the largest pro bono legal services program in history. His actions prompted the Association of Trial Lawyers of America to honor Andy with a Certificate of Appreciation.

Additionally, Andy regularly shares his experience and knowledge lecturing to those in the healthcare industry, including doctors, nurses, and interns on the anatomy and physiology of malpractice lawsuits. He is on the Adjunct Faculty of the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and also regularly lectures to legal professionals and students.