Ibrahim Reyes-Gandara

Senior Attorney
Litigation Department
Catastrophic Injury Group

Ibrahim.Reyes@InfanteZumpano.com
Direct: 786-345-2120

Ibrahim Reyes is a lawyer who makes a difference.  He is a true victim’s advocate, helping the injured or their loved ones obtain justice in cases arising out of the negligence of others (law of torts) and/or the preventable failure of a product (products liability).  He also serves as legal counselor to businesses small and large, local and multinational, in analyzing their legal exposure, as well as handling their litigation needs.

His experience in such matters is deep and broad, and has included the following notable examples:

• Represented hundreds of affected homeowners of Miami Lakes in a class action lawsuit against the rock quarries that, as a result of their dynamite blasting, had damaged the homeowners’ homes.  A multi-million dollar confidential settlement was reached, and the blasting level was regulated so as to prevent further damage to these homes.
• Represented over 50 claimants whose loved ones suffered wrongful deaths or severe permanent injuries resulting from the rollover of their Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with Firestone tires.  As a result of this multi-district litigation in Indianapolis, Indiana, Ford Explorer vehicles were redesigned and Firestone tires that suffered de-treading were recalled.  The claimants received compensation in the millions of dollars, which amounts are confidential, and the defective products were removed from the market.
• Has represented over one hundred claimants, in different capacities, over the years and through numerous aviation accidents that have occurred in the United States and abroad, including Aviateca flight 901 (August 9, 1995), American Airlines flight 965 (December 20, 1995), ValuJet flight 592 (May 11, 1996), AeroPeru flight 603 (October 2, 1996), American Airlines flight 587 (November 12, 2001), West Caribbean Airways flight 708 (August 16, 2005), TANS Peru flight TJ204 (August 23, 2005), and consulted with victims and their lawyers in several other airline crashes, most recently Aires flight 4C-8250 (August 16, 2010).  These aviation accidents are very complex in nature, as certain international laws are applicable, the most recent amendment being The Montreal Convention of 1999.
• Represented the family of a 7-year-old whose body was suctioned by a drain pump/pipe at a Caribbean resort.  Obtained a confidential multi-million dollar settlement and the pool was refurbished to prevent further similar catastrophic events.  In addition, the pool safety laws of the country were re-enacted to prevent these deaths in the future.
• Represented several victims who suffered maiming injuries when their rental pleasure boat was run over by a much larger vessel in Biscayne Bay during the Columbus Day Regatta in 2006.  Multi-million dollar settlements were obtained, and the boat rental company agreed to provide safer vessels to its customers afterwards, that contained evening lighting, as required by the U.S. Coast Guard.
• Represented survivors of victims of cruise ship negligence who have fallen overboard in international waters.
• Represented the survivors of an industrial worker who was crushed to death when the landing gear of a commercial jet fell on him because the rental hydraulic jacks failed.  A multi-million dollar settlement was obtained.
• Has represented numerous victims of medical malpractice, and numerous physicians who have been wrongfully accused of medical malpractice, with favorable results on both ends.
• Has represented numerous wrongful death actions resulting from tragic automobile accidents, many involving DUI charges and/or Dram shop liability.
• Has successfully established bad faith on the part of the insurer in numerous occasions where the insurer, negligently or intentionally, wronged its insured by failing to pay the claims in a timely manner.
• Has represented numerous multinationals, based in the United States and in Latin America, in complex business litigation in U.S. state and federal courts.
• Represented the State of Florida Department of Education in its administrative hearings, under the direction of former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, when he was Secretary of Education.
• Represents Citizens Property Insurance Corporation in its handling of homeowners and commercial claims.
• Successfully settled wage and hour claim on behalf of a client.

• Catastrophic personal injury
• Products liability
• Commercial litigation
• Insurance defense
• Legal counseling to businesses

• As an active member of The Florida Bar, was a Board member of the Consumer Protection law Committee from 2005 to 2008.
• Member of the American Association for Justice.
• Member of the Cuban American Bar Association.
• Actively involved in youth sports, having served as Coach and Assistant Coach in soccer and baseball.
• Member of the Emmaus Catholic retreats.
• Active supporter of Danita’s Children, an orphanage in Ouanaminthe, Haiti.
• Active supporter of Misioneros del Camino, an orphanage and clinic in Sumpango, Guatemala.

• Ibrahim is regularly consulted and/or interviewed by both English and Spanish print and television media on the issue of safety of persons in cruise ships, in hospitals, while driving, while at work, and other related topics, at the local, national and international level.

• Was invited by members of the Colombian Congress to assist in the drafting of legislation addressed towards the safety of children in public and private pools.  As a result, the Ley Espitia became law in Colombia.

Education

• Graduated from the University of Florida in 1986, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree, having majored during his pre-medicine studies in Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry.  Went on to attend the University of Miami School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree.  Mr. Reyes’ educational background in Science enables him to thoroughly understand the technical issues involved in his chosen specialties of products liability (defective products leading to aviation accidents, maritime accidents, vehicular accidents, industrial accidents and pharmaceutical toxicity), medical malpractice, class action and multi-district litigation.
• Ibrahim is fluent in English and Spanish, and has a working knowledge of Portuguese

• Florida
• Has litigated pro hac vice in Indiana, New York, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.