When
he was an infant, Alex Alvarez left Cuba and came to the United States with his
family. He was introduced to the justice system in 1978 when, at the age of 19,
he was accepted into the police academy. His choice of police work over college
came as a surprise to his family. They supported his decision however and he
repaid that trust and support by graduating with honors from the Academy and
finishing first in his graduating class.
Even
as one of the youngest members of the force, Alex quickly rose to the rank of
detective and gained international prominence as the lead detective in the
infamous "Miami River Cops Case," which resulted in the arrest and
conviction of 18 corrupt Miami police officers. He was named 1987 Officer of
the Year by the Miami-Dade Police Department, the Dade County Police Benevolent
Association and the Hispanic Police Officer's Association. Throughout the
course of his career he has received more than 30 commendations for his
leadership role in this landmark case.
The
investigation and subsequent trials consumed much of Alex's time and afforded
him the opportunity to sit for extended periods at the prosecutor's table in
the Miami courtroom where he was able to see another side of the justice
system. What he saw intrigued him and it was during the trial that he made the
decision to pursue a career as a trial lawyer.
While
working as a detective, Alex earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal
Justice from St. Thomas University in 1989, graduating cum laude. He went on to
earn his Juris Doctorate degree in 1992 from the
University of Miami Law School, where he was elected
by the faculty to the prestigious national honorary society, Order of the Barrister.
Order
of the Barrister is a national honorary society that promotes excellence in
moot court, mock trial and other advocacy programs. Members of the faculty
elect nine students to the organization each year, basing their selection on
the candidates’ overall contributions to the moot court and trial advocacy
programs.
Having
earned his law degree, Alex retired from the police department and set out to
make his mark as an attorney. From the moment he began his career as a trial lawyer,
Alex quickly established himself as a talented, aggressive attorney who is not
afraid to take a case all the way to a jury trial. His success comes from a
combination of understanding the importance of meticulous preparation,
something he learned well during his time on the police force, and his own
tenacious personality. His attention to detail coupled with a natural ability
to gather and process information, has been a valuable asset as he has won numerous
jury verdicts on behalf of his clients while settling others for the maximum
possible amount.
Alex
Alvarez is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the National Board of Trial
Advocacy and a member and Eagle Founder of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
and a member of the Florida Bar; American Board of Trial Advocates; Dade County
Trial Lawyers Association; American Trial Lawyers Association; and the Cuban
American Bar Association.
He
serves as associate general counsel for the Dade County PBA, is past president
of the Badge & Gavel Society. He was admitted to practice in Florida in
1992 by the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, and has been
recognized by Miami - Dade County in its annual list of Top-10 Jury Verdicts,
in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
Mr.
Alvarez has earned the distinctive Martindale - Hubbell AV rating, an honor
bestowed upon lawyers who have reached the height of professional excellence,
exhibiting the highest levels of skill and integrity. As a longtime member of
the South Florida community, he believes strongly in supporting local causes
with pro bono work and other generous contributions.
Admitted:
1992,
Florida
1993, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida,
2006, U.S. Court of Federal Claims
2008, U.S, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
2008, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
2009, U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
2010, U.S.
District Court, Northern District of Florida
Member:
The Florida Bar
American Bar Association
Florida Justice Association, Board of Directors and Eagle Founder
American Board of Trial Advocates, A.B.O.T.A.
Dade County Trial Lawyers Association
American Association for Justice fka, A.T.L.A.
American Association for Justice-Publications Committee
Cuban American Bar Association, C.A.B.A.
Plaintiff Steering Committee
Experience
PSC member Denture Cream, MDL, Miami, Fl
PSC member NuvaRing MDL, St Louis, MO
PSC member Kugel Mesh MDL, Providence, RI
PSC member ReNu Contact Solution, MDL, NY Consolidated Actions
Co-Chair of Trial
Committee in the Medtronic MDL Minneapolis, MN
Discovery
Committee member PSC Vioxx MDL, New Orleans, La.
Email: Alex@integrityforjustice.com
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