Matthew D. Powell
Top rated Health Care attorney in Tampa, Florida
MattLaw Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
Practice areas: Health Care, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1987
Education: Florida State University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2026 Call today:
813-807-5968
Free Consultation MattLaw Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
304 S. Plant AveTampa, FL 33606 Visit website
Details
Matthew D. Powell, a seasoned attorney with over 35 years of legal experience, practices at his firm MattLaw, located in the historic Hutchinson Mansion on Plant Avenue in Tampa, Florida. He is triple board certified, holding certifications in civil trial law by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy, as well as in civil practice advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He focuses on resolving legal issues of people in Tampa and surrounding areas, and Georgia as well.
Mr. Powell focuses on handling cases related to catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, nursing home abuse, car accidents, truck accidents and traumatic brain injuries. His career began in a prominent insurance defense firm in Tallahassee, representing numerous insurance companies and gaining invaluable insights into their tactics to minimize payouts, which later influenced his decision to advocate for individuals instead.
Mr. Powell’s educational background is equally impressive, having graduated with honors from Florida State University College of Law in 1987. His academic journey also includes a Bachelor of Science from the University of Central Florida and an Associate of Arts from the University of Florida. His legal prowess is recognized by a peer-review rating of AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell and a 10.0 rating on Avvo.
Clients and peers alike commend Mr. Powell for his compassionate approach and tenacity in seeking justice. His transition from defending insurance companies to championing the rights of individuals has equipped him with unique strategies to tackle complex legal challenges effectively. This shift has led to numerous substantial settlements and verdicts, reflecting his commitment to securing favorable outcomes for those he represents.
Mr. Powell’s professional affiliations are extensive. He is a sustaining member of several prestigious legal associations, including the American Association for Justice, the Florida Justice Association and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, where he is recognized as a life member.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Health Care, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: PlaintiffFocus areas
Birth Injury, Brain Injury, Delayed or Incorrect Diagnosis, Informed Consent, Medical Malpractice, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Nursing Home, Personal Injury - Defense, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse - Plaintiff, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 40% Health Care
- 30% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 30% Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1987, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://mattlaw.com/attorneys/matt-powell/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Florida, 1987
- Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, 2012
- Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association, 2012
- American Association for Justice, 2009
- Florida Justice Association, 1989
- American Justice Association, 1988
- Georgia, 2024
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
- Federal 11th District Court of Appeal, 1990
- Federal U.S. Middle District Court of Florida, 1989
- Missouri, 1988
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Top 10 Verdict in Florida $5,445,637.00 Young v. McCoy, 2020
- Verdict for the Plaintiff (Verdict for the Plaintiff is a public record) Brain Injury Verdict The defense contended that since there was no loss of consciousness, there could not be any brain injury. Also, that since he had never earned wages in the past, that he should not be entitled to any future loss of earnings, or earning capacity. The defense had a defense neuro-psychological exam done on Mr. Davidson, and the defense psychologist attempted to use a psychological test know as the Fake Bad Scale. The Fake Bad Scale attempts to tell us when people are malingering, or not telling the truth. Our motion to exclude the Fake Bad Scale test was granted. The court found that the Fake Bad Scale test was not scientific, was unreliable, and was basically a modern lie detector test, and therefore not admissible as evidence. The trial lasted 4 days. Most of the witnesses were medical doctors who testified about injuries caused by the crash. The jury was shown a PET scan of the brain, as well as a SPECT scan of the brain. The jury also heard from neurologists, and psychologist that Mr. Davidson had received a "Mild Traumatic Brain Injury" which is difficult to detect, but still a very real injury, that will never improve with time. This was a motor vehicle crash between a semi tanker truck and a pick up truck. The plaintiff was rear ended by the semi, and pushed into another semi stopped ahead. There was no loss of consciousness by the plaintiff. Prior to the crash, the plaintiff had virtually no prior wage history. He was a self employed handy man who worked at his families day care center., 2008
- +++++VERDICT for the Plaintiff (Verdict or the Plaintiff is a public record) Soft Tissue injuries. This is a case involving 2 different rear-end collisions. The first crash happened on July 15, 2003. Mitch was stopped for a red light. He was hit from behind at a high rate of speed (approximately 20 mph). His car was severely damaged. The person who caused the crash had only $10,000.00 of liability insurance. Mitch Stahl also had Underinsured Motorist Insurance with his family through Allstate Insurance Company. The claim against the bad driver was settled before suit was filed, but Allstate denied any further payment based upon 2 arguments. The first was that Mitch Stahl was not living with his parents at the time of the crash, and therefore was not covered under the policy, and secondly, that Mitch was not hurt bad enough, and the $10,000.00 that he received was enough to fully compensate him for his injuries. Suit was filed against Allstate for the injuries suffered by Mitch Stahl. Then unfortunately Mitch Stahl was involved in a second rear-end collision on November 1, 2005, just 90 days before the trial was to start against Allstate for the July 15 2003 accident against All state. The second accident facts were that a vehicle driven by a BCI Engineers & Scientists, Inc. employee, Doug Partington hit a pickup truck in the rear, then that truck hit Mitch Stahl's pickup truck, which was towing a trailer. The property damage to the trailer was minimal, and the property damage to his pickup truck was virtually none, however, the crash injured Mitch Stahl by aggravating his prior injuries. The defense of the claims was that Mitch Stahl had received his no fault PIP medical bills of $20,000.00, and that since he recovered $10,000.00 from the first wreck, he did not have any damages. The defense also argued that he had a prior back or neck injury, and that he might have a birth defect to his spine called spina bifida. Mitch Stahl was a self employed automobile car detailer. The defense hired investigators to follow him around, and they obtained video surveillance of him washing and waxing his customers cars for 4 hours. The medical evidence shown to the jury was that Mitch Stahl had a Digital Motion X-Ray after the 2003 crash, and an MRI, and then another Digital Motion X-ray and MRI of his neck after the 2005 accident. The jury was shown the two different MRI's of Mitch's spine and could compare them. The trial lasted 4 days. At the end of the trial, the jury found that Mitch Stahl did have a permanent injury that was caused by the negligence of the two different drivers. After deducting the $20,000.00 for Mitch's PIP, and $10,000.00 for the settlement with the first driver, the jury found that Mitch Stahl had suffered a loss of $(see the public records) from both crashes. The jury found that Allstate owed Mitch $ (see the public record) for the first crash. This was over Mitch's policy limits of $25,000.00 by $180,000.00. There was a written offer to settle the case with Allstate for 4,500.00 made during the suit, which caused Allstate to have to pay costs and attorney fees in addition to the judgment of $(see the public record). Allstate agreed to pay the verdict and not take an appeal, in exchange for waiving the costs and attorney fees. The second part of the case against BCI was a verdict of $(see the public record). An offer to settle with them during the suit was made for $8,000.00, which they rejected. This offer also triggered costs and attorney fees. They chose not to pay the judgment, asked the court for a new trial, or a reduction in the verdict which was denied. This portion of the case was then appealed to the Second District Court of Appeals. The appeal was rejected in June 2009, and the appellate court sent the case back to the trial court to determine costs, interest and attorney fees., 2007
Videos
- Thinking about filing a lawsuit? This video breaks down the key risks and benefits you need to know before making your decision. Learn about comparative negligence in Florida, potential costs, settlement offers, and the realities of going to trial. Make an informed choice about your case. #Lawsuit #PersonalInjury #LegalAdvice #FloridaLaw MattLaw Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers 304 S Plant Ave, Tampa, FL 33606 (813) 222-2222 https://mattlaw.com, Should you File Suit or Take a Settlement, People Hurt By The Negligence Of Others, 2024
- What to do when a Car Insurance Company Refuses to Pay http://MattLaw.com - Matt Powell, Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer The most important thing to know is the only thing that motivates insurance companies is profit. So, the only way to elicit a response from your car insurance company is via threats of profit loss. Most people believe that insurance companies are motivated by altruistic goals and always want to do the right thing for their insureds and society. Unfortunately, that line of thinking could not be farther from the truth. Your car insurance company is not looking to do the right thing for you, your family, or our country. When your car insurance company refuses to pay, it's because it's the right thing to do for their bottom line (profits.) When a car insurance company refuses to pay, the only thing you can do to motivate them to pay the full value of your claim is to threaten them with a lawsuit. Here is the car insurance company mantra: DENY the Claim DELAY the Claim DEFEND the Claim I call the insurance company mantra "The 3 D's." First, your car insurance company will refuse to pay your claim by denying any responsibility for you and your families losses. Second, your car insurance company will refuse to pay your claim by delaying the process. They will do things like sending you on a wild goose chase for paperwork they don't actually need. Insurance companies are motivated to delay claims because they accrue interest on the money they don't pay you over time. Third, your car insurance company will refuse to pay you by defending the claim when you file a lawsuit. They will defend the claim using their own in-house lawyers or private law firms so they can hold onto your money as long as possible., What to do when the Insurance Company Refuses to Pay, Car Accidents, Insurance, Injuries, 2017
- The first reason you should hire a trial lawyer is actually to avoid going to trial. However, hiring a trial lawyer increases the chances you won’t have to go to trial. And it increases your chances of a fair settlement. Factor 1: HOW LIKELY WILL THE ATTORNEY TAKE THIS CASE TO TRIAL? This may be the most important factor an insurance company uses to set a value of a death or injury claim. You want a lawyer who is rated as high as possible by the insurance companies. One who is a winning trial lawyer: not a sucker who will take any settlement they offer. An insurance company loses control of your claim as soon as a jury trial starts. Factor 2: HOW WILL THE JURY EVALUATE THE CASE? A talented, experienced, and committed trial lawyer knows the value of your case is affected by how a jury will judge how bad the wrongdoer’s conduct was in causing the mayhem that ruined other people’s lives. A talented trial lawyer knows how to make your case important. Not only to you and your family, but to the community. You need an attorney who is able to show a jury what happened to you and your family, and how it can happen to anyone. Factor 3: SEVERITY OF THE INJURIES, DAMAGES, AND LOSSES The most important job a lawyer can do for their client is recover the full amount of damages. So it fixes what can be fixed, and helps what can be helped to make up for what can’t be fixed or helped. The insurance company adds settlement value to your case if your attorney has a strong reputation for managing losses in such a way that maximizes the value of your losses. And if the insurance company knows your attorney does not have the ability, experience, or commitment to demonstrate your injuries, then they will reduce your case value. If the insurance company suspects your attorney will have a powerful influence on a jury, they gladly pay more to settle rather than face the wrath of an upset jury. Factor 4: WHETHER THEIR INSURED IN CLEARLY 100% AT FAULT OR NOT An experience trial lawyer will be able to use the available facts to prove the defendant was at fault for your injuries. Insurance companies seriously consider if they can blame you, or someone else for the negligence. Your attorney’s reputation conveys to the insurance company whether they are committed to hiring the best experts to prove your case in front of a jury. Again, this is an important factor that the insurance company will consider when making any settlement offer. The insurance company does not want to face a jury when they know your attorney is talented at proving their insured was negligent. Factor 5: THE CHARACTER, REPUTATION, AND AMOUNT OF VALUE THE INJURED PERSON ADDED TO THE COMMUNITY Another important factor insurance companies consider is what will a jury think about the victim. If you hire an experienced trial lawyer who is willing to take the case to a jury, then the insurance company will consider how well the attorney can present their client to a jury. Experienced trial lawyers know how to show their clients in good light. Factor 6: THE CHARACTER, REPUTATION, AND AMOUNT OF VALUE THE AT-FAULT PERSON ADDED TO THE COMMUNITY The insurance company will consider how good or bad the defendant will look if hauled into court to answer for their negligence. And even if they represent a really bad person or corporation, they know most lawyers won't go to trial to expose them. However, with an experienced trial lawyer, the insurance company increases the value of your case if the defendant is a bad person or corporation. Because they know an experienced trial lawyer will go all the way to trial and expose the wrongdoer for who they really are. So, a trial lawyer can add pressure by seeking punitive damages. And this increases the chances of your case settling and not going to trial. https://MattLaw.com, 7 Factors - Hiring a Trial Lawyer Increases the Settlement Value of Your Case, Individuals, Medical Malpractice, Trucking Crashes, Injuries, 2020
Special Licenses / Certifications
- National Board Certification as a Civil Trial lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy., 2010
- Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar, 2005
Educational Background
- University of Central Florida, Bachelor of Science, 1984
- University of Florida, Associate of Arts, 1983
Honors
- Peer Review rating of AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 2008
- 10.0 rating on Avvo
- AV Rating, Martindale Hubble, 2009
Industry Groups
- American Association For Justice
- Florida Trial Lawyers Association
- Gerry Spence Method Advanced Graduate
- Keenan Edge Instructor
- Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association
Selections
15 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2012 - 2026
Certificates and credentials
Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization
Civil Trial
Civil Trial
