"Ira Leesfield"

Published on: March 9, 2026

Fire Rages at North Miami-Dade Warehouse. What to Know.

A fire that broke out at a warehouse on the morning of Thursday, March 5, made the building too dangerous for crews to enter and could burn for days, according to reporting from The Miami Herald.

The blaze continued to rage Friday morning at the 20600 NW 47th Ave warehouse, which is twice the size of a Costco, the newspaper reported. It started shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday and firefighters determined that the flames had “take possession of the whole building,” and it would be too dangerous to send in their team.

Emergency services sent out public safety alerts to surrounding areas as far as urban Broward County to warn of smoke being carried by shifting winds.

Published on: March 9, 2026

Vacation in Florida: What Happens if You’re Injured While Traveling?

By Leesfield & Partners

Bustling city events, hotels, ocean excursions, and/or theme parks are likely the most-searched topics when researching Florida vacations.

As tourists prepare their itineraries and packing lists, the potential for injuries may not come to mind. In fact, it is likely the farthest thing from their minds when they think about sunning by the pool or taking an airboat ride on a guided tour through the Everglades. At Leesfield & Partners, a personal injury law firm in Florida with five decades of experience, our attorneys know just how often a vacation can be soured by an unexpected accident.

Whether it’s a seemingly harmless motorcycle ride that turns deadly or a parasailing excursion gone wrong, our attorneys work tirelessly to ensure they secure the best outcome for every client. We know that the legal system can be daunting and revisiting painful memories can seem like an impossible task, however, it is essential in the path toward justice. For many families affected by preventable injuries, accountability helps acknowledge their pain and can lead to meaningful change aimed at preventing others from suffering the same harm.

Published on: February 23, 2026

Pastor Accused of Sexually Abusing Minor at Miami Church. How Leesfield & Partners has Represented Victims and Survivors for 50 Years.

By Leesfield & Partners

A pastor at a church in Northwest Miami-Dade County is facing charges after police say he sexually abused a 15-year-old member of the congregation.

Elco Vallier, 50, of Loxahatchee, Florida, was charged with lewd and lascivious molestation and lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor.

At around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 9, the minor told police that Vallier sexually assaulted her on several occasions at the church, according to a Feb. 18 press release from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The girl’s mother told deputies that she found “inappropriate text messages” on her daughter’s phone that she alleges are from Vallier.

Published on: February 18, 2026

One Month of Self-Driving Taxis in Miami. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Just over a month after Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing service was launched in Miami, the company is already facing dubious safety concerns.

Videos of one of the company’s autonomous vehicles stopped on the Venetian Causeway Bridge and causing a traffic backup went viral online last month. The incident sparked conversations online centered around safety.

Mykel Kochenderfer of the Stanford Intelligence Systems Laboratory told reporters with NBC 6 South Florida that companies like Waymo hoping to launch these programs “need to get it right.”

Published on: February 10, 2026

Florida Home’s Possible Carbon Monoxide Leak Kills Four, Including Children. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Police are citing carbon monoxide poisoning as a possible cause of death for four people, including two children, who were found inside a Marion County home Friday, Feb. 6.

The bodies were found Friday night after police were called out to the home on Banyan Track Way for a wellness check, according to reporting from NBC 6 South Florida.

No official cause of death has been released by the coroner’s office. Police did tell reporters that no foul play is suspected and that they believed the family had died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Published on: February 9, 2026

‘One Moment of Inattention’ Has Severe Consequences: Leesfield & Partners Files Lawsuit on Behalf of a Severely Injured Monroe County Bicyclist

By Leesfield & Partners

Leesfield & Partners filed a lawsuit this week on behalf of a man who was ejected from his bike following a crash on Stock Island with a commercial truck driver.

“This driver’s one moment of inattention has left my client with life-altering injuries,” said Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Attorney at the firm. “This frightening incident has left him in severe pain, causing a disruption to his daily life and happiness.”

The incident occurred just after 2 p.m. on Jan. 13 as our client was approaching the intersection of College Road, where he had the right-of-way to proceed. At the same time, another man behind the wheel of a commercial truck was approaching from the opposite direction and failed to yield, plowing through the intersection and making an illegal left turn. In doing so, this driver hit our client who was then ejected from his bicycle and sent into the air before eventually falling onto the hood of another vehicle. He was then thrown onto the road.

Published on: January 13, 2026

‘We are Asking the Community to Pray:’ Police Investigating After Child Dies in Drowning at Miami-Dade County Pool

By Leesfield & Partners

Police are investigating the death of a 3-year-old girl who allegedly wandered into the backyard pool of a home and drowned over the weekend.

Police were called shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10 to a home near Southwest 132^nd Avenue and 119^th Street, according to reporting from The Miami Herald. The girl, who has not been named publicly by authorities as of Monday, Jan. 12, was staying at the home with her family and four other siblings.

“This is a very sad and tragic event,” a police spokesperson told reporters. “We are asking the community to pray for this family.”

Published on: January 12, 2026

‘He’s so Young:’ Family of Boy Injured in New Year’s Day ATV Crash in Miami Expects Months-Long Recovery.

By Leesfield & Partners

The family of a 14-year-old boy who sustained a head injury after a crash on his all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on New Year’s Day does not expect him to return to school this year, according to reporting from WSVN.

The incident happened just after 6 p.m. near Southwest 220^th Street and 118^th Avenue involving the boy, identified as Jamari Charles, and another vehicle. Jamari was gifted the four-wheeler for Christmas and was allegedly not wearing a helmet at the time, WSVN reported. He was taken to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital in “critical but stable condition.”

The driver involved was not injured.

Published on: January 12, 2026

Family’s Call to Action After Uber Driver Injured in ‘Senseless Attack’ in Miami. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

The family of a 61-year-old Uber driver who was suddenly attacked by a passenger during a ride has called for the company to do more to protect drivers.

“Please share this,” Nelson Carinao’s son wrote on his social media page following the attack. “I don’t wish this upon any parent. It is sickening that this kind of behavior was inflicted on my own father.”

The incident happened on Friday, Jan. 2 when Carinao picked up 19-year-old Isaiah Norton for a drive meant to go through Interstate 95 from Broward to Miami-Dade County, according to reporting from WSVN. After several minutes in the car, dashcam footage shows Norton repeatedly punching Carinao as he drove.

Published on: December 24, 2025

Authorities Investigating Fire at Florida Junkyard. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Authorities are investigating after a fire broke out Monday night at a junkyard in Opa-Locka, according to reporting from local media.

Firefighters were called out to the property near Northwest 32^nd Avenue and 135^th Street around 10:20 p.m. Monday.

Heavy smoke and flames billowed out from a pile of debris to the roof of what appeared to be a warehouse on the property. Thankfully, no injuries were reported in this incident.