"Leesfield & Partners"

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: March 6, 2026

Man’s family Suing AI Chatbot Company Following his Death. What Does the Law Say?

By Leesfield & Partners

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the family of a Jupiter, Florida, man who died by suicide after forming an attachment with an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot, according to reporting from The Miami Herald.

Last fall, 36-year-old Jonathan Gavalas was speaking to Gemini AI, run by Google whose parent company is Alphabet Inc.

In the article, reporters said that Gavalas, who was facing a domestic violence charge and whose wife allegedly wanted a divorce, “could not get over how real” the chatbot seemed and “fell in love.” Gavalas was paying $250 a month for a premium version of the program, allowing him to speak with the bot who allegedly sent him out on “missions” in Miami to find it a “body the chatbot said it would inhabit.”

Published on: February 25, 2026

Two Infants Attacked by Dogs in Separate, Back-to-Back South Florida Incidents. What to Know.

By Leesfield & Partners

Two 1-year-olds were taken to the hospital for treatment stemming from two separate dog attack incidents in South Florida over the weekend, according to local media reporting.

The first attack happened in Hollandale Beach and involved a child who was with at least one adult when the incident took place at the 400 block of Southeast Ninth Street, reporters with The Miami Herald wrote. The child’s mother was “changing the baby” when they were attacked. The mother was able to get the child away from the dog.

The extent of that 1-year-old’s injuries were not immediately available Monday. It is unclear whether the mother suffered any injuries while rescuing her child. The animal is described in articles from local media as “the family dog.” The child was taken to the hospital by a Good Samaritan, according to reporting from NBC6 South Florida. The child’s father told reporters that the dog, an American Bully, “never showed signs of aggression” before this incident. The animal was surrendered to Broward County Animal Care and Control and was euthanized, NBC6 South Florida reported.

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: 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: 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.