Defense Base Act Law Firm Overview

At the Law Offices of Gillis, Mermell & Pacheco, P.A., we put our clients first. Our attorneys have devoted their entire 35 plus years of combined experience to helping injured workers fight large insurance companies and employers who seek to deny and or delay their benefits.

The Law Offices of Gillis, Mermell & Pacheco, P.A. is an established Defense Base Act Law Firm. Our attorneys invest a great deal of time and effort in each case, litigating or appealing your case in an effort to obtain the maximum recovery possible for your work-related injury. We launch an aggressive no win no fee personal injury representation for our clients, so you know that our success is contingent upon your success. If we do not win your benefits or obtain a favorable settlement for you, we do not charge a fee.  Call us for a free consultation regarding your case today.

 

Experienced Defense Base Act Lawyers

We know the ins and outs of the highly specialized Defense Base Act, 42 U.S.C. 1651.  If you or a family member has been injured overseas while working under a contract with the U.S. government, you need a lawyer who has the experience and reputation to effectively handle your case. We will be a powerful advocate for you, and we will protect your rights under the Defense Base Act, no matter where you live. We have helped clients residing in many countries around the world, including Australia, England, Ireland, Macedonia, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and Canada. We can work with clients anywhere in the United States. Our current and former clients have been from Alaska, Arkansas, Virginia, Nevada, California, Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and Florida.  We charge no attorney’s fees unless we effectively secure a recovery for you.

 

Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation & Jones Act Attorneys

As part of our commitment to serve injured workers, we have also developed a proven track record representing injured workers covered by  the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. 901 et. seq., the General Maritime Laws and the Jones Act. Each of these areas of law is extremely specialized, therefore, you need a lawyer who deeply understands these areas of the law.

The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act covers injuries to longshoremen and stevedores involved in the process of loading and unloading container ships and passenger ships at the ports of the U.S.  The General Maritime Laws and the Jones Act cover injuries to captains and crew members of vessels upon the navigable waters of the U.S.  Often, it is difficult to figure out if you are a longshoreman, a harbor worker or a crew member of a vessel.  We have extensive experience in resolving these issues in favor of the injured worker.

If you or a family member has been injured while working as a Jones Act seaman, maritime worker, deckhand, longshoreman, harbor worker, tug boat or barge worker, or other job at the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, Port of Palm Beach or Miami River, you can rely on our attorneys to secure a favorable result for your injury or loss. Our attorneys are familiar with the Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, Maritime Law and the Jones Act, and we can help you file a claim against your employer to seek payment for your injuries and any medical care or treatment that you require now or in the future.

We have also helped numerous clients who have suffered a personal injury either as a result of a third party case in a work-related accident or through the general negligence of a third party.

 

Proven Track Record as Florida Workers' Compensation Lawyers

Mr. Mermell established the firm on March 1st, 1996 specifically for the purpose of assisting injured workers in obtaining the benefits they deserve. Mr. Mermell has been board certified by the Florida Bar in the area of workers' compensation law since 1995.  This is the highest degree of specialization afforded by the Florida Bar.  As a Florida Bar Board Certified Workers’ Compensation lawyer, Mr. Mermell is recognized as an expert in the field by his peers, by the Judges of Workers’ Compensation claims and by the lawyers that practice workers’ compensation law.  Mr Mermell has represented more than 2,000 injured workers. 

Mr. Mermell and Mr. Pacheco have devoted their entire professional lives to assisting injured workers at all stages of their cases. The Law Offices of Gillis, Mermell & Pacheco, P.A. can handle a Florida worker’s compensation case at the claims filing stage, through trial and appeal to the 1st District Court of Appeals.  We have the reputation of pushing a case as far as it needs to go in order to get the best result for our clients.   

The Law Offices of Gillis, Mermell & Pacheco, P.A. believes that the representation of injured workers is about protecting and valuing the quality of our clients' lives, while securing the desperately needed benefits they deserve. We understand the suffering and disruption that a work injury causes. We therefore counsel our clients with compassion and concern through every step of the legal process. We understand that big insurance companies and corporations feel that they have an advantage over an injured worker. We can speak for you, and we can fight back! Please visit Workers' Compensation Settlements & Verdicts which illustrate a few of our many excellent results for our clients.