O. John Alpizar
The Local Firm That Gets Results
We help people throughout Brevard County and Central Florida
fight for the compensation they deserve after an accident.
O. John Alpizar — Advocating for Injury Victims
Protecting the Rights of Those Facing Serious Injuries
O. John Alpizar has been involved in civil trial litigation locally in Brevard County and Palm Bay since 1978. Growing up, he wanted to be an FBI Agent. To be eligible for the FBI, John pursued a law degree.
While clerking in Ohio he experienced what a career as a personal injury attorney was like and he was hooked. He liked helping people, righting wrongs and leveling the playing field.
John has been helping Palm Bay victims seek justice for more than 40 years. He has obtained numerous million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients.
He has litigated and tried to verdict virtually every type of Personal Injury & Wrongful Death case, including cases involving Automobile Accidents, Insurance Company Bad Faith and Premises Liability.
Education
- Attended Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia, 1971-1975, and received Bachelor of Arts with Honors and Distinction on oral and written comprehensive examinations.
- Attended Capital University School of Law, Columbus, Ohio 1975-1978 and received Juris Doctorate.
Legal Experience
- Practiced law in Cocoa, Florida as an Associate and Partner with the firm of Lovering, Pound & Lober, P.A., 1978-1983.
- Practiced law in Palm Bay, Florida with the firm of Spira & Alpizar, 1983-1984.
- Practiced law in Palm Bay, Florida with O. John Alpizar, P.A., 1984-1991.
- Practiced law in Palm Bay, Florida as a partner in the firm of Alpizar & Gray, P.A. 1991-1995.
- Practiced law in Palm Bay, Florida with O. John Alpizar, P.A., 1995-1996.
- Practiced law in Palm Bay, Florida with Alpizar & Ville, LLC 1996-2007.
- Currently practicing law in Palm Bay, Florida with Alpizar Law, LLC. 2007-Present.
Academic Achievements & Leadership
Bethany College
- Bachelor of Arts, History with Honors
- Distinction oral and written comprehensive examinations
- Bethany Kalon
- Vice President, Inter Fraternity Council
- Chief Justice, Student Court
- Rush Chairman, Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
- Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
- Intramural Basketball, Football and Track
- History Honor Society
Capital University
- Graduated top 15% of class
- Law Review 1977-78
- Order of the Curia 1977-78
- Niagra International Law Team 1977
- Mediator, City of Columbus Night Prosecutor Program 1977-78
Professional Activities
- Civil Mediator, Certified by the Supreme Court of the State of Florida
- 18th Judicial Circuit Court Appointed Arbitrator
- Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell
- Member of The Florida Bar Association
- Member of The American Bar Association
- Member of the Brevard County Bar Association
- Member of American Board of Trial Advocates
- Member of Multi Million Dollar Advocate Forum
- Member of Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
- Member of the Seminole County Bar Association
- Member of the Orange County Bar Association
- Member of the United States Court of Appeals
- Member of Florida Justice Association
- Member of American Association for Justice
- Member of the Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association, Inc.
- Member of the Southern Trial Lawyers Association
- Member of Trial Bar of United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
- Member of Appellate Bar of United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
- Member of the Trial Masters
- Member of The Vassar B. Carlton American Inn of Courts, Emeritus
- Member of the Brain Injury Association of Florida, Inc.
- Member of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group
- Member of The Latino American Who’s Who
- Member of the American Association for Justice Trucking Litigation Group
- Member of the Florida Super Lawyers 2010 through the present
- Member of The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Attorneys in Florida
- Member of the Melvin M. Belli Society
- Member of the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America
- Member of the Trucking Litigation Group
- Member of the American Society of Legal Advocates
- Member of America’s Top 100 Attorneys – 2016
- Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Member of the Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers Association
- Lecturer for continuing legal education seminars sponsored by The Florida Bar.
- Lecturer for continuing legal education seminars sponsored by The Florida Justice Association.
Honors
- Awarded 2023 Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame Laureate
- Awarded 2019 Plaintiff’s Trial Lawyer of the Year by The American Board of Trial Advocates Central Florida Chapter
- Brevard Bar Foundation Community Leader of the Year Award – 2015
- Recognized in Florida Trend’s 2014 Florida Legal Elite
- Awarded 2014 EAGLE Legend Lawyer to Legacy by the Florida Justice Association
- Awarded the Distinguished Service Award 2014, by the Seminole County Bar Association
- Awarded 2012 Professionalism Award Brevard County Bar Association
- Awarded 2012 Lawyer of the Year by the Florida Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Offices and Professional Service Work
- Florida Bar, Board of Governors, 2012-2018
- American Board of Trial Advocates, President 2014
- American Board of Trial Advocates, President Elect, 2013
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Secretary, 2012
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Treasurer, 2011
- Fifth District Court of Appeals Nominating Commission, 2008
- Brevard County Bar Association, President, 1990-91
- Brevard County Bar Association, President-Elect, 1989-90
- Brevard County Bar Association, Secretary, 1988-89
- Brevard County Bar Association, Treasurer, 1987-88
- Brevard County Bar Association, Board of Directors, 1982-89
- Florida Bar, 18th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Committee, 1987-91
- Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Board of Directors, 1986-87
- Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Chairman, Workers’ Compensation Section 1986-87
- Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Chairman-Elect Workers’ Compensation Section 1985-86
- Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Legislative Committee 1984-85
- Florida Bar, Executive Committee, Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Section, 1986-89
- Florida Bar, 18th Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, 1984-87
Publications
- Author: “Sovereign Rights and Sunken Treasure: Treasure Salvers, Inc. v. Unidentified and Abandoned Sailing Vessel,” 7 Capital University Law Review, 1977.
- Recent Lectures/Presentations:
- Speaker, Florida Justice Association Convention, West Palm Beach – “Bad Faith Litigation and Trial Practice”
Civic and Community Organizations
- Member of Board of Trustees, Bethany College, Bethany, West Virginia (elected 1994); Trustee Emeritus since 2006
- Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, Educational Endowment Advisory Board
- Member of Brevard Art Center and Museum (BACAM)
- Member of Space Coast Science Center
- Member of Center for Marine Conservation
- Member of Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce
- Member of the Melbourne Beach Police Pension Board – 2003 to 2006
- Chairman of the Melbourne Beach Police Pension Board – 2006 to 2016
- Brevard Bar Foundation, O. John Alpizar Endowment
Verdicts & Settlements
Hogrefe v. Outdoor Resorts of America
$920,000.00 settlement (November, 1984)
Goodwin v. Avis Rent-A-Car
$1,200,000.00 verdict (October 10, 1988)
Halsema v. Hertz Rent-A-Car
$800,000.00 verdict (January 22, 1990)
Twigg v. Ryder Truck Rental
$1,077,145.36 settlement (June, 1989)
Willard v. Brevard County School Board
$500,000.00 verdict (July, 1987)
Borges v. Katz/Allstate Insurance Co.
$550,000.00 verdict (December 18, 1991)
Borges v. Katz/Allstate Insurance Co.
$153,000.00 verdict on compensatory damages
$15,000.00 verdict on punitive damages
(December 21, 1992)
Boone v. Marie Reine-Lessard
$625,000.00 settlement (September, 1992)
Diehl v. Love
$798,275.00 settlement (March 1, 1994)
Bickford v. Hollis
$500,000.00 settlement (December, 1995)
Carter v. Waste Management, Inc. of Florida
$990,000.00 verdict (April 12, 1996)
Ricci v. Bauman
$600,000.00 settlement (December, 1996)
Charles Roth v. A-1 Rent-a-Car
$1,321,492.00 verdict (May, 1997)
Basel v. McFarland
$6,693,422.00 verdict (September, 1997)
Fay Johnson v. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
$1,000,000.00 settlement (February, 1998)
Sally Batts v. McGinley
$365,000.00 verdict (March, 1998)
David Levitt v. Mills
$700,000.00 settlement (September, 1998)
Amanda Bennett v. Stewart
$820,000.00 settlement (September, 1998)
George Jones v. USAA Property & Casualty Insurance
$850,000.00 verdict (December 1998)
Donna P. Moran as guardian of William Moran, Jr., v. Certilawn Sod Service, Inc.
$8,990,000.00 settlement (August 1999)
Kimberly Ann Sharkey and Brian Lee Davis as guardians of Spencer Brian Davis v. Sebastian River Medical Center, Blaine Lake, MD, et al
$7,075,000.00 settlement (November 1999)
Barry W. and Debra L. Corzine for Heather L. Corzine, deceased, v. Bethel Bible Baptist Church
$1,805,000.00 settlement (March 2000)
Basel v. McFarland
$2,526,994.07 verdict (November 2000)
Vichita Briseno v. O=Steen Brother, Inc.
$2,086,666.67 settlement (March 2001)
Harold Hartrup v. Rodriguez
$591,500.00 settlement (August 2001)
David Prather v. Balfanz
$95,000.00 settlement (February, 2002)
David Prather v. Morton Roofing
$625,000.00 settlement (April, 2002)
Jody Prather v. Balfanz
$125,000.00 settlement (February, 2002)
Jody Prather v. Morton Roofing
$1,712,293.00 verdict (February, 2002)
Jill Dunne v. Allstate
$128,920.00 verdict (May, 2002)
Pedro Martinez v. Cape Canaveral Cruise Lines
$1,760,068.00 settlement (November, 2002)
Rhonda Strickland v. Allstate
$191,567.00 settlement (December, 2002)
John Kidd v. Florida Rock and Tank Lines
$900,000.00 settlement (September, 2003)
Brad Rowe v. Geico
$300,000.00 settlement (March, 2004)
Simone v. Cartelli
$475,000.00 settlement (April, 2005)
Young v. Brown
$1,000,117.85 verdict (April, 2005)
John Doe v. X,Y,Z Insurance Company
$5,000,000.00 settlement (September 2005)
Paula Sample v. State Farm Insurance Co.
$500,000.00 verdict (April, 2006)
Kevin Sallette v. Hoskins
$3,000,000.00 settlement (April, 2006)
Brenda Russell v. Hulett
$475,000.00 settlement (September, 2006)
Roberta Nemeth v. Siebert
$400,000.00 settlement (December, 2006)
Rae Boyd v. Terminix
$472,520.18 verdict (February, 2007)
Patricia Thompson-Vasquez v. State Farm Insurance Co.
$1,420,382.00 verdict (February, 2007)
Estate of Carole Howard, Decd. v. Melbourne Airport Shuttle
$1,100,000.00 settlement (March, 2007)
Donald Dowling v. Progressive Express Insurance Co.
$1,000,000.00 settlement (October, 2007)
Roger Van Kramer v. Christopher Eddlemon
$393,279.91 verdict (January, 2008)
George Andrews v. Thomas and Sandra McPartland
$825,235.74 verdict including punitive damages (February, 2008)
John Doe v. X,Y,Z Medical Center
$1,450,000.00 settlement (April, 2008)
Raul Arroyave v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
$310,000.00 settlement (December, 2008)
James Robinson v. GEICO
$347,500.00 settlement (January, 2009)
Robin Curran v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
$4,650,589.00 verdict (January, 2009)
Rosemary Franceschi v. Estate of Raul J. Perez
$985,466.42 verdict (February, 2009)
Blyth Halsema v. Red Simpson Inc. & Bryan Blackburn
$600,000.00 settlement (February 2009)
John Franck v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
$611,710.31 verdict (March, 2009)
Gregory Rafferty v. Orkin, Inc. & William Tatalovich
$175,000.00 settlement (June 2009)
Phyllis Holman v. Delores Pettigrew
$310,000.00 settlement (July 2009)
Latty Truitt v. Delores Pettigrew
$228,950.00 settlement (July 2009)
Jamie O=Donnell v. A-1 Door Repair Service
$212,500.00 settlement (September 2009)
Donald Halsema v. Bryan Blackburn & Red Simpson Inc
$100,000.00 settlement (November 2009)
Mary Greene Macaluso v. R.E.S. Land Clearance, Inc.
$840,000.00 settlement (November 2009)
Cheryl Cataldo v. Health First, Inc. and David Ori
$2,052,434.14 verdict (February, 2010)
Steve Spilger v. PAVCO
$935,000.00 settlement (March 2010)
Donna Batchelor v. GEICO
$1,792,674.84 (April 2011)
Confidential parties
$8,000,000.00 settlement (December 2012)
Confidential parties
$8,950,000.00 settlement (December 2012)
Linda Slaughter v. CEMEX & David Green
$420,000.00 settlement (March 2013)
Sandra Alvarez v. Julianna Rivera Caraballo
$620,650.68 verdict (November 2013)
Donald Leinthall, Jr. v. Mallory Friends & Kristopher Moffitt
$100,000.00 settlement (November 2013)
Cami Carlson v. Mario Castagna
$100,000.00 settlement (November 2013)
Daisy Santos-Collazo v. Gregory & Zachory Harris
$100,000.00 settlement (December 2013)
Shirley Smith v. Raymond Bruce Martin
$585,500.00 settlement (March 2014)
Jon Garrett v. USAA
$2,000,752.27 verdict (May 2014)
Paula Miller v. Iryna Levine
$400,000.00 settlement (July 2014)
Shawn Riggan v. Karen Wilson
$200,000.00 settlement (November 2014)
Nilda Scantlebury v. Barnes Transportation Services, Inc.
$800,000.00 settlement (December 2014)
Holly Rucker v. Joshua King
$100,000.00 settlement (February 2015)
We’re Here for You.
We’ll take the time to understand your situation, explain your options, and help you move forward with confidence.