A small law firm, the 20-attorney defense firm of Peterson Bernard, in Florida has suffered a devastating loss — four of the firms’ shareholders died in a plane crash Friday afternoon. A twin-engine Piper aircraft heading from Tampa to West Palm Beach crashed ~400 yards from the shore of Lake Okeechobee. All those on board — Peterson Bernard partners Eric Peterson, Edwin Mortell, Heather Bridwell, and Matthew Fiorello, along with the pilot, Eduardo Mulet — died in the crash.
The attorneys were returning from a meeting with a prospective client. Though the cause of the crash is still being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, Law.com reports there may have been an issue with the plane that required it be diverted to the Pahokee airport:
The plane was diverted to the Pahokee airport because there was “an issue” with the aircraft, Fiorello’s wife told the Palm Beach Post, citing a text message sent shortly before the crash.
The firm has a memorial in memory of the deceased attorneys on their homepage.
Peterson, 73, co-founded the firm in 1981 and was the managing partner of the West Palm Beach office. His practice focused on contractor/road liability, architect and engineer liability and premises liability with emphasis on liquor liability, negligent security, and false arrest litigation.
Mortell, 54, was managing partner of the firm’s Stuart office, with a practice in medical malpractice claims, wrongful death claims, architect and engineer liability, real estate broker and agent malpractice, motor vehicle liability, premises liability, and toxic tort claims.
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Bridwell, 43, worked in the Stuart office with a practice that included insurance defense, automobile liability, wrongful death, premises liability, professional liability, construction defects, general liability, first party property defense, and appellate work.
Fiorello, 36, was based in the firm’s West Palm Beach shareholder His practice focused on contractor/road Liability, motor vehicle liability, premises liability, construction defect, and criminal defense.
Our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of those lost in this difficult time.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).