AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Slip/Trip and Falls
Professional & Knowledgeable
Attorney Richard L Purtz of GBCR&P came highly recommended by a close family member. Mr. Purtz and the rest of the staff are highly professional, knowledgeable, friendly and extremely approachable! My concerns and questions were always answered in a timely manner and with the utmost attention, respect, and resolve! I'm so thankful to Mr. Purtz and the rest of the team for helping me through a painful situation and making the process seem effortless and stress-free. This surpassed my expectations and made me believe in lawyers again. Who we choose to represent us is so important. The circumstances we find ourselves in are already complicated enough, our journey through this legal process need not be!
DESCRIPTION
Richard Purtz joined the firm in 1983, became a partner in 1995.
Purtz, from Quantico, Va., played college basketball at Tulane University and pro basketball in Europe as well as volleyball in middle school, high school and college. When his 14-year-old daughter went to a tryout for a volleyball team, he ended up being recruited to coach volleyball and did so for about 10 years. He was also involved in the administrative side of sports as a co-founder and Club Director of USA South Volleyball. For the past 10 years, he’s been a board member and General Counsel USA Volleyball-Florida Region, the governing board for Olympic and Junior Olympic teams.
“One thing you learn from sports it that to be competitive, you have to follow the rules,” Purtz said. “The positive effect as an attorney is the desire to be ethical and follow procedures, especially when the envelope is really being pushed by lawyers today as far as following the rules.”
He and other athlete-turned-lawyers find the desire to win helpful in their post-sports careers. “Athletes hate to lose,” Purtz said. “Competitiveness in us is at the root of our beings, which is good for lawyers, especially in litigation.”
EDUCATION
- Miami Springs Senior High School, 1972
- Tulane University, B.A. Education, 1977
- University of Florida College of Law, J.D, with honors, 1988
- Appellate Advocacy Fellowship Instructor in 1987 and 1988
- American Trial Lawyers Association Trial competition team
CREDENTIALS
- Admitted to the Florida Bar, 1988
- Admitted to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
CERTIFICATIONS AND DISTINCTIONS
- AV Preeminent Rating Civil Trial Attorney through Martindale Hubbell’s Peer Reviews
- One of Florida’s “Super Lawyers”
- Florida Bar Board of Certification, Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer
- Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
- Member the American Justice Association
- Board of Directors of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers from 1999-2005, now known as the Florida Justice Association
- First President of the Southwest Florida Trial Lawyers Association
- General Counsel for Florida Region of USA Volleyball
- Adjunct Professor at The University of St. Francis in Graduate Studies in Health Services Administration
Free Attorney Consultation
Established in 1962, Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz, P.A. cares about and serves the legal needs of our neighbors, with six convenient offices in Southwest Florida.
Call us today to schedule your free attorney consultation.
Awards, Recognition & Memberships
Office Locations
- FORT MYERS
- FORT MYERS - MCGREGOR
- CAPE CORAL
- NAPLES
- LEHIGH ACRES
- PORT CHARLOTTE
- FORT MYERS
- FORT MYERS - MCGREGOR
- CAPE CORAL
- NAPLES
- LEHIGH ACRES
- PORT CHARLOTTE