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Medical Malpractice

Top-Ranked Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Winter Park, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.214 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked medical malpractice lawyers in Winter Park, Florida are David Aaron Paul (LexRank 84.00), Benjamin Webster Newman (75.00) and Thomas Edward Shafovaloff “Thomas” (70.03).

This ranking lists 14 medical malpractice lawyers in Winter Park, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 1 to 41 years in practice. 3 of the 14 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
14
Fully verified
14 of 14

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    David Aaron Paul

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 84.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.0)
    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
  2. No change

    Benjamin Webster Newman

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 9.00 points behind #1, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    9.00 points behind #1 (David Aaron Paul): Practice-area relevance −5, Reputation −4.

  3. No change

    Thomas Edward Shafovaloff “Thomas”

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 41 years experience
    • Civil Rights · Consumer Protection
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 70.03: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Practice-area relevance (11.4/20). 4.97 points behind #2, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 17.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Practice-area relevance 11.4/20 (ranking avg 17.3)

    4.97 points behind #2 (Benjamin Webster Newman): Practice-area relevance −3.6, Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  4. No change

    Julie A Tyk

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 16 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 67.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (19.2/30); held back by Reputation (0/20). 2.23 points behind #3, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 17.0)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    2.23 points behind #3 (Thomas Edward Shafovaloff “Thomas”): Experience −10.8.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  5. No change

    William Joseph Tonelli III “Bill”

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 66.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 1.00 points behind #4, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 17.0)

    1.00 points behind #4 (Julie A Tyk): Experience −2.4.

  6. No change

    Christine Vi Zharova

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 18 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 66.60: strongest in Experience (21.6/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.20 points behind #5, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 17.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    0.20 points behind #5 (William Joseph Tonelli III “Bill”): Practice-area relevance −5.

  7. No change

    Olivia T Kronenberg “Olivia”

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 65.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 1.00 points behind #6, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 17.0)

    1.00 points behind #6 (Christine Vi Zharova): Experience −6.

  8. No change

    Jason Richard Fraxedas

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 17 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice · Product Liability
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 65.40: strongest in Experience (20.4/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.20 points behind #7, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 17.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    0.20 points behind #7 (Olivia T Kronenberg “Olivia”): Practice-area relevance −5.

  9. No change

    Charity Joy Tonelli

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 63.05: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 2.35 points behind #8, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 17.0)

    2.35 points behind #8 (Jason Richard Fraxedas): Professional credentials −3.8, Experience −3.6.

  10. No change

    James Elijah Simmons

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 16 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 62.80: strongest in Experience (19.2/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.25 points behind #9, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 17.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)

    0.25 points behind #9 (Charity Joy Tonelli): Practice-area relevance −5, Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  11. No change

    D. Simon Nicholson “Simon”

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 10 years experience
    • Civil Rights · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 57.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (12/30). 5.80 points behind #10, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 12/30 (ranking avg 17.0)

    5.80 points behind #10 (James Elijah Simmons): Experience −7.2.

  12. No change

    Ana Priscilla Sandoval-Gonzalez “Priscilla”

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 3 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 53.60: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (3.6/30). 3.40 points behind #11, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 3.6/30 (ranking avg 17.0)

    3.40 points behind #11 (D. Simon Nicholson “Simon”): Experience −8.4.

  13. No change

    Constantino Aurelio Muniz

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 1 year experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 51.20: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (1.2/30). 2.40 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.3)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 1.2/30 (ranking avg 17.0)

    2.40 points behind #12 (Ana Priscilla Sandoval-Gonzalez “Priscilla”): Experience −2.4.

  14. No change

    Stephen A. Craig “Steve”

    Independent practice · Winter Park, FL

    Verified
    • 1 year experience
    • Medical Malpractice · Product Liability
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 46.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (1.2/30). 5.00 points behind #13, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.3)
    • Experience 1.2/30 (ranking avg 17.0)

    5.00 points behind #13 (Constantino Aurelio Muniz): Practice-area relevance −5.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 14 profile pages141 facts for 14 lawyers

Medical Malpractice market in Winter Park

LexRanked tracks 14 lawyers in medical malpractice law in Winter Park, Florida. 14 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
14
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
14 of 14
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
15 years14 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Winter Park

What sets these Winter Park lawyers apart

Every lawyer in this ranking has a The Florida Bar license verified as eligible to practice, and every fact shown links to its source. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 14 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 1 to 41 (median 15)
Languages besides English Spanish (3), Russian (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law (5 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Winter Park office address and medical malpractice as a practice area on record. It compares 14 medical malpractice lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in medical malpractice, so the practice area is the one each lawyer lists on their Florida Bar profile, which The Florida Bar does not review. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

A Florida medical malpractice claim must be filed within 2 years of discovering the injury and never later than 4 years, after a presuit investigation with a medical expert opinion and a 90-day notice period.

Rule What it means
Filing deadline 2 years from the incident or from when it was or should have been discovered, and no later than 4 years from the incident; claims for a minor may be brought until the child's eighth birthday (Fla. Stat. § 95.11)
Expert opinion The claimant must investigate first and send a verified written medical expert opinion with the notice of intent (§ 766.203)
Notice of intent Before filing suit, the claimant must notify each prospective defendant of the intent to sue (§ 766.106)
90-day presuit period No lawsuit may be filed for 90 days after the notice; the defendant must then reject the claim, offer to settle or offer arbitration (§ 766.106)
Lawyer fees With a contingency fee, the patient keeps at least 70% of the first $250,000 and 90% of any damages above that, after costs (Fla. Const. art. I, § 26)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Orange County is in Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a medical malpractice claim in Florida?

Within 2 years from the incident or from when it was or should have been discovered, and no later than 4 years from the incident, under section 95.11. A claim for a minor may be brought until the child's eighth birthday.

What must happen before a medical malpractice lawsuit is filed?

The claimant investigates, obtains a verified written opinion from a medical expert and notifies each prospective defendant (sections 766.203 and 766.106). No suit may be filed for 90 days after the notice.

How much can a lawyer take from a medical malpractice award in Florida?

With a contingency fee, the patient keeps at least 70% of the first $250,000 and 90% of damages above $250,000, after reasonable costs, under article I, section 26 of the Florida Constitution.

What happens during the 90-day presuit period?

The doctor or hospital and its insurer review the claim and must respond by rejecting it, offering to settle or offering to arbitrate damages (section 766.106).

Which court handles cases in Winter Park?

State court cases in Orange County are heard in Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking medical malpractice lawyers in Winter Park?

Yes. 3 of the 14 ranked lawyers list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

14 of the 14 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: David Aaron Paul, Benjamin Webster Newman, Thomas Edward Shafovaloff “Thomas”, Julie A Tyk and William Joseph Tonelli III “Bill” and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

David Aaron Paul scores 84.00 and Benjamin Webster Newman 75.00, a gap of 9.00 points, mostly in practice-area relevance and reputation. Compare them side by side

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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