Law Firm Overview

Horan, Wallace & Higgins, LLP
Key West , Florida , Law Firm

The law firm of Horan, Wallace & Higgins LLP is located in Key West, Monroe County, Florida, the country's Southernmost City . The firm was begun by Senior Partner, David Paul Horan, in 1972 and continues to thrive in its tropical setting. The partners in the firm, David Paul Horan, R. Bruce Wallace and Cara Higgins, have over sixty-five (65) years of combined experience in the practice of law.

The firm's offices are located at 608 Whitehead Street in the "Old Town" section of Key West, just one block south of the County Courthouse and five blocks from the Federal District Courthouse. (No points in Key West are any great distance from the firm's offices since the Island of Key West is approximately two miles wide and four miles long.)

Senior Partner, David Paul Horan's, adventures into high-profile federal litigation began in 1975 with his representation of the world's most famous treasure hunter, Melvin A. Fisher. Mel Fisher's company, Treasure Salvors, Incorporated, found and salvaged the 1622 Spanish Galleons, "Nuestra Senora de Atocha" and "Santa Margarita", which sunk in the waters off the Florida Keys. After seven years of litigation against modern-day pirates (including claims of ownership by the federal and state governments) the case was decided after oral arguments by the United States Supreme Court with title being awarded to Treasure Salvors. David Paul has litigated salvage actions on the "Titanic," "U.S.S. Central America," "El Cazador," and other historic vessels and aircraft.

Before moving to Key West and joining the firm, R. Bruce Wallace was a partner in a prestigious Miami law firm. He came to Key West in 1993 with a strong background in commercial, business litigation and product liability defense. He continues to represent national and international corporations, along with local concerns, in business matters, construction disputes and products liability defense.

Before becoming a partner in the firm, Cara Higgins was an Assistant Prosecutor in Trenton, New Jersey and later an associate with our firm.  In addition to her criminal defense practice, she handles civil litigation, construction law, family law, probate, animal law and has handled a variety of high profile criminal and civil cases.  Ms. Higgins has recently appeared on various national news broadcasts regarding the Hemingway Home and Museum's battle to prevent the USDA from caging the famous six (6) toed Hemingway Cats. Ms. Higgins is active in various professional and community associations including representing the Young Lawyer's Division of the Florida Bar for the 16^th Judicial Circuit, serving as President of the Monroe County Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Vice President of the Monroe County Bar Association and on the Board of Directors for the Monroe County Chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Key West Chamber of Commerce.

The law firm's highest profile cases are against the federal and state governments concerning private property rights, administrative/governmental litigation, business and construction litigation, commercial fishing and, of course, admiralty and maritime law.

Firm Overview    -  Attorney Profiles    -  Practice Area Overview    -  Civil Litigation & Appeals    -  Civil Rights Cases

Commercial & Residential Real Estate    -  Business Law    -  Family Law    -  Estate Planning and Probate

Criminal Law    -  Construction Law    -  Admiralty and Maritime Law    -  Articles    -  Representative Clients    -  Published Cases

608 Whitehead Street - Key West, FLORIDA (FL) 33040-6549 - P: (305) 294-4585 - F: (305) 294-7822

Areas of Practice

• Criminal Defense
• Civil Litigation
• Business Law
• Family Law
• Civil Rights Cases
• Estate Planning and Probate
• Construction Law
• Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Commercial and Residential Real Estate
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Products Liability Law

Representative Clients

• Cobb Coin Co., Inc.
• Columbus America Discovery Group
• First State Bank of the Florida Keys
• Garrison Bight Marina
• General Electric Company
• Key West Housing Authority
• Heery International, Inc.
• Toppino's Inc.
• Organized Fishermen of Florida, Inc.
• Southeastern Fisheries, Inc.

West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Admiralty & Maritime Law, Jones Act, Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, Marine Cargo, Shipping, Business & Commercial Law, Commercial Leasing, Contracts, Business Organizations, Business Successions, Closely Held Businesses, Corporate Governance, Directors' & Officers' Liability, Dissolution, Formation & Business Planning, Franchising, Joint Ventures, Limited Liability Companies, Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures, Partnerships, Reorganizations, Shareholders' Rights, Trade Associations, Civil Rights, Age Discrimination, Disability & Illness Discrimination, Gay & Lesbian Rights, National Origin Discrimination, Police Misconduct, Race Discrimination, Religious Discrimination, Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Construction Law, Construction Contracts, Construction Liens, Government Construction Contracts, Housing & Construction Defects, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, Drug Violations, Federal, Felonies, Grand Jury Proceedings, Juvenile Crimes, Misdemeanor, Parole & Probation, RICO Act, Sex Offenses, Traffic Violations, White Collar Crimes, Environmental Law, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointment, Trusts, Wills, Family Law, Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Domestic Violence & Neglect, Juvenile Law, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Litigation & Appeals, Complex Litigation, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Animal Bites -- Plaintiff, Assault & Battery -- Plaintiff, Aviation Accidents -- Plaintiff, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Premises Liability -- Plaintiff, Property Damage -- Plaintiff, Probate & Estate Administration, Estate Administration, Products Liability Law, Real Estate Law, Commercial Real Estate, Residential Real Estate