Diana Santa Maria’s 30-year law career reflects her unwavering commitment to representing families and victims of negligence for injuries and deaths from all types of cases including, medical negligence, premises liability, faulty road construction, auto and truck crashes, drownings, inadequate security, violations of vulnerable adult rights, among others.
Graduating from the University of Miami with both a bachelor’s degree in English and a Law degree, she began a journey marked by dedication and exceptional achievements.
In law school, Diana discovered a passion for advocacy and was selected to represent the school in statewide Moot Court and Mock trial Competitions. She won the ‘Best Brief’ Award during the annual ‘Robert Orseck Memorial Moot Court Competition’ at the Florida Bar Convention, where selected students represent their schools and are judged by sitting Florida Supreme Court Justices.
From 1985 to 1990, Diana honed her skills working with the renowned trial attorney, the late, Sheldon J. Schlesinger, who specialized in personal injury, medical malpractice and product liability. These formative years instilled in her a deep commitment to championing the rights of injured plaintiffs; principles that continue to guide her practice to this day.
In January 1991, with a six-month-old son and another child on the way, Diana opened her own practice in South Florida. Juggling the demands of a burgeoning law career with the responsibilities of motherhood, her firm began in a spare bedroom in the home, eventually moving to more formal office headquarters. Over the next few years, the firm grew with clients and staff, becoming a well-established presence in the legal community known for its unwavering commitment and relentless pursuit of justice for its clients.
Under her leadership, the firm took on complex cases where dangerous conditions presented opportunities to make safety corrections for the public benefit including representation of a family in a suit against the Florida Department of Transportation and contractors involved in the building of the Sawgrass Expressway (I-595). The road had a fatal construction flaw, causing puddling in the roadway when it rained, resulting in multiple crashes and serious injuries when vehicles would hydroplane and overturn or lose control.
The case was successfully resolved, and the defective road condition causing the puddling was corrected. Santa Maria also sued USA Triathlon, among others, for negligence leading to the death of triathletes during the swim part of the Florida Iron Man hoping to enhance safety measures for the participants of these competitions and save future lives. The suits were brought on behalf of the families of both a father and later, a mother, both of whom lost their lives during the swim part of the competition.
Over the years, Diana’s “can do” attitude and commitment to righting wrongs resulted in landmark victories for her clients. In 2002 she obtained an $ 8.2 million verdict for an athlete’s loss of a toe depriving him of a basketball career, reported as the largest verdict at that time for a toe amputation.
In October of 2005, the firm’s office headquarters were destroyed by Hurricane Wilma. Diana faced the challenge of rebuilding the practice almost from scratch. Undaunted by adversity, she transformed this setback into an opportunity for growth, modernizing operations and enhancing client representation through modern technology and equipment.
Beyond her legal practice, Diana has served the legal profession throughout her career. She served as a Governor on the statewide Florida Bar’s Board of Governors for 10 years. A long-time member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), she served as President of its Ft. Lauderdale Chapter and received its 2013 ‘Trial Lawer of the Year’ award. After serving on its leadership board for years, Diana became a Fellow of the Florida Justice Association (FJA) dedicated to strengthening and upholding Florida's civil justice system and protecting the rights of Florida's citizens. Fellows of the FJA are recognized as leaders, mentors and esteemed colleagues to its members, inspiring others to strive for similar levels of greatness. In 2016, the FJA awarded her its Compassionate Gladiatrix Award, recognizing her as an unwavering advocate, master of the trial and champion for victims. She’s also a Florida Supreme Court certified Mediator helping fellow lawyers facilitate the resolution of cases.
With over 32 years in business, the firm boasts a rich history of securing multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements across a broad spectrum of cases. In 2024, after a five-year journey and three-week trial, she and her co-counsel team were awarded a $31.9 million verdict in a medical malpractice wrongful death case. In recent settlements, the firm resolved two truck crash cases totaling $6.5 million dollars in addition to cases in other genres.
Through her leadership and the tireless efforts of her team, Diana Santa Maria continues to make a profound impact, making sure justice is served, and rights are upheld in every case undertaken.
Diana’s impact extends beyond the courtroom. Her dedication to justice, excellence and service sets a standard for the legal profession and inspires all who know her.
