Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP is proud to announce a significant legal victory led by Managing Partner Darryl Richards. In a complex dispute where a former physician partner sought $10M+ in damages, Darryl successfully defended our clients, proving defamation and securing a $1.4M+ arbitration award in their favor.

When the former partner refused to pay, Darryl continued the fight—ultimately recovering $1.85M, including additional attorneys’ fees, costs, and interest. This case underscores our firm’s dedication to relentless advocacy and real results.

Darryl has been a trial lawyer with the firm since 1982. He has handled many types of cases, including personal injury cases, car crashes, defective product designs, legal malpractice, medical malpractice, land use litigation, non-compete litigation and sophisticated business litigation. He is also a Certified Circuit Court Mediator.

Distinctions & Memberships 

• Admitted to The Florida Bar – 1982
• U.S. District Court- Middle, Southern and Northern District of Florida
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit – 1985
• Hillsborough County Bar Association Member
• Florida Bar, Board of Governors, Young Lawyers Division – 1986-1994
• The Best Lawyers in America© since 2006, in the fields of Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Real Estate
• Order of the Coif
• Certified Mediator
• AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Florida Legal Elite
• Clearwater Bar President’s Award – 1987
• Past Board Member – Big Brothers Big Sisters, Pinellas County
• Member Service Award – Bayshore Little League – 2010