Name: Arthur Hernandez
Age: 45
Family: Married to Dr. Catherine C. Madaffari, 3 children, Cristina 17, Vincenzo 13, Sophia 11.
Pets: 3 cats as girls rule our home.
Education: University of Miami
Admitted to the Bar: 1992
Employed by: Law Offices of Arthur Hernandez, P.A., since 2001.
Field of practice: Civil trial litigation, plaintiffs, personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, Dram shop, products liability and insurance coverage disputes
Professional Organizations: The Florida Bar, The Jacksonville Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, The Jacksonville Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville Justice Association.
Community Involvement: Florida Bar YLD Board of Governors, 1998-2002; various Jacksonville Bar committees since 1993, most recently Diversity Committee; Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors 2000-2007; 13 years of various coaching positions for children’s leagues from First Coast Soccer to Ponte Vedra Developmental Football to Polly B Dance. Server at City Rescue Mission with my family, regular rider for annual MS 150, fundraiser through various local running events and annual St. Vincent’s Red Rose Ball.
How did you get involved?
Growing up in Miami, my parents always stressed the importance of becoming involved in our community and always giving back to our community. We as parents now try to instill those same values to our kids.
How can someone else get involved?
Just try to find something that you like, try it out and you’ll quickly realize that volunteers are always needed and if you are there for awhile, you can quickly rise into a leadership role if you choose to do so.
What have you learned/achieved through the experience?
Most of my activities involve kids and sports. As attorneys, we sometimes get caught up in the adversarial system with the primary focus on winning, sometimes at all costs, forgetting the basics. Kids help me to keep it all in perspective: Was it a positive experience? What did we learn from defeat? How did we overcome adversity? In spite of apparent differences or different levels of ability, how can we get along and move forward as a team? These are positive life lessons that are applicable to everyday adults and, yes, even attorneys.
What was the last book you read or are reading?
‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief’