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Henry "Hank" Didier, Jr.
A CONSUMER ADVOCATE IN AND
OUT OF THE COURTROOM
> Henry “Hank” N. Didier, Jr. doesn’t just want to be a good trial lawyer. He considers himself a consumer advocate as well. He has found a way to do both through his two current roles – one as a plaintiff’s attorney focused on product safety issues, and the other as co-founder of a financial services firm that specializes in helping former plaintiffs if they need to sell their structured settlements.
“Being a good lawyer is not just about getting the best result, said Didier. “It’s about making sure your hard work will provide a lasting legacy.” That’s where Vantage Capital Consultants comes in.
Didier describes his role at Vantage as not conventional or easy, but as necessary. He and his partner, fellow lawyer Jay Fisher, saw a need and did something about it. Most lawyers he knows were offering little to no help to former clients seeking advice on selling their structured settlement or annuity, either because they did not appreciate the magnitude of the problem, or simply because they had no idea what advice to give or what options may exist. But he knew that was only exasperating the problem.
“These folks needed candid advice and couldn’t find any, leaving them at the mercy of television and internet advertising companies in an unregulated marketplace” he added.
Through the years, he has put countless clients into structured settlements because he believes that they are a great vehicle for long-term stability. “But, circumstances changed, and many people are struggling in today’s economy,” said Didier. “Undoing structured settlements isn’t always popular, or even the best financial decision, but it’s happening, and people need a resource where they can get the information they need to make informed decisions. We try to find alternatives or talk people out of selling, but sometimes there is no other choice.”
As a lawyer, Didier holds manufacturers accountable for the safety of their products through his product liability practice. With offices in Orlando and Tampa, the Didier Law Firm specializes in the litigation of complex auto accidents, truck accidents and product liability cases, often involving tire failures, rollover accidents, or unsafe airbags.
“We want to hold manufacturers to a higher standard, especially when it comes to consumer safety,” he said.
His focus right now is on raising awareness of the lack of head-protecting side airbags for backseat passengers. “There are still cars on the road that do not have side airbags to prevent head injuries past the first row, which is oftentimes where children are sitting. The technology has been available for more than a decade, and it’s a huge safety issue as there is no better or more effective way to lessen or prevent fatal or catastrophic head injuries in side impact accidents.”
“We see it all the time, where the driver walks away from an accident and the child may be brain injured or dead. Head-protecting airbags such as curtain airbags are the best way to prevent a head injury in a side impact car accident,” he said.
So whether it’s advocating for consumers in front of a jury, or helping guide a former plaintiff to a better financial decision, he finds himself breaking new ground in many battles.
“When people need help, we need to be there. It’s about treating people fairly, thinking outside the box and going above and beyond."<
Founder, Didier Law Firm
P: 407-895-3401
www.productsafetyattorneys.com
Co-Founder, Vantage Capital Consultants
P: 877-886-0232
www.VantageNow.com |
