Richard G. Daniels was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 10, 1946. In 1963, at the age of 17, Richard enlisted in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. While based on a communications ship, his primary duty was to intercept Russian Morse Code, typing intercepted messages on a Russian typewriter. He was later based in Germany and Washington D.C., working with the NSA, before being honorably discharged in 1967. Thereafter, Richard completed training at the Police Academy in Miami and joined the Coral Gables Police Department in 1969.

 

In 1973, he received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Miami and continued serving with the Coral Gables Police Department until 1977, when he received his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami. In order to obtain his JD, Richard took evening classes at UM, while working full time as a Police Officer, and raising three young children. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1977, he was later admitted to practice in numerous Courts including the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida in 1978, to the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida Trial Bar in 1982, to the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit in 1980, and to the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit in 1982.

 

Mr. Daniels founded a civil litigation firm in 1984, with the goal of providing skilled and effective legal representation in specific practice areas. With that endeavor, the Firm, now known as Daniels, Rodriguez, & Cruz, PA, expanded to three offices throughout the State of Florida with experienced litigation teams practicing in commercial litigation, construction law and litigation, professional liability, and insurance defense litigation. Richard specialized in representing world-renowned design professionals and the largest Architectural and Engineering Firms in the State of Florida as they built some of the world’s most iconic buildings. The Firm received an “AV” rating by Martindale-Hubbell, and its attorneys are recognized as Best Lawyers, Chambers USA, and Super Lawyers. U.S. News + Best Lawyers awarded the firm a national ranking in both its 2010 inaugural edition and 2018 and 2019 editions of the “Best Law Firms” Rankings. In addition, he has also served as special counsel representing local government agencies in various construction litigation matters and has been a member of the Panel of Construction Arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association since 1984.

 

As an allied member of the South Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, he lectured before that organization on topics related to professional liability. He was an approved AIA/CES Provider, invited speaker at Victor O’Schinnerer’s “Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys”, The Florida Bar’s “Construction Law Institute”; and authored Potential Pitfalls of the Architect as Arbitrator in the Owner/Contractor Contract, Lorman, 1997, Architect’s Liability for Contract Administration/Job Site Safety, Lorman, 1997 and The Economic Loss Doctrine and the Supervising Architect, Lorman, 1998; as a certified AIA/CES Instructor/Provider, and was a featured speaker five times in the AIA sponsored television series ‘All About Architecture’.

 

Recognized by his peers and rating organizations as a “Best Lawyers” (Construction Law) since 2009; Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America – Construction Litigation, Professional Liability Defense; and as a “Florida Super Lawyer” (Construction Litigation) (2010-2022); Top Attorney in South Florida, as published by the Wall Street Journal 2011; The Miami Herald South Florida Legal Guide and Corporate Counsel have recognized him as a South Florida Top Lawyer (2009-2022). Mr. Daniels was voted “Lawyer of the Year” by his peers, in Construction Litigation and Construction Law in 2020 and 2022; Peer Review Rated – AV by Martindale-Hubbell Judicial Edition; Recipient, American Juris Prudence Award in Evidence

 

Richard had a passion for architecture, art, fishing, Florida, and the history of Coral Gables. He was a collector of fine arts and antiques, including an extensive collection of Coral Gables memorabilia, along with many of the famed architect Addison Mizner’s books and personal effects. These collections have been displayed in museums throughout Florida.

Richard also had a passion for nature and landscaping. He was a collector of rare plants, with a particular interest in palms and crotons. He was especially proud of his unique heirloom crotons. He raised fruit trees all his life and made it a point to grow oranges wherever he lived. He loved to be around backyard wildlife and cultivated gardens to attract butterflies and songbirds. He was even known to feed the foxes whose forebears had participated in the Biltmore Hotel fox hunts.

 

He is survived by his wife, Cristina, and children, Kimberly, Jeremy, Kyle, Camila, and Grayson. His parents were Earl Daniels and Patricia Daniels, (nee Clarke, later Powers).