MELTZER & BELL - Key Persons
Ari Goldberg is a partner with Meltzer & Bell, P.A. Prior to joining the firm, Ari was an Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach County. While at the State Attorney's Office, he was first assigned to the County Court Trial Division as a Lead Attorney. His responsibilities included supervising other ASAs, handling hundreds of cases, and making filing decisions on DUI-recidivist cases.
Thereafter, Ari worked in the County Court Appellate Division. As the sole ASA assigned to handle County-to-Circuit appeals, Ari wrote all initial, answer, and reply briefs, extraordinary writs, and post-conviction motions. Additionally, the position included mentoring all County Court attorneys on legal issues and strategy, and working closely with the administration in litigating complex or novel legal issues, most notably successfully representing the State in defense of a class challenge (over 150 cases) to use of the Intoxilzyer 8000 in criminal cases. Before leaving the State Attorney's Office, Ari was promoted to the Felony Trial Division where he handled hundreds of felonies, many of which were first and second-degree offenses. Ari tried multiple felony cases.
Throughout his career, Ari has represented clients in county court, circuit court, and at administrative hearings. He's handled cases in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Osceola, Orange, Hendry, Lee, and Columbia counties. He's gone to trial over 30 times, and written nearly 50 appellate briefs.
Ari is a graduate of Florida International University College of Law. At FIU, he was a member of the Trial Team, Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society, and Vice President of the Jewish Law Students Association. He made the Dean's List every semester, was awarded the Hon. Ted Klein Memorial Scholarship for excellence in trial advocacy, and earned Book Awards for the highest grade in multiple classes. Ari was also elected Class Speaker by the 2012 day-division student body, won the 2012 Trial Advocacy Award, and graduated as Valedictorian.
For the past four years, Ari's coached FIU's Trial Team, winning 3 state championships in that time. In the fall of 2017, Ari was hired by FIU as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy. Before becoming a lawyer, Ari served as a law clerk for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, and graduated from Monmouth University with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Education
Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey - Bachelor of Arts, 2009
Florida International University College of Law, Miami, Florida - Juris Doctor, 2012
Ari Goldberg After being an Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach County for 3 and half years, Ari Goldberg joined Meltzer & Bell, P.A. While Ari was at the State Attorney's Office, first he was assigned to the County Court Trial Division, where he served as a lead attorney. Some of his responsibilities were handling hundreds of cases, supervising other ASA's, and making filing decisions on all DUI's assigned to his division.
Brandon Dinetz joins Meltzer & Bell, P.A. as an associate after working for four years as an Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach County. While at the State Attorney's Office, he was assigned to the County Court Trial Division. In this role, he prosecuted over 3,100 criminal cases, including DUI's, thefts, batteries, firearm charges, drug offenses, and numerous traffic offenses.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney at Meltzer & Bell, P.a.
- Member of the Board of Advocates
David Goudreau is an Associate Attorney at Meltzer & Bell, P.A. He studied Criminology at Florida State University, earning cum laude honors. It was there that he first discovered his passion for the law, working right alongside a local attorney who would later be appointed to the Federal Judiciary.
After college, Mr. Goudreau moved back to South Florida to attend the Florida International University College of Law. There, he served as the President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, Vice-President of the Criminal Law Society, and Treasurer of the Student Body Government. He was named to the Dean's List in four out of six semesters and received the "Book Award" for having the top class grade in Criminal Procedure.
As a member of the Board of Advocates, Mr. Goudreau competed in three state-wide mock trial competitions. It was from those trial team competitions that Mr. Goudreau's love of trial practice came about. After a brief stint at the Miami-Dade State's Attorney's Office, he realized he was on the wrong side, a notion that was confirmed after spending a year as a Certified Legal Intern at the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office.
Once out of law school, Mr. Goudreau accepted a position at the West Palm Beach Office of the Public Defender. In his six-and-a-half years at the office, Mr. Goudreau defended over 1000 cases and served as trial counsel in more than 50 jury trials.
Florida Jury Instructions - Florida allows the public to access jury instructions, which are a set of legal rules that jurors follow when deciding the verdict of a case. Viewing these instructions is a great way to see what the jury is going to look for in a traffic ticket case. Access the site to learn what their criteria for conviction is and the suggested penalties for it.
Lawrence Meltzer earned his Bachelor's degree from American University before studying law at Nova Southeastern University. He gained 4 years of experience in the Broward County State Attorney's Office before practicing criminal defense in the private sector. He uses his insider's knowledge of Florida's courtrooms to confidently help clients choose the most beneficial option available to pursue.
Stephan Dobrinsky was born and raised in south Florida. For his undergraduate studies, he attended the University of Maryland where he majored in Philosophy. In 2011, he enrolled at the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida. Prior to joining Meltzer & Bell, P.A., Stephan worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Broward County for over three years, dedicating himself to the defense of indigent people charged with crimes.
Steven Kenneth Bell, Esquire, is a former Broward County Public Defender who continues to represent people in Broward County who have been accused of committing crimes. In Broward County courts, Mr. Bell learned the ropes and worked his way up to become a lead Felony Public Defender. His skill and experience are available to you if you face charges in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Broward County.
Mr. Bell graduated from the University of Florida in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in advertising. In 2004, he earned his juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University's Sheppard Broad Law Center. Mr. Bell graduated Magna Cum Laude, an achievement and one of the highest honors for students, graduating in the top 3 percent of their class.
Mr. Bell began his career fighting for the rights of the accused while still in law school. Mr. Bell worked as a Supreme Court Certified Legal Intern with the Broward County Public Defender's Office, which allowed him to try both felony and misdemeanor trials before ever becoming a member of the Florida Bar.
The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers awarded Bell for his outstanding work and litigation as a certified legal intern. He also was one of a select few students elected to Nova Southeastern University Law Review and was recognized by becoming published in the field of criminal law before ever becoming a lawyer. After graduating from law school, Mr. Bell became a member of the Order of Barristers, an honor given only to nine members of his graduating class. He was also honored for his work by the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
When his internship with the Broward County Public Defender's Office ended, he was hired as an assistant public defender in with the Broward County Public Defender's Office. Within a year, he was promoted to the felony division. He defended the rights of people accused of DUI, DUI Manslaughter, battery, robbery, manslaughter, carjacking, drug trafficking and other serious offenses who could not afford an private attorney.
Based on his trial skills, Mr. Bell was again promoted to Supervisor of the Juvenile Division of the Broward County Public Defender's Office, one of the youngest attorneys to lead a division in that office. In that capacity, he represented young people accused of crimes in Fort Lauderdale and the rest of the surrounding area.
Steven Bell has nearly a decade of experience defending those charged with crimes throughout South Florida. After receiving his juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University, he served as a public defender in Broward County. He practiced at the felony division before leading the juvenile division as one of the youngest attorneys to do so. He now uses his experiences to aid those facing daunting traffic violations.