At The Nurse Lawyer, P.A., we are proud to share an honor that means a great deal to our firm and to founding attorney Maryann M. Furman, BCS, Esq., RN.
Maryann has received the Florida Justice Association’s 2026 Justice Barbara Pariente Award, recognizing her longstanding service to Florida's civil justice community.
For Maryann, the recognition reflects nearly two decades of involvement with the Florida Justice Association, advocacy for injured Floridians, leadership within the legal profession, and a commitment to protecting access to Florida's courts.
We are especially proud because this award reflects something that has always been central to Maryann's work: advocacy does not begin and end with one case or one courtroom.
What Does the Justice Barbara Pariente Award Recognize?
The Florida Justice Association established the Justice Barbara Pariente Award as a permanent tribute to former Florida Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente.
The award recognizes members of The Florida Bar whose careers demonstrate a lasting commitment to equal justice and who lead by example.
That context makes Maryann’s recognition especially meaningful.
Justice Pariente’s career reflected determined leadership and a longstanding commitment to ensuring that Floridians have access to equal justice under the law. Receiving an award bearing her name recognizes more than professional accomplishment. It reflects a broader commitment to serving Florida’s civil justice system and the people who depend on it.
For Maryann, those principles have shaped years of work both inside and outside the courtroom.
Nearly Two Decades of Advocacy Through the Florida Justice Association
Maryann joined the Florida Justice Association in 2008 and has remained deeply involved with the organization ever since.
Over the years, she has served on FJA’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors and participated in its Key Contact Program, building relationships with lawmakers and helping see that the concerns of trial lawyers and the injured people they represent are heard when important civil justice issues are considered.
Maryann has also spent time in Tallahassee advocating on issues involving access to Florida courts and the rights of injured Floridians.
That work reflects concerns that extend beyond any one personal injury case.
The rights of injured people are shaped not only by what happens in an individual case, but also by the laws governing Florida's civil justice system and access to the courts.
Maryann's involvement with FJA reflects her longstanding commitment to those issues and to the people affected by them.
The Same Commitment Shapes Our Work at The Nurse Lawyer
Maryann’s career has always brought together two different worlds: medicine and law.
Before becoming an attorney, she worked as a registered nurse. She later became a trial lawyer and is now board certified in civil trial law by The Florida Bar.
At The Nurse Lawyer, P.A., that medical and legal perspective affects the way we look at serious injury cases.
We know an injury is not simply a diagnosis listed in a medical record. It can affect a person's ability to work, sleep, care for family members, move without pain, think clearly, or return to the life they had before an accident.
That is why we look closely at both the medical evidence and the way an injury has affected the client's everyday life.
The Florida Justice Association highlighted Maryann’s combination of clinical knowledge and trial experience when recognizing her with this award. It also noted her willingness to devote the time, resources, and preparation necessary to a case and to take a case to trial when doing so serves the client’s interests.
That approach remains an important part of how we represent injured people today.
Leadership Also Means Teaching and Mentoring Others
Maryann’s involvement in Florida’s legal community has also included helping other trial lawyers strengthen their own advocacy.
She has taught continuing legal education programs and mentored attorneys, sharing both legal knowledge and lessons learned through years of preparing and trying cases.
That commitment to teaching and mentorship adds another dimension to the service recognized by this award.
Maryann’s service to FJA is also continuing. She was recently elected Secretary of FJA for the 2026–2027 term, extending a relationship with the organization that began nearly two decades ago.
We Are Proud to Celebrate This Recognition
The 2026 Justice Barbara Pariente Award is a meaningful honor, and we are proud to celebrate Maryann’s recognition by the Florida Justice Association.
For us, the values behind this award, including leadership, service, preparation, and commitment to Florida's civil justice system, continue to shape Maryann's work at The Nurse Lawyer, P.A.
When someone comes to us after a serious injury, we know they are often dealing with far more than a legal claim. They may be facing pain, medical uncertainty, time away from work, financial pressure, and questions about what their future will look like.
Our job is to listen, understand the medical and legal issues involved, and prepare carefully so our clients can make informed decisions about what comes next. If you have questions after a serious injury, reach out to The Nurse Lawyer, P.A. through our online contact form to start a conversation about your situation.
We congratulate Maryann on this well-deserved honor and look forward to her continued service to injured Floridians and Florida’s civil justice community.
Disclaimer: The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
