Biography - Dorothy Clay Sims, Esq.
It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." —Upton Sinclair (1878–1968)
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Dorothy Clay Sims is the founding partner of the Florida based law firm of Sims & Stakenborg, PA.   Sims can be contacted for consultations via email at: dcs@ocalaw.com.
The firm’s main office is located at 118 W Fort King Street Ocala, FL.  The satellite office is located at 802-A NW 16th Ave. Gainesville, FL 32601
Telephone Contact:
Ocala, FLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 352-629-0480
Gainesville, FLÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 352-337-0065
Los Angeles, CAÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 424-248-9107Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
San Francisco, CAÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 650-741-3561
New York, NYÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 347-687-9683
Washington, D.C.             202-573-8402
Sims conferences with lawyers throughout the U.S. to suggest methods of cross-examination regarding a specific expert after conducting background research on the expert and the topic. She also cross-examines forensic experts for other attorneys. She also reads reports and prepares an outline suggesting questions on various topics.(See FAQ) . Sims is frequently invited to conduct private, in-house seminars for lawyers and law firms on researching and cross-examining experts as well as the use of technology and the practice of law. Sims is also used by lawyers throughout the U.S. to review a file and prepare a mediation presentation setting forth weaknesses in the defense position as well as weaknesses in the experts retained by the insurance industry. Sims is also retained in criminal cases to assist the defense attorney in cross-examining the state’s forensic expert.
Publications:
Sims has authored chapters in books, national and international journals and publications.
Her  book, Exposing the Deceptive Defense Doctor, (focused on insurance defense experts) may be found at www.jamespublishing.com.Â
This book has been a consistent number one best seller for 3 years in a row. Sims donates a portion of her book profits various organizations including the American Association for Justice and the International Federation for Human Rights.
Sims has been in:
The Wall Street Journal,
The New York Times,
Newsweek and
Lawyers, USA
Sims has been requested to appear on talk shows and legal-based media outlets.
National television appearances include:
On The Record with Greta Van Susteren (Fox)
The Piers Morgan Show (CNN) and
In Session (CNN)
Sims radio interviews include a feature interview about her work on the international news outlet, The Voice of America.
Speeches:
Sims is frequently invited to speak about forensic issues with legal and medical organizations and has give over 300 speeches nationwide, and in Canada, Japan and India. The organizations include: The American Association for Justice, Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, The American Psychological Association, The International Rehabilitation Medical Association, Worker’s Injury Litigation Group, SEAK, American Association of Disability Evaluating Physicians, North American Brain Injury Society, PESI, National organization For Women (NOW), Florida Worker’s Advocate, National organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives, San Francisco Public Defenders Office and numerous state Trial Lawyers Associations.
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Personal Background:
Sims grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky, where her mother worked for Head Start while her father worked for the phone company. She moved to Florida while in high school. Her mother, who struggled with alcoholism and who joined AA, received her 10 year chip of sobriety before her death.
Sims received both undergraduate and her law degree from the University of Florida
and studied international law at Oxford University.
Her younger brother, the former prosecutor and judge, Benham J. Sims, is also a lawyer and practices in Kentucky.
Volunteering has always been a part of her practice.Â
Feeding the homeless in New York
Travels took her to the Amazon Jungle where Sims saw firsthand destruction of the jungle by corporations who displaced the native Shuar Indians.
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Sims with a young Ecuadorian
She also trekked medications to the Mount Everest region in Nepal several years ago.
Sims at an orphanage in Kathmandu, Nepal
Sims was influenced by her younger brother, who suffers from Down syndrome. She saw how he was treated by strangers, sometimes with pity, sometimes with cruelty, and decided to devote her life to working with the injured and disabled who often have no voice when pitted against powerful people/organizations.
Her grandfather, the Kentucky-based John Y. Brown, Sr. and well known trial lawyer loomed large and was a powerful influence in Sims’ childhood growing up listening to his stories about the poor victims he represented. Sims learned how he took on unpopular cases like representing miners during strikes against potent mining companies. The 1950’s and ‘60’s were dangerous times and Brown put his own life in danger repeatedly on behalf of those who had no other representation. During one trial for example, a deputy hit Brown on the head with a shotgun and knocked him unconscious….but his silence was brief. Brown went on to become a member of the House of Representatives in congress for nearly three decades where he served as Speaker and as majority floor leader. Sims’ grandfather also sponsored the state’s first civil rights legislation in spite of death threats to himself and his family.
Sims found herself in similar threatening circumstances when she began cross-examining doctors. Â Sims realized she needed increased security for herself and her family after conferring with civil rights lawyer Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, whose life had also been threatened.
Sims initially represented miners in Kentucky who were denied black lung benefits. Going down into the bowels of a mine in Eastern Kentucky at the face of the mine where dynamite was placed, she felt vibrations as the miners “shot coal” (exploded portions of the face to loosen the coal). Despite wearing a mask, her own coughing and sneezing coal dust for days led to a profound respect dreaded pneumoconiosis in miners who had spent decades in the mines.
After representing coalminers, she then began to represent Social Security disability claimants. Sims began to represent injured workers, which she has continued to do for over 20 years. She co-founded the state’s first organization devoted to serving as a watchdog for insurance abuses for the injured: Florida Worker’s Advocates, and ultimately served as president. For over a decade, Sims volunteered time to lobby on behalf of the injured and was the first woman to be elected Chair of the Florida Bar Worker’s Compensation Section in its 25-year history. She served as President of the Marion County Bar Association.
While practicing law, she began to notice an alarming pattern. Forensic experts hired by the other side were reaching conclusions by:
a. Misrepresenting the science
b. Ignoring the science
c. Misrepresenting the facts and/or their examination and/or
d. Testifying beyond their own training and education.
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Sims decided to spend time researching various methods used by experts and spent over 10 years studying forensic tests and even underwent physical examinations, psychological examinations and met creators of various  tests given to litigants in both civil and criminal cases. The experts explained how data could be manipulated by forensic experts.Â
She devotes an average of eight hours per week teaching and volunteering to other attorneys. She is licensed in the state of Florida, US District Court – Northern District of Florida, US District Court and the Middle District of Florida.Â
If you are seeking additional assistance please email your inquiry. Sims can be reached by email dcs@ocalaw.com or 352.629.0480.
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   Interview with Voice of America
        Interview for Business 2.0
Dorothy flew to D.C. to meet with the president of the National Organization for Women to discuss the potential misuse of certain psychological tests when applied to women
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Sims is licensed to practice law in Florida and cross-examine witnesses in other states with orders permitting Motion Pro Hac Vice.
