Florida Personal Injury Lawyers

Farah and Farah Office Spotlight

The Farah and Farah legal team is comprised of respected and experienced Jacksonville personal injury attorneys, case managers, investigators, and a talented and hardworking office staff. We are committed to recognizing the hard work that has made our firm a success, and every so often we will be highlighting a member of our office staff on this page.

Learn more about the Farah and Farah team:

Jim Brannan

Brannan, a tall man with gray hair and an even-toned, kind voice, is a longtime volunteer for the St. Francis Soup Kitchen in downtown Jacksonville. For over three decades, the St. Francis Soup Kitchen had served the community through regular canned food giveaways, Soup Kitchen lunches, snacks, coffee distributions on Saturdays, and clothing allocations to those who need them most.

Brannan – friends with Eddie Farah since they attended Bishop Kenny together in the late 1960's – has worked for the firm for over a decade. During this period, he was favored with a spiritual awakening, and he now considers himself a "work in progress" towards being a good Christian.

"I started attending the Latin Mass at Immaculate Conception around 2007," Brannan recounts. At that time, he befriended a few homeless people near his church and started to bring them goody bags each Sunday – each contained a bottle of water, trail mix, and a small sandwich. "It was about that time that someone told me about St. Francis Soup Kitchen – which is coincidentally located just behind Immaculate Conception," related Brannan. "I went to the soup kitchen and asked if I could please play a part."

The Soup Kitchen was happy to have him aboard – and the feelings were mutual.

"I have been blessed to be part of the Soup Kitchen," he says. His duties are those that anyone could do were he so inspired.

"I greet the people at the door and help direct them to their tables. After they are seated, a prayer is recited by staff and those at the table before eating," Brannan recounts. He estimated that the Kitchen serves approximately 500 guest every Sunday.

As much good as Brannan does in this capacity, he believes that he gets more than he gives from the experience.

"It is hard for me to explain the great joy and satisfaction I feel from being a part of the soup kitchen. Probably the most beautiful thing is the love one shares with the less fortunate who walk through that door. Equally beautiful is the privilege of being around others who unselfishly devote their time each Saturday for the love of their fellow man," Jim affirms, before citing a favorite bible Verse from the Book of Matthew.

"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? And the King will answer them: Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to one of those who are members of my family, you did it for me."

Jim especially credits Jim and Diane McVety the operators of the kitchen – for their labors.

"They work tirelessly to make sure that guest are provided delicious meals as well as food for their journey."

Jim credits two pillars of faith – Pope John Paul the second and Mother Teresa of Calcuta – as the most powerful influences in his spiritual rebirth.

"Their words have inspired and guided me, helped me to understand that serving the poor is more than just a spiritual obligation. It is a privilege."

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Bill Scull - From Investigating to Mentoring

For the past five years Bill Scull, a licensed investigator for Farah & Farah, has been there for college student Roderick Terry. From buying new wrestling shoes to meeting with guidance counselors, Scull, a Jacksonville native who received a criminology degree from Florida State, has forged a relationship with Terry they both feel will only grow stronger.

Five years ago Scull was approached by Eddie Farah to participate in a student mentoring program. "I always thought about joining the (Big Brothers Big Sisters) program even though I had a son of my own," said Scull. The program started out with 10-12 volunteers but as the years past, other mentors had a hard time keeping ties with their mentees. "Some children just disappeared," said Scull but he kept in contact with Terry.

Terry believes he would not be where he is today if it weren't for Scull. "I am a forgiving person because of Mr. Bill," said Terry. "He has taught me to stay focused and positive no matter what life throws at me."

Scull mentioned one of the biggest challenges and accomplishments was improving Terry's grades. "When I met him, he was failing," said Scull, "I just stayed on him and encouraged him." During Terry's last two semesters of high school he enrolled in advanced course and earned A's and B's.

"Just by going to work everyday, Mr.Bill showed me that i can go to school everyday and get good grades," said Terry.

Having graduated from Lee High School this past June, Terry is already enrolled in courses at Edward Waters College and works part-time at Wendy's. " I've got him through high school, now it's college," said Scull.

Terry explained he and Scull have been through a lot together, from attending Jags games to dealing with personal challenges, but he knows their relationship will continue to evolve. Terry even joked about Scull some day being the best man at his wedding. " He was the first one to stay in my life and I know he'll always be there without a doubt," said Terry.

Scull thinks of Terry as his own son. "I plan to be in his life forever," he said " I know he feels the same way."

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Beverly Hadden

She can't believe it's been 23 years. Beverly Hadden has been Eddie Farah's right hand woman since first joining him and his assistant Glenda Baker in the early days of his one-man office on Washington Street.

Now Hadden has her own office next to Eddie's in the old Kress building. She remembers it from its days as a five and dime selling lotions and makeup. She used to visit with her grandmother when she was 11 years old after coming to Florida in 1947.

Hadden really has come full circle.

It was sand, pines and palmettos that first attracted her to north Florida so many years ago. Now it's still the excitement of coming to work everyday that keeps her at Farah & Farah. "I'm never bored," she says.

"I like what I do because I really feel we help people. The best thing I do is I'm good with clients," Hadden says. "If someone is unhappy, I'm able to be the ombudsman. I'm good at dealing with and understanding problems, that's my best skill."

Hadden says she's made good friends with people who used to be clients over the years. Sometimes they just call to say hi. Of one female client Hadden says, "It's like they were your friend all of your life, you just didn't know where they were."

And after 23 years with Eddie? She says he is just a good guy. "He's the real thing," according to Hadden. "We've been like a team and like any other group you work with, you spend more working hours together than you do with family."

Of his style, Hadden says she often becomes an interpreter. Eddie is famous for "drive by" instructions, directions blurted out while he walks in another direction. "We don't communicate like most people do," Hadden says. But it works. "He can come by and tell me part of something and I know where it needs to go," she says.

A mother of two grown boys and a daughter, Hadden takes particular delight in her four grandchildren with whom she shares a love of books and the grand dog. This summer she plans to take a cruise to Alaska with her family.

All in all, a great family and a great job make Hadden feel very lucky. "It's not a bad life," says the 69 year old. I love being where I am. Some days I wish I weren't so creaky but with time you lose a lot of pride, a lot of ego and realize it's a very cool world and there are a lot of great things that I'm very grateful for," she says.

Beverly Hadden truly has come full circle.

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