Gerald Brooks grew up in the small town of Livingston, on the western edge of Alabama’s Black Belt, and has carried forward the small-town values of hard work, respect, and fairness into his law practice. Brooks graduated from the University of Alabama twice — with an undergraduate degree in 1999 and with his law degree in 2002. After receiving his J.D., he joined a Birmingham insurance defense firm, where he stayed for five years until he realized that he wanted to work on behalf of injured people instead of insurance companies. “Working for a defense firm on behalf of insurance companies, I learned a lot and it made me a better attorney,” he says. “I don’t know if I’d be as good helping my current clients but for the experience of seeing how the other side evaluates cases, and the tactics that they utilize. But doing defense work, you’re representing corporations, and your point of contact is an insurance adjuster who’s not concerned about anything but reports and evaluations. They don’t care right or wrong.” In 2009 he crossed over to the plaintiff side of the law, joining a Montgomery law firm that concentrated in that area. He stayed there for three years, then ventured out on his own and joined forces with Chuck James, an old law school friend, in 2013, to form Serious Injury Law Group. Brooks dedicates his practice primarily to wrongful death and catastrophic injuries caused by accidents involving commercial vehicles, medical malpractice and defective products. He has to his credit several multi-million dollar civil judgments including a $5,000,000 wrongful death judgment.

Erin Brosious’ primary focus is on Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, General Civil, Family, and Criminal law. She prides herself in taking the time to understand the nuances of every case, ensuring that every client receives personalized legal services with zealous advocacy. She oversees a team of legal assistants and support personnel to ensure the firm works together to utilize customized strategies to deliver the best representation for her clients. As the firm’s tag line implies, “Insurance Companies Play HardBall…So Do We!” She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida where she majored in English. Immediately after graduating with her Bachelor of Arts degree, she obtained an accelerated master’s degree in Secondary English Education from University of Florida. She began her career teaching English at a Title I School, helping underprivileged kids, and ended her teaching career in Sarasota County where she worked for eleven years teaching English in all grade levels, from drop-out prevention to college credit courses. While teaching, Erin desired to develop her leadership skills, obtaining a second master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of South Florida. To expand her professional career and broaden her impact in her community, she earned her Juris Doctorate at Barry University School of Law, where she received the Advanced Legal Writing Book Award and was Secretary of Delta Theta Phi Law fraternity. Upon returning to Sarasota/Manatee County after law school, her passion for public service extended from her devotion to adolescent literacy, to service as an assistant public defender in both Manatee and Sarasota counties. Erin helped thousands of clients while working at the public defender’s office, consisting of clients who could not afford representation, many of whom suffered from mental illnesses, homelessness, PTSD, and drug and alcohol dependencies. The public defender’s office allowed her to develop litigation skills and afforded her immediate court room experience. Erin Brosious officially graduated from the Florida Justice Association’s Leadership Academy on June 6, 2025, marking a significant milestone in her ongoing professional development and dedication to leadership within the legal field and within the law firm. The FJA Leadership Academy is a highly selective program designed to cultivate and elevate leaders in the civil justice community. Erin’s successful completion of the program is a testament to her commitment to excellence, advocacy, and mentorship. In recognition of her standout presence, Erin has also been invited to serve as an official representative of the Leadership Academy—a well-deserved honor that underscores her impact and influence within the profession. In May of 2022, Attorney Brosious graduated from Leadership Manatee to better understand the needs and issues related to governance, business, and charity in Manatee County. As a long-time Florida resident, she has donated her time and resources to various challenges and opportunities in the local community. Over the years she has volunteered and supported various local charitable and nonprofit organizations such as Sertoma, Pace Center for Girls, Church of the Cross Food Bank and St. Jude’s Children Research, along with many local educational institutions. She engages frequently in sponsorships at various local community events promoting local artists, musicians, and the history and culture of Manatee County.

Area of Practice: Municipal Law Michelle Broughton-Fountain has been practicing law as a general practitioner since 1996. She graduated with Honors and Distinction from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Also, she graduated from the College of Law with her Juris Doctor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Michelle Broughton-Fountain has lived in the South Suburbs for over thirty years. She founded the Law Office of Michelle Broughton-Fountain in May of 2005. She currently specializes in family law, probate law, estate law, real estate matters and municipal law.