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Find Lawyers in Florida, United States for Litigation - Insurance
Practice Area Overview
- Advertising Injury and Personal Injury
- Bad Faith and Extra-Contractual Liability
- Commercial General Liability (bodily injury and property damage)
- Construction Defect and Design Claims
- Director & Officer Liability
- Errors & Omissions Liability
- Environmental Claims (asbestos, lead, mold, and other toxic tort claims)
- First-Party Claims (property damage, property loss, and business interruption claims)
- Guaranty Fund Issues
- Life, Health & Disability Claims
- Insurer Liquidation
- Intellectual Property & Cyber-Security
- Personal Lines (homeowners and personal automobile)
- Professional Liability
- Reinsurance
When coverage disputes arise, the parties will often resolve the dispute by pursuit of formal coverage litigation instituted by either the insurer or the insured in a court of law, most typically by the filing of a specialized claim called a Declaratory Judgment action. Such a proceeding seeks to have the court determine the disputed policy coverages and the rights of the parties arising under the policy. Coverage disputes also can be resolved through arbitration proceedings, mediation, or some other procedure agreed upon by the parties to the coverage dispute.
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With experience defending over 250 class action cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States, Marcy Levine Aldrich is chair of Akerman’s Class Action Defense Litigation Practice. Noted by Chambers USA for her “strong reputation,” Marcy litigates complex disputes, including class action litigation and complex insurance litigation with a focus on serving national and regional insurers in connection with auto insurance, property casualty and other insurance is...
Sarah Baggett is on speed dial for her clients who run into complex legal situations in the realm of bad faith, cybersecurity, liability, and regulatory and compliance. Many of her clients are long-term – whether it be businesses or individuals. She has litigated and tried cases throughout the state of Florida, beginning her career in liability defense, including her first trials. In more recent years, she has been instrumental in developing and overseeing overarching strategies for her...
Danielle M. Balczon is a partner in the firm’s Ft. Myers office. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology. She subsequently obtained her Juris Doctor Degree from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama. While in law school, Balczon studied abroad at Cambridge University and served as an intern in Alabama State University’s Athletic Department. Prior to joining Cole, ...
Michael Brand is a partner in the firm’s Miami and Key West offices. He practices across all fields of litigation, including medical malpractice, personal injury claims and professional liability claims, premises liability, negligent security, legal malpractice, automobile and trucking claims, bad faith/extra-contractual liability and others. He has tried approximately 300 jury trials to verdict in his career. Mr. Brand received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in English at...
Dan Clark is a Florida native and a graduate of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. He earned his bachelors of arts degree from Duke University where he was an honorable mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference athlete. He received his Juris Doctorate with honors from Stetson University College of Law where he was a member of the Stetson Law Review and Stetson Trial Team, and a Federal Judicial Intern for the Honorable Elizabeth A. Kovachevich, Chief Judge, Middle District of Florida.
As Managing Partner, Richard P. Cole is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the firm. He is recognized as a Florida Leading Attorney in the areas of personal injury defense law, medical, legal and professional malpractice. Mr. Cole has experience handling Errors and Omissions claims, including those brought against insurance brokers and agents. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor from t...
E.K. Cottrell practices in the area of complex commercial litigation. Some of his representative areas of practice include defense of class actions on behalf of insurers, business entities, and management for alleged improper market conduct or business practices, and fiduciary obligations; representation of insurers and reinsurers in coverage and regulatory compliance matters; and other general business litigation. E.K. has litigated class actions and other complex commercial litigation matte...
Antwon M. Emery is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale West office of Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. Mr. Emery practices in the areas of hospitality defense, first party insurance litigation, property damage claims, wrongful death, negligent security, trucking accident defense and personal injury litigation. Mr. Emery is a native of Flint, Michigan and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2006 and his Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University in 2002...
Benjamin M. Esco is a partner in the firm’s Miami/Key West office. He has practiced as an Insurance Defense Trial Lawyer for thirty-six years. His emphasis is in Trucking Accident Defense, Negligent Security, Premises Liability Defense, for Commercial, Residential, and Hospitality Industry clients, including hotels, restaurants, and liquor establishments. He also practices in the defense of Nursing Homes, Auto Negligence, Condominiums and Homeowners’ Associations, Construction Def...
Richards H. Ford is a Managing Partner in the firm’s Orlando office. In his 35+ year career, Mr. Ford has engaged in active civil trial practice, focusing on the defense of professional and corporate institutions. He has tried over 100 civil jury trials, including professional negligence, products liability, construction litigation, medical malpractice, automobile liability, transportation liability, general civil litigation and environmental cases. Mr. Ford earned a Bachelor of Arts de...
Mike has more than 30 years of experience in representing insurance companies, corporations, business entities, and individuals in a wide variety of litigation. Mike believes that the interests and goals of his clients are paramount. He has learned that the best way to achieve those goals is through a proactive approach that involves developing an early case assessment through focused discovery, targeted motion practice, and timely dispute resolution, and if the case can not be resolved favor...
Reed has been practicing law in the state of Florida for over 30 years. Taylor Day is honored to have his knowledge and experience in law as not only a valuable member of our team, but also by serving as a shareholder of the firm. Reed is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, which deems him an expert in construction law and litigation matters, but that isn’t the only reason clients request to work with him. Reed prides himse...
Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney Lee Gunn focuses his practiceof law upon the prosecution of cases involving substantial losses throughout the State of Florida. These cases frequently involve wrongful death and serious injuries to patients victimized by medical malpractice, defective products, and construction accidents. He also prosecutes insurance coverage and bad faith actions against property, casualty, life, health and disability insurance companies that refuse to pay fully, fairly a...
Gary Guzzi serves as chair of Akerman’s Insurance Litigation Practice, a national team of 45 lawyers representing leading domestic and foreign carriers, self-insured corporations, municipalities, and related entities in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. He protects the interests of national and international insurance carriers in bad faith disputes, coverage claims, rescissions and ERISA-governed policies. With comprehensive experience in insurance disputes, Gary litigates li...
Dale Hightower was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, a town between Tampa and Orlando. He grew up loving adventures on the water, paddling a canoe and fishing alone in nearby lakes. His leadership skills became apparent in his youth as he was an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts, Senior Class President at Lakeland High School, and Student Body President at Florida Southern College. He also was elected Student Body President at Cumberland Law School in Alabama. After law school, he began worki...
An aggressive litigator, Karina Perez Ilic has diverse expertise in civil litigation including catastrophic workplace accidents, contracts, commercial disputes, premises liability, and Tampa motor vehicle accidents. She is not afraid to be a fierce advocate for clients who have been wronged or injured. A Florida native, she ventured to New Orleans to receive her bachelor’s degree in business law with a minor in French language at Tulane University. She continued her legal education in N...
Anne Kevlin brings more than 30 years of legal and dispute resolution expertise to her mission to help parties avoid the uncertainty, risk, and expense of litigation. Anne is a Florida Supreme Court certified civil circuit and county court mediator and a qualified Florida arbitrator. She is certified in Mediation and Conflict Management by the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation. Anne has litigated and mediated insurance disputes since becoming a licensed Florida attorney in 1992. She h...
Daniel J. Kissane is a partner in the Jacksonville Office. His areas of expertise include: product liability defense litigation, personal injury defense, banking and financial, class actions, commercial litigation, construction defects, premises liability, consumer law, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, wrongful death defense, insurance coverage issues and toxic tort (asbestos, Benzene and other exposures). Mr. Kissane is a 1984 graduate of the University of Miami (B.A.) and recei...
Joseph T. Kissane is a partner in the Jacksonville office. He handles an active litigation practice in the areas of personal injury, insurance bad faith, negligent security, insurance coverage, professional malpractice trucking accident defense and fraud claims. He has experience handling Errors and Omissions claims, including those brought against insurance brokers and agents. Mr. Kissane has exclusively represented the interests of insurance carriers and their insureds throughout his entire...
Jennifer P. Lawson’s practice is devoted to defending insurers in all aspects of insurance law in state and federal courts throughout Florida. She primarily represents insurers and their insureds in cases involving automobile accidents, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, property damage disputes, and automobile diminished value. Additionally, Jennifer provides counsel to insurers regarding insurance policies, civil remedy notices, and attorneys’ fee issues. Jennifer also en...
What makes the Law Offices of Susan E. Mack, P.A. distinctive? Ms. Mack replies that these qualities demonstrate how she practices law and conducts alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings:· Tenacity Commitment to Fairness and Focus on Results, rather than Process. Susan E. Mack is founder and President of her own boutique law firm in Northeast Florida. Following her admission to the Florida Bar in 2015, Ms. Mack joined Adams and Reese LLP, an AmJur 200 firm (2015-2021) and was...
John Marino has extensive experience in class actions and complex commercial litigation involving insurance matters, deceptive business practices and consumer fraud. He has been lead counsel in class actions and other complex litigation in federal and state courts throughout the country, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Texas, Was...
Jack McLuskey’s legal practice is in the area of civil litigation with an emphasis on personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, all aspects of insurance law, commercial litigation and disability insurance law. A formidable courtroom presence, Mr. McLuskey has gained respect in the legal and business communities as a trial lawyer responsible for many courtroom victories. He is a board-certified trial lawyer by the Florida Bar and has trial advocacy skills. Held in high re...
Michael has been practicing law for over 35 years, of which the last 20 have been devoted to insurance defense litigation. He tries significant product liability cases where there is catastrophic damage and/or serious injury or death. Michael also defends doctors, dentists, hospitals, and their employees, as well as other professionals such as lawyers, in malpractice suits and claims brought against them. To date, Michael has tried over 300 cases to verdict. Michael has also handled matters i...
Out of well over 1000 civil trial attorneys in North Florida, Michael Fox Orr was recognized by Attorney-at-Law Magazine as one of the “top 8 civil litigators.” Michael tries civil jury and bench trials primarily in the area of complex commercial and civil litigation with significant damages at issue. Most of his cases involving situations where the company could be bankrupted or an individual stands to lose their net worth. His experience and success as a civil trial lawyer has l...
Kathryn M. Oughton is a shareholder and Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Property Damage Claims practice area. Kathryn’s practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on the defense of cases involving first party property claims. Other practice areas include automobile liability, premises liability, wrongful death, and bad faith and coverage issues. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Oughton worked for a state-wide defense firm where she served as head of the civil litigati...
Eugene K. Pettis is the Co-Founder and Senior Partner of Haliczer Pettis & Schwamm, residing in the Fort Lauderdale office. For 37 years, Eugene has represented an impressive number of individual clients in civil trial matters and has also represented many corporate and public sector clients. He handles a range of complex cases, with a primary focus on representing plaintiffs in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury and commercial litigation. Eugene has the historic and laudab...
Lloyd Johnson Sarber III is a shareholder with Carr Allison in the Jacksonville, FL office. Johnny’s practice focuses on civil trial defense in the area of commercial motor vehicle transportation law (including tractor trailer, passenger bus and other large vehicle accidents). He also represents clients in matters involving premises liability, municipal liability, bad faith and products liability. Johnny is admitted to practice before all state courts in Florida, the United States Distr...
With more than 40 years of experience, Thomas R. Tatum focuses his practice on the representation of title insurance underwriters and insureds, the resolution of disputed title matters and the investigation and resolution of real estate frauds and defalcations. His also represents clients in matters pertaining to liability insurance, defense and coverage disputes, and state and federal commercial and governmental litigation and administrative law disputes. AV Preeminent® rated by Martinda...
Brandon G. Waas is a partner in the firm’s Miami office who primarily practices personal injury litigation and first party property/coverage litigation, while co-managing a group of approximately 30 attorneys. In addition, Mr. Waas also practices in the areas of general civil litigation, legal malpractice, real estate malpractice, bad faith/extra-contractual liability, hospitality industry defense, and commercial and residential property damage claims. Born and raised in Miami, Florida,...
William “Billy” J. Wieland, II is a second-generation Orlando native, who has been recognized as a “Top 40 under 40 Attorney'' by the National Trial Lawyers, “Best Lawyers” by Orlando Magazine, a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, and is recognized as a “Best Lawyer” in the areas of both Personal Injury and Worker’s Compensation. After graduating from Boone High School in Orlando, Florida, he attended Stetson University in DeLand, Flori...
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The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.