Doreen Lasch prevailed on Appeal in PIP action styled Neurology Mobile System Associates, Inc. v. Praetorian Insurance Company  at the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court on April 20, 2015.  The Appellate Division Opinion issued upheld a partial summary judgment entered in favor of our client Praetorian Ins. Co. and also upheld the dismissal of the remainder of Plaintiff’s case based on doctrine of de minimis non curat lex in a lawsuit by a provider in a PIP case. Read More

Paul Jones and Joshua Parks obtained a favorable settlement during trial in an Auto Negligence case in Osceola County in the matter styled Motola v. De Laire on April 7, 2015. The Plaintiff was rear ended by the Defendant driver and liability was admitted prior to trial. As a result of the subject accident, the Plaintiff claimed injuries to his shoulder, back and legs. Read More

Doreen Lasch prevailed on Appeal in a slip and fall action styled Tomlinson v. Glendale Properties & Investments, Inc. at the Fourth District Court of Appeal on April 2, 2015.  The Fourth District Court issued its Opinion which upheld the jury’s defense verdict for our client in a premises liability case arising from a slip and fall in Broward County. Read More

Jack Luks, Founding Partner and  Zeb Goldstein, Senior Partner received a  defense  verdict in a  premises liability case styled  Cecere-Ferguson vs. The Town Center at Boca Raton Trust in Palm Beach County on March 31, 2015.  Plaintiff argued that while walking along the common area sidewalk, she tripped over a handicapped ramp that she was unable to see due to extremely poor lighting.  Defendant argued that Plaintiff may have fallen at a different location and that the lighting conditions where Plaintiff claimed she fell were adequate.  Plaintiff alleged that as a result of the accident, she suffered multiple disc herniations in her cervical spine at C6-7 and in her lumbar spine at L4-5 and S1.  Two experts testified confirming Plaintiff’s herniated discs. Read More

Todd Springer and Paul Jones obtained a defense verdict in a defamation case after a three-day Federal Court trial in Jacksonville in the matter styled Berman vs. Kafka.  Plaintiff claimed damage to her reputation and punitive damages from the statements in the amount of $4.5 million.  However, the jury found that the alleged libel per se statements were in fact substantially true and returned a verdict for the defendant. Read More

Anthony Merendino, Senior Partner in the Boca Raton office was granted a Motion for Final Summary Judgment and Judgment in favor of Defendant in a fall from overhead case styled Velez v. Defendant Retail Store in the United States District Court Southern District of Florida on March 11, 2015.  Plaintiff, a customer at Defendant Store alleged that he was attempting to retrieve a 4x4 piece of lumber off of a shelf when a metal safety rail fell on his head due to being defective, alleging negligence, including failure to warn, which resulted in serious bodily injury.  Read More

On November 26, 2014, the Fourth District Court affirmed the judgment in condominium association’s favor in the case styled Brown v. Pipers Cay Condominium Association, Inc.   Appellate Junior Partner Doreen Lasch handled the appeal and Dan Santaniello and Marc Greenberg represented the defendant in the trial court proceedings.  Minor plaintiff and his mother were tenants residing in a condominium development. They sued the condominium association as a result of the child having been attacked and bitten by a pit pull belonging to another tenant living in one of the units in the development. Read More

Tampa Managing Partner Anthony Petrillo and Associate Joseph Kopacz obtained a favorable jury verdict in a slip and fall matter styled Terry and Barbara Tallent v. Pilot Travel Centers on October 16, 2014.  Plaintiffs demanded $3.5 million at mediation and eventually filed Proposals for Settlement in the amount of $2.0 million 45 days prior to the start of the trial. The jury found Plaintiff 35% comparative negligence and returned a net verdict of $44,525. Read More

Tampa Associate Joseph Kopacz obtained a final summary judgment in a slip and fall matter styled Shane Newcome v. Pilot Travel Centers  before the Honorable Linda Babb on September 19, 2014. Plaintiff claimed he slipped on diesel fuel in one of the diesel fuel islands after there was evidence plaintiff actually placed sand over the diesel fuel spill causing fall. Read More

Tampa Associate Joseph Kopacz obtained a final summary judgment in a negligent security matter styled James Pantages v. Sub Station I, Michael Hallal, and Deborah Hallal before Judge Patricia Thomas (Citrus County) on September 5, 2014. Plaintiff claimed defendants were negligent in allowing a homeless Vietnam Veteran on the premises who eventually stabbed plaintiff after a physical altercation. Read More

Tampa Associate Joseph Kopacz and Partner Anthony Petrillo obtained a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint with prejudice and entry of judgment against Plaintiff in a dog attack case styled Ralph Hayes v. Oldsmar Flea Market, on July 25, 2014. Defendant operated a flea market in Oldsmar, Florida. Plaintiff, Ralph Hayes, while walking through the parking lot of the flea market alleged to have been attacked by a large pit-bull. Read More

Orlando Associate Kate Kmiec and Tallahassee Junior Partner James Waczewski prevailed on an appeal in a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Civil Rights action styled Fernando Luna v. University of Central Florida Board of Trustees, et. al, at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal on April 23, 2014. Our clients, the University of Central Florida, UCF Police Chief Richard Beary, UCF Police Officer Gregory Larkin and UCF Police Officer Julie Wilk were sued for allegedly depriving the Plaintiff of his civil rights pursuant to a lawful arrest. The Plaintiff brought his claims as official capacity claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in the Federal Court for the Middle District of Florida. Read More

Appellate Court Affirms Trial Court’s Ruling

Tallahassee Junior Partner James Waczewski and Orlando Associate Kate Kmiec prevailed on an appeal in a Motor Vehicle Accident case styled Donna M. Niederhelman v. Mary J. Tucker, at the Fifth District Court of Appeal on April 15, 2014.  Our client, Appellee Tucker was sued following a minor car accident.  Appellee Tucker's fault for the accident was admitted at trial, however Defense disputed that Plaintiff was injured in the accident. Orlando Partner Paul Jones handled the trial and obtained a defense verdict. Read More

Tampa Associate Joseph Kopacz obtained a final summary judgment in a slip and fall matter styled Tracy  Shelton  v. Tragg Bar, Inc. d/b/a Georgie’s Alibi before the Honorable Walter L. Schafer on April 4, 2014.  Plaintiff claims on her way from the bathroom she slipped and fell on water in the bar area. Plaintiff alleged Defendant negligently maintained the floor in the bar area by allowing a wet and slippery hazardous condition to exist on its premises, and that Defendant knew or should have known of the existence of this slippery condition, which caused Plaintiff to slip and fall. Read More

Appellate Junior Partner Doreen Lasch filed a motion for summary judgment in a Wrongful Death matter styled Torrent v. The Round Up,  The  wrongful death action  was filed on behalf of the parents of a child who was riding his bicycle on Griffin Road when he was struck and killed by a drunk driver. Plaintiffs' theory of liability against our client was based on Florida's Dram Shop Act. Plaintiffs' settlement demand was $1 million.  Appellate team argued that plaintiff failed to establish evidence to support his dram shop claim and before the motion could be heard, plaintiffs accepted $10,000 in settlement of all claims against our client. Read More

Tampa Senior Associate Joseph Kopacz obtained a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint for Fraud Upon the Court and entry of judgment against Plaintiff in a motor vehicle accident matter styled Shawn Grey v. Palm Beach Transportation Company, LLC and Michael P. Ryan, on March 21, 2014. Defendant Ryan was operating a Palm Beach Transportation Company yellow cab and struck Plaintiff’s vehicle. Read More