Government & Municipal Liability Defense
Government & Municipal Liability Defense Team
Our attorneys have experience representing school boards and school districts, public and private universities, a significant number of Florida municipalities, several state agencies, Florida Counties, special taxing districts, water management districts, drainage districts, and state attorneys and officials of Federal agencies.
The firm’s representation of government entities has included the representation of government officials, political sub-divisions, state corporations, police officers, chiefs of police, sheriffs, superintendents, police departments, mayors, council members, directors, and newly-elected public officials.
The firm’s government & municipal liability defense team regularly handles cases involving complex issues of constitutional law, sovereign immunity, civil rights, as well as torts, employment law violations, and common law claims.
We have defend governmental entities including school districts in a number of cases involving a wide array of issues such as gender discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, violations of the 4th Amendment, 14th Amendment, the Federal and State Whistleblower’s Statutes, Title VII, Title IX, and Bivens actions, and Section 1983 actions.
Our government government & municipal liability defense team has experience in defending against government tort liability claims, vicarious liability actions, and public officials’ misconduct, carefully navigating a variety of government-specific defenses, including state sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, Eleventh Amendment immunity, and federal state action doctrines.
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The Lydecker team of attorneys have decades of experience representing clients with cases involving government government & municipal liability defense.
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Government & Municipal Liability Defense Team
Forrest Andrews is the Chair of Lydecker LLP’s Errors & Omissions Department and Co-Chair of its Commercial Department. Forrest has extensive experience defending claims against attorneys, insurance agents and brokers, real estate agents and brokers, property managers, directors and officers, and other types of professionals. Forrest understands that his clients have spent years establishing their businesses and reputation, which is why he focuses his practice on providing effective legal strategies and solutions to protect those interests.
With respect to environmental claims, Forrest handles cases involving mold damage and exposure, air and water pollution, and other contaminates.
Forrest is also Chair of Lydecker LLP’s Appellate Department and is Board Certified in Appellate Practice by The Florida Bar. Forrest handles all types of appellate proceedings, including extraordinary writs, in state and federal courts, and provides litigation support services to trial counsel by developing effective strategies at the trial level in anticipation of an appeal.
Before joining Lydecker LLP, Forrest had an extensive career in the public sector, including serving as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Miami where he represented the City of Miami in many federal civil rights suits, personal injury, commercial, and appellate cases.
Partner
Belissa Ardisson is an Associate with the firm’s Miami office. Ms. Ardisson’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in personal injury, government liability, employment, and civil rights litigation.
Ms. Ardisson earned her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in May of 2021. While in Law School, Ms.Ardisson interned with the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office in the Domestic Violence division where she assisted with research and drafting pre-trial motions. Ms. Ardisson also worked as a research assistant and served as a member of the University of Miami Race and Social Justice Law Review.
Upon graduating, Ms. Ardisson served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office. During her time at the State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Ardisson handled cases ranging from misdemeanors to first degree felonies, handling all pre trial motions up to trial. Additionally, Ms. Ardisson served as a County Training Attorney where she trained new incoming attorney’s on how to prepare and argue different evidentiary hearings, pre trial motions, and assisted them in trial. During her time at the State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Ardisson litigated countless jury trials to verdict.
Associate
Yina Cabrera is an Associate in the firm’s Miami office. Ms. Cabrera’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in personal injury, government liability, and civil rights litigation. Ms. Cabrera also handles employment litigation matters, including FLSA and FMLA violations, and Title VII violations including discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment.
Ms. Cabrera earned her J.D. from Florida International University College of Law in May 2021, graduating with honors. During law school, Ms. Cabrera interned at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and was a research assistant at FIU Law, responsible for researching topics in employment discrimination. Ms. Cabrera was on the Executive Board of the FIU Law Review, serving as the Executive Comments Editor; her Law Review student note was chosen for publication in the FIU Law Review. Ms. Cabrera was also a member of the FIU Board of Appellate Advocates and was a semifinalist in the Intramural Moot Court Competition. Ms. Cabrera was the President of the Cuban American Bar Association, Vice President of the Employment and Labor Law Society, and served as a Student Ambassador. Furthermore, Ms. Cabrera was a Dean’s Scholar and was awarded an Excellence in Civic Engagement Medallion for her pro-bono work.
Associate
Katherine Chin is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and an associate in the firm’s Miami office. Ms. Chin represents corporations, entrepreneurs, media companies, entertainers, and municipal entities in all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation and arbitration. Ms. Chin’s practice is primarily focused in commercial litigation including contractual disputes, business torts, and intellectual property. Additionally, Ms. Chin represents public and private employers and insurers against civil rights, health, and disability related claims.
Outside of the courtroom, Ms. Chin advises employers on day-to-day operations, employment matters, and helps clients navigate compliance issues, including federal and state agency investigations before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Florida Commission on Human Relations.
Associate
Marianne Elias an Associate in the firm’s Miami office. Ms. Elias’ practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a focus in labor and employment, civil rights litigation and governmental immunity.
Ms. Elias earned her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. While completing her legal studies, Ms. Elias was Director of Public Relations for the Latin American Law Students Association and was a member of the Trademark Law Moot Court team.
Associate
Mark A. Emanuele, a Partner at Lydecker and an AV-rated member of The Florida Bar, has practiced law in South Florida for over 35 years. His primary areas of practice include environmental litigation, healthcare, and administrative and regulatory litigation.
Mr. Emanuele has appeared before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH), Circuit Courts, and Appellate Courts throughout Florida on various matters. His experience includes participation in Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration (Agency) workshops, drafting development and implementation of Agency Rules in accordance with the Florida Administrative Procedures Act, defending Agency Rules as a valid exercise of delegated legislative authority, and challenging Agency Rules deemed unconstitutional or in violation of the Florida Administrative Procedures Act. Additionally, he has handled extensive healthcare litigation matters involving formal administrative proceedings under Chapters 120 and 408 of the Florida Statutes.
Mr. Emanuele has represented multiple publicly traded healthcare companies, including acute care hospital systems, long-term acute care hospitals (LTACH), comprehensive medical rehabilitation facilities (CMR/IRF), nursing homes, and hospice entities. His administrative litigation experience encompasses various proceedings involving licensure matters, compliance issues, and certificate of need matters. Furthermore, his practice involves challenges to procurements, bid protests, and related proceedings before various governmental agencies and DOAH.
Mr. Emanuele is a member of the United States District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida, as well as the United States 11th Circuit Court of Appeal. He has practiced before all Florida courts, including County Court, Circuit Court, DOAH, District Courts of Appeals, and Bankruptcy Court. Additionally, he holds memberships with the Broward County Bar Association, the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA), and the Administrative Law, Labor and Employment Law, Trial Law, and Health Law Sections of The Florida Bar.
Mr. Emanuele is a native of Hartford, Connecticut and has resided in Florida since 1973. He earned his Juris Doctor at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center in 1985 and his Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Thomas University in 1980. While earning his Bachelor and Juris Doctorate Degree, Mr. Emanuele worked as a police officer with the Cities of Hollywood and Hallandale. Mr. Emanuele lives in Broward County, Florida, is married to Claudia Emanuele, and has two (2) children.
Partner
Ms. Franks is a partner in the firm’s Miami office, where she defends local, national, and international organizations, as well as individuals, and tries catastrophic personal injury actions, premises liability matters, professional liability claims, construction defect matters, and medical/substance abuse treatment malpractice claims throughout the State of Florida.
Ms. Franks is originally from Pennsylvania and moved to South Florida in 2002 to study journalism and political science. Prior to pursuing her law degree, Ms. Franks taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Miami in the Department of Political Science for five years. Her classes included Intro to American National Government, the Legislative Process, and Congressional Representation. Ms. Franks earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2011.
Ms. Franks has considerable experience dealing with automobile negligence, professional malpractice, medical malpractice, and premises liability matters involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and extra contractual exposure, including a focus on evidentiary issues, dispositive motion practice, complex liability claims, and damages mitigation.
Ms. Franks earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Miami in 2004. She graduated cum laude with a double-major in journalism and political science. Ms. Franks went on to complete a Master’s degree in Communication at the University of Miami in 2005, also graduating cum laude.
Ms. Franks earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2011. At the University of Miami School of Law, Ms. Franks was the recipient of the Hugh L. Wood Scholarship, Outstanding Merit Scholarship, and the Ehrich Scholarship. Ms. Franks served as a research assistant to multiple highly regarded University of Miami School of Law professors in the areas of environmental litigation and legislation, the first amendment, and communication regulation.
Partner
Paola Garcia’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation, with a primary focus on general liability. Ms. Garcia’s General Liability experience includes premises liability, personal injury, property damage, professional liability, automobile and trucking accidents, wrongful death, cruise ship accidents, and negligent security cases. Ms. Garcia’s practice includes specific experience with a variety of lawsuits for one of the largest transportation network companies. Ms. Garcia regularly handles actions involving issues such as intentional torts, negligence, negligence security, premises liability, dram shop, products liability, and slip and fall.
Partner
Dawn E. George is of Counsel and a supervising attorney in the Tampa office, where she practices in labor and employment law and civil defense litigation. With fifteen years’ experience in employers’ liability, she has represented businesses, universities, and government agencies in civil actions, administrative hearings, and appeals.
Dawn began as a circuit court law clerk, moving to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. In addition to private firm experience, she was the primary litigator for the State’s higher education institutions before joining Lydecker, LLP.
Dawn has experience advising clients and representing clients in all types of employment litigation matters involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, and retaliation, in both the private and public sectors. She is an expert at investigating and resolving employment and personnel legal issues before they become lawsuits, as well as defending bodily injury, premises liability, and professional liability claims. She has argued cases in federal and state courts, including the appellate courts.
Dawn is an active member of the community, including serving as a USA Swimming official, a Committee member of her daughter’s Scouts BSA Troop, and a Den Leader in the local Cub Scout Pack.
Dawn is licensed in Florida and West Virginia, United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Of Counsel
Michael Goldman is a Partner at the firm’s New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania offices. His practice focuses in the area of employment law. Michael represents employers across a multitude of industries in litigation related to employment discrimination claims, wage and hour claims, and restrictive covenants. He also counsels clients on best practices.
Michael has extensive civil litigation experience and handles cases from inception through trial. He regularly appears in federal and state courts, as well as in administrative law and dispute resolution forums. Prior to joining the firm, Michael practiced as an associate at a prominent New Jersey firm, concentrating his practice in defense litigation on behalf of private and public entities, with an emphasis on tort liability, labor and employment law, and civil rights defense. He also represented clients in the areas of wage and hour claims, commercial litigation, construction law, and education law. Earlier in his career, Michael was an associate at a well-known litigation boutique where he focused his practice on representing public entities in matters involving tort liability, labor and employment law, and civil rights defense. Michael has been selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Star list from 2019-2023.
Partner
Laura Gonzalez is an associate in the firm’s Miami Office. Ms. Gonzalez’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in personal injury, governmental liability, and labor and employment litigation.
Ms. Gonzalez earned her J.D. from Florida International University College of Law. While completing her legal studies, Ms. Gonzalez was a member of the FIU Board of Appellate Advocates and served on the board. Additionally, Ms. Gonzalez was President of School of the Cuban American Bar Association and served as a Student Ambassador.
Associate
Katie Gudaitis is an associate in the firm’s Miami office. Ms. Gudaitis’ practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in commercial litigation, professional liability, labor and employment litigation, premises liability, and government liability.
Ms. Gudaitis’ Labor and Employment litigation experience includes representing private and public employers in all phases of employment litigation, from administrative hearings through trial on matters arising under Federal, State and local employment laws. Ms. Gudaitis regularly handles Federal and State actions involving issues of civil rights violations, sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, 1983 actions, wrongful death claims, Chapter 119 violations, sexual harassment, FLSA compliance, discrimination, retaliation, Title VII, whistleblower claims, fraud, and a battery of common law torts.
Partner
Mr. Johnson specializes in the representation of professionals, corporations and insurers in a broad range of business and tort matters, including employment claims, environmental claims and other complex actions. Mr. Johnson also has experience litigating government municipal matters throughout the state of Florida, as well as representing journalists and media companies in intellectual property and defamation litigation. Mr. Johnson’s practice also includes the defense of attorneys, accountants and real estate professionals in professional liability matters and non-profit corporations as well as their directors and officers in a range of matters.
Before joining Lydecker, Mr. Johnson began his career as an associate in the Miami office of a business litigation boutique headquartered in New York, where he represented banking and corporate interests in multiple international business and commercial disputes. Mr. Johnson is also an experienced and accomplished appellate attorney, having multiple published Federal and Florida opinions, as well as oral arguments and appellate mediations across multiple appellate courts.
In addition to his professional commitments, Mr. Johnson recognizes his responsibility to serve the community. He is a member of the 100 Black Men of South Florida, one of the leading youth mentoring organizations in the country, as well as the Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Board. He is also a director of BAC Funding Corp. a non-profit state funded lender for disadvantaged business. He is also Secretary of the Coppin State University Development Foundation which raises money for scholarships to his alma mater, Coppin State University. He also Serves as Vice Chair of the Miami-Dade School District Audit and Budget Committee. He has also served as a member of the Executive Board of the Miami-Dade Chapter of NAACP and the Polemarch (President) of the Richmond-Perrine (FL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Partner
Young Kim is an Associate located in Lydecker’s Jersey City office. He is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. Mr. Kim’s practice area involves all aspects of Civil Litigation in the state courts of New York and New Jersey.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Kim served as a Law Clerk in the New York State Supreme Court Civil Division, and he also practiced as a trial and appellate counsel handling civil matters involving real property disputes and mortgage foreclosure defenses.
Mr. Kim attended New York Law School, as a Global Law Fellow receiving a merit-based full scholarship. During the second year in Law School, Mr. Kim participated in the New York City Municipal Litigation Defense Clinic and worked for the Tort Division of the New York City Law Department. In his third year, Mr. Kim was accepted into the New York State Pro Bono Scholar program and worked at the Legal Services NYC.
Prior to law school, Mr. Kim worked as a legislative aide to a member of the New York State Assembly.
Associate
Shaun Robert Koby is a Shareholder with the Firm’s Florida offices. His practice focuses in the areas of complex commercial litigation, professional malpractice, insurance defense, and constitutional law.
Mr. Koby earned his undergraduate degree from the Florida State University in 2004. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminology. Mr. Koby graduated first in his class out of over 9000 students.
Besides academics, he was also actively involved in Student Government and created two community service organizations that enabled students to perform countless hours of service to the FSU campus and surrounding community. During the summer before graduation, Mr. Koby was an intern in the Governor’s Office of Legislative Affairs for Governor Jeb Bush.
Mr. Koby earned his Juris Doctor Degree, with honors, from the University of Florida in 2007. He was a Teaching Assistant for Legal Research and Writing, Appellate Advocacy, and Trial Practice. Mr. Koby also created a community service organization named Gators United Together for Service and was awarded a Community Service Certificate upon completion of law school.
Partner
Ms. Maken is a partner at Lydecker and has substantial experience in handling complex business litigation and appellate matters in both Florida and in Mississippi. Over her career, she has authored hundreds of briefs filed in the Florida Supreme Court, Florida’s District Courts of Appeal, the Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Her practice areas include banking-foreclosure law, commercial litigation, torts, insurance defense, employment law, parental rights, criminal law, and challenging unconstitutional state action.
Ms. Maken is a former Assistant United States Attorney with the Southern District of Florida. As Lydecker LLP’s lead counsel, she successfully represented the Florida Department of Financial Services as Receiver in its suit against the statutory auditors (a big 5 accounting firm) of a failed insurance company (whose insolvency exceeded a billion dollars).
She clerked at the Third District Court of Appeals and the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Partner
Natalia Pinzon Martinez is an associate in the firm’s Miami Office. Ms. Pinzon Martinez’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in personal injury, governmental liability, and labor and employment litigation.
Ms. Pinzon Martinez earned her J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law, graduating with honors and a certificate in Human Trafficking. While completing her legal studies, Ms. Pinzon Martinez was part of the St. Thomas University School of Law Appellate Litigation Clinic, where she handled two appeals for the appellants in two criminal cases. Additionally, Ms. Pinzon Martinez was a member of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review and served as Vice President of Membership in the St. Thomas University School of Law Moot Court team, attending competitions in New Jersey and San Diego.
Upon graduating, Ms. Pinzon Martinez served as an Assistant State Attorney for the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office. During her time at the Miami Dade State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Pinzon Martinez handled cases ranging from misdemeanors to punishable by life offenses, from intake up to trial. Additionally, Ms. Pinzon Martinez served as the Assistance Chief of the Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Unit and Chief of Litigation. While in this position, Ms. Pinzon Martinez was in charge of the training of over twenty Assistant State Attorneys in areas ranging from court decorum, motion calendar practice, plea negotiations, to trial advocacy
Associate
Mr. Masson is an experienced civil litigator with a history of success in handling a broad array of complex and high exposure civil matters for individuals, insurers, and other business entities. Mr. Masson prides himself on being an out of the box thinker that is dedicated to meeting his client’s specific needs, providing them with superb legal representation, and obtaining very favorable results.
Of Counsel
Eric McAliley brings more than two decades of legal experience to his representation of professionals in E&O claims and of clients with respect to high exposure personal injury and CGL claims. He draws on his education in accounting/tax, and unique prior career experience in engineering with Pratt & Whitney and the South Florida Water Management District to bring added value to his practice.
Eric defends cases on behalf of clients involving E&O Claims including, legal malpractice, negligence, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and other common law and statutory claims. Eric represents attorneys, financial professionals, including securities brokers-dealers, accountants, retail and wholesale brokers and insurance agents.
Eric’s CGL practice consists of defending claims involving physical and emotional injuries including, but not limited to, automobile negligence, negligent security, premises liability, 1983 claims, and intentional torts. With respect to claims against governmental entities, Eric regularly handles cases involving complex issues of constitutional law, sovereign immunity, civil rights, torts, and common law claims.
Eric also serves as trial counsel for the firm’s clients and carriers and assists with the firm’s trial teams.
Partner
Ms. Mevers is the Chair of the Employment Practices Liability Division. During her practice, Ms. Mevers has been involved in complex litigation and administrative proceedings in the areas of education, labor and employment, professional liability and governmental immunity.
Ms. Mevers has also represented creditors in both Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) claims including class actions. We look at each claim with a view of costs, benefits while also seeking to limit risk and liability.
She has provided training and lectures to a vast array of corporate, public and private entities on the following topics: Corporate Compliance issues involving the following: Title VII, HIPAA, Sexual Harassment, ADA, Student Admission Issues and Standards, and Student Disciplinary Issues. Ms. Mevers has also developed and implemented corporate compliance plans for multiple public, private and governmental entities.
Ms. Mevers has been responsible for managing labor and employment matters from pre-suit, including prior to an administrative filing through trial. She has represented a private university at the administrative stage as well as in both federal and state courts in areas of labor and employment, educational law, and contract negotiations. Ms. Mevers has developed and implemented voluntary compliance programs for private educational institutions including training, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and provision of services by outside vendors in conjunction with regular audits.
As part of her litigation practice, Ms. Mevers has investigated a number of cases of alleged discrimination, including sex/gender discrimination, disability claims, sexual harassment claims, national origin claims, marital status claims, sexual orientation claims, workers’ compensation retaliation claims, religion claims, age claims, and race discrimination claims. She has investigated hostile work environments and made recommendations to eradicate long-standing discriminatory practices. Besides investigations, Ms. Mevers has handled numerous employment claims in both state and federal courts involving allegations of violations of Title VII, whistleblower claims, ADEA claims, Title IX, EPA claims, ADA claims, Family and Medical Leave Act claims, Fair Labor Standards Act claims and Florida Civil Rights Act violations, favorably handling these cases.
Ms. Mevers received accolades for her involvement and leadership in the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program, providing free tax assistance to low-to-moderate income individuals.
Partner
Mr. Norris’s practice primarily involves representing, defending, and counseling business owners regarding a diverse array of legal issues. Mr. Norris has had the privilege of successfully representing hotel operators and other hospitality businesses, medical practices, airlines, MROs, universities, banks, governmental entities, large institutional clients, and small businesses.
Mr. Norris has extensively litigated matters involving labor and employment law, commercial law, professional liability, hospitality law, premises liability, ADA accessibility, real estate, admiralty and maritime, wrongful death, and various types of negligence. Mr. Norris has defended private and public employers in all phases of litigation, from administrative hearings through trial on matters arising under Federal, State and local employment laws.
Mr. Norris also has extensive experience servicing business owners in the preparation and negotiation of contracts, including stock purchase and asset purchase agreements, ensuring compliance with laws, rules, and regulations, and providing guidance to mitigate risk and limit liability.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Norris served as in-house counsel for a successful Real Estate Investment Company that focused on acquiring and re-positioning distressed assets.
Partner
Mr. Polk is an Associate at Lydecker, handling matters in Florida at the State and Federal Court levels. He maintains a wide variety of insurance defense and commercial litigation practice areas including general bodily injury and casualty, construction defect litigation, employment litigation, product liability, professional malpractice, municipality litigation, and various other civil litigation matters.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Polk was a prosecutor for the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, Assistant Attorney for the Office of the Sarasota County Attorney, and has practiced general liability insurance defense since 2016 where he obtained extensive criminal and civil trial experience.
Associate
Stephanie Pidermann (Woodard) is a shareholder in the firm’s Miami, Florida office. Ms. Pidermann concentrates her practice on commercial litigation matters, as well as, defending, significant labor & employment, personal injury, premises liability, and professional liability lawsuits. She represents major hotels, grocers and retailers, Fortune 500 companies, insurers, governmental entities, and transportation companies in state and federal courts throughout Florida and the United States.
Ms. Pidermann’s Labor and Employment litigation experience includes representing private and public employers in all phases of employment litigation, from administrative hearings through trial on matters arising under Federal, State and local employment laws. Ms. Pidermann regularly handles Federal and State actions involving issues of civil rights violations, False Claims Act litigation, sovereign immunity, qualified immunity, 1983 actions, wrongful death claims, sexual harassment, FLSA compliance, discrimination, retaliation, Title VII, whistleblower claims, fraud, and a battery of common law torts.
Ms. Pidermann also regularly represents Directors and Officers in actions involving violations of consumer protection laws, misrepresentation, fraud, malpractice, breaches of fiduciary duties, violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and generalized negligence. She has represented insurance brokers, accountants, brokers, real estate professionals, title agents, closing agents, appraisers, home inspectors, escrow agents, and health care professionals, including physicians, nurses, physician’s assistants, and mental health practitioners involved in a wide array of claims.
Ms. Pidermann has been consistently recognized as a Florida Super Lawyers “Rising Star” since 2014 and has been recognized as a Legal Elite lawyer by Florida Trend’s Legal Elite since 2014.
Partner
Michael Poreda is Of Counsel in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania offices of Lydecker. He is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and is admitted to practice in five of the federal jurisdictions in those states.
He is an experienced litigator who has practiced widely in the areas of discrimination, civil rights, health care, personal injury, consumer fraud, and professional malpractice. His past clients have included municipal entities such as school boards and police departments, a variety of for-profit and not-for-profit corporations, and political candidates.
Michael clerked for the Honorable Hector R. Velazquez of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Hudson County and for the Honorable William J. Martini of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark.
Michael graduated with highest honors from Rutgers University with a B.A. He has an M.A. from Teachers College – Columbia University. He earned his J.D. magna cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law where he was a law review editor. Before attending law school, Michael taught high school history in New Jersey and has served as adjunct faculty at Rutgers University. He is the 2024-25 Chair of the LGBTQ Rights Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Of Counsel
Kristina Sargent served as an enlisted soldier in the United States Army and Army Guard for over 15 years. Kristina graduated from the University of Baltimore and was a prosecutor in Baltimore City prior to moving to Florida in 2021. After spending 8 years practicing criminal law, Kristina shifted her focus to civil litigation. Kristina has extensive trial experience leading dozens of jury trials and high-profile cases.
Of Counsel
Mr. Leon-Schetina is an Associate Attorney in the firm’s Miami office. Mr. Leon-Schetina’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil litigation with a primary focus on labor and employment, corporate liability, and government liability.
Mr. Leon-Schetina obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami with a concentration in business compliance and sustainability through a specialized academic curriculum. While in law school, Mr. Leon-Schetina served as a law clerk for a boutique firm dealing with commercial litigation and intellectual property rights. While completing his legal studies at the University of Miami, Mr. Leon-Schetina was also a member of the Business Law Society.
Associate
Michal Slavik is an associate attorney at the Lydecker’s Miami office. Mr. Slavik’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil litigation with a primary focus on labor and employment, administrative and regulatory litigation, commercial litigation, and personal injury. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Slavik practiced general litigation in Florida and employment and commercial law in Prague, Czech Republic.
Mr. Slavik earned his Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law, graduating magna cum laude, and his Master of Law from Charles University in Prague.
While in law school, Mr. Slavik served as an associate at the Nova Law Review and was awarded a top-grade award for the Contracts class. Mr. Slavik also made the Dean’s List every semester of his law school studies. Throughout the course of law school, Mr. Slavik worked as a law clerk at a personal injury law firm and a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Jose M. Rodriguez with the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida.
Associate
Ms. Sweet is a bilingual (English and Spanish) and highly experienced attorney. She has a proven track record of success in handling complex trials and high-profile cases. Ms. Sweet is committed to providing her clients with the highest level of legal representation, tailored to meet their specific needs.
Ms. Sweet was an Assistant State Attorney in Florida for over four years, where she gained extensive experience in handling complex cases and over dozens of jury trials. She then moved to work as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Texas. She moved back to Florida in 2023 and has been providing outstanding legal services in the civil litigation area of law ever since.
Ms. Sweet is committed to staying up to date on the latest developments in the law, and regularly is attending courses to keep her knowledge and skills sharp.
Partner
Francisco is an Associate in the firm’s Miami Office. Mr. Varona’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus in personal injury, premises liability, and government liability.
Mr. Varona earned his J.D. from Florida International University College of Law and graduated Cum Laude. During law school, Mr. Varona served as the vice president of the Student Bar Association. Mr Varona was on the Executive Board of the FIU Law Review, serving as the Executive Alumni Relations Editor; his Law Review student note was published in the FIU Law Review. Mr. Varona also served as the vice president, and founding member, of the FIU chapter of the American Constitution Society. Mr. Varona was a Dean’s Scholar and received the CALI Book Award for Legal Skills and Values III.
Associate
J.W. Webb is a Litigation Partner in the firm’s Orlando office, where he maintains an active trial and civil litigation practice in Federal and State Courts throughout Florida.
Mr. Webb has considerable experience dealing with automobile negligence, arson, medical malpractice, premise liability and product liability cases resulting in catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. Mr. Webb has also handled cases dealing with bad faith, commercial transaction disputes, construction defects, declaratory actions, land disputes and property damage. He has successfully tried cases in Brevard, Broward, Marion, Orange, Palm Beach, Seminole, and Volusia Counties.
Mr. Webb began his legal career with Hightower and Rudd, P.A. a Miami based insurance defense firm. Shortly after joining the firm, Mr. Webb became the managing attorney of its West Palm Beach office.
After two years in practice, Mr. Webb was invited to join Kubicki Draper, P.A. a State-wide insurance defense firm, where he became a shareholder and was chosen by the firm’s managing partner to start its Orlando Office, which he ran for six years before opening his own law firm.
Mr. Webb has given lectures throughout the country on many subjects during his career. He lectures to insurance carriers on issues ranging from hospital liens and personal injury protection to complicated medial claims and high exposure cases.
Mr. Webb is licensed to practice law in all Florida State Courts and the . He has also served as a Guardian ad Litem for children in the Central Florida area.
Mr. Webb graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas in 1989 with a B.A. in business and a concentration in economics. Before going to law school Mr. Webb worked in the business world for a number of years managing companies in Texas, California, Illinois, and Florida.
Mr. Webb returned to his home state of Michigan to obtain his Juris Doctorate – Cum Laude, from Michigan State University. While attending law school, Mr. Webb served as Managing Editor of Business and Production for the Michigan State Law Review, as an intern for United States Federal District Judge Gerald E. Rose, and as a law clerk for the Department of Justice: United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan. During his tenure with the Department of Justice, under the internship section of the program, Mr. Webb functioned as lead counsel for the prosecution and trial of numerous misdemeanor cases.
Partner
Ronald (Ronn) S. Whitaker is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office and brings a wealth of litigation experience in the both the public and private sectors. Ronn has tried in excess of sixty (60) jury trials as lead trial counsel with an outstanding record of success. He has represented corporate clients, public entities and private individuals in all phases of litigation in both State and Federal Courts with an emphasis in the defense of personal injury, civil rights, professional liability, product liability and premises liability cases. He also has extensive experience in employment litigation, including being admitted in pro hac vice in the State of Arizona to successfully defend a large national corporation against claims of wrongful discrimination and racial discrimination.
Ronn completed his undergraduate studies at UCLA, and then obtained his law degree from the UCLA School of Law, where he was selected as a Distinguish Advocate in the Moot Court Honors Program.
Partner
In Mr. Zaverl’s practice, he has held various positions with national and local law firms handling many different types of litigation. Mr. Zaverl most recently worked for a national insurance company, as staff counsel where he tried multiple cases a year for the past five years. He has worked defending individual policy holders as well as many well-known corporations in personal injury, premises liability, and product liability claims.
Mr. Zaverl, in his spare time, enjoys ice hockey (playing, coaching, watching) and photography. He also enjoys spending time with his children and his chocolate Labrador, Aldo. Mr. Zaverl is also a member of the Ventura County Bar Association.
Of Counsel
