Professional Liability
Professional Liability Attorneys
Lydecker’s Professional Liability Defense team is dedicated to representing professionals and organizations facing claims of negligence, malpractice, or misconduct. Our attorneys have extensive experience defending a wide range of professionals, including attorneys, accountants, architects, engineers, healthcare providers, and financial advisors, against allegations that challenge their professional integrity and standards.
We are regularly involved in various matters in courts involving errors and omissions claims, claims against directors and officers, and defamation claims.
We routinely represent attorneys, law firms, insurance agents and brokers, real estate agents, title and closing agents, escrow agents, appraisers, investment firms, as well as various medical doctors, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and other counselors.
We offer comprehensive legal representation in matters involving errors and omissions (E&O), breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentation, and malpractice claims. Our defense strategies are built on in-depth knowledge of industry standards, regulatory frameworks, and litigation tactics, ensuring that our clients receive expert guidance and effective advocacy in both state and federal courts.
With a strong track record of success, we are committed to protecting the reputation and livelihood of professionals and their firms, mitigating financial exposure, and resolving disputes efficiently through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or trial. Our Professional Liability team combines decades of experience and industry insight to deliver the highest quality legal services, ensuring that our clients can focus on their practice while we handle the complexities of their defense.
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Professional Liability Team
Ashley Adkins works in our Miami office. Previously Ms. Adkins worked in Orlando and practiced Insurance Defense work including vehicle negligence, premises liability and first-party property. While in law school, Ms. Adkins interned at the Ninth Circuit Public Defenders Office. Ms. Adkins was a County Court Certified Mediator between 2020-2022 where I assisted with mediating numerous county level cases to resolution.
Peter Agola is an Associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. Peter is a 2023 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, and a member of the Florida Bar. Prior to joining Lydecker, Peter spent time as a law clerk at a boutique complex commercial litigation firm, and an insurance defense firm, both located in Miami.
Tom Allmond is a Partner and Supervising Attorney in the firm’s Jacksonville Office. Mr. Allmond’s practice includes all aspects of civil litigation. Mr. Allmond litigated numerous cases, handling labor and employment cases, property damage, conducted and managed investigations, environmental law litigation, and participated in domestic emergency responses.
Mr. Allmond earned his J.D. from Mercer University School of Law, graduating with honors and a certificate in Legal Writing. While completing his studies, Mr. Allmond was a member of the Gibbons Moot Court Team, served as a Petty Officer in the Navy Reserves, and was awarded the Walker P. Johnson Jr. Memorial Award by the William Augustus Bootle Inn of Court.
Upon graduation, Mr. Allmond served on active duty as a Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG). During his time as a JAG, Mr. Allmond continues to serve in the Navy Reserves as a Commander (select). Mr. Allmond is admitted in Florida and North Carolina.
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.
Victoria A. Arthington is Of Counsel in Lydecker’s Orlando office where she concentrates her practice in civil litigation with a primary focus on personal injury and premises liability law. In her personal injury and premises liability practice, Ms. Arthington primarily represents and advises business owners and condominium associations in various civil matters, and litigation.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Ms. Arthington worked with investors and landowners by helping them navigate complex zoning and compliance issues with real estate investments. Ms. Arthington earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Florida School of Law, where she also served in the Conservation Law Clinic.
Mr. Arthington was admitted to practice in the State of Florida in 2020 and is an active member of the Florida Bar.
Matthew Biondi joined Lydecker as a partner in April 2018 and has since established a solid reputation across a broad range of legal fields. His practice areas include premises liability, motor vehicle incidents, construction defects, professional malpractice, construction casualties, and insurance coverage. Mr. Biondi is skilled at navigating the complex legal landscapes of both New York and New Jersey, where he is fully licensed to practice.
Upon earning his law degree, Mr. Biondi had the honor of serving as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Jamie S. Perri, J.S.C., in the Law Division of Monmouth County. This role provided him with invaluable insights into judicial processes and deepened his understanding of civil litigation, directly influencing his practical and thorough approach to legal challenges.
Mr. Biondi’s commitment to legal excellence is evident in his meticulous approach to case preparation and client advocacy. His analytical skills and comprehensive knowledge have led to successful outcomes in numerous high-stakes cases. He is particularly noted for his strategic use of pre-trial motions, which often result in favorable resolutions for his clients.
In addition to his courtroom achievements, Mr. Biondi is dedicated to the legal community, regularly contributing to legal journals and speaking at conferences focused on his areas of expertise.
Mr. Biondi’s professional principles are characterized by a steadfast commitment to justice and integrity, making him a respected figure in the legal profession and a trusted advocate for his clients.
Christopher J. Campbell is a Partner at Lydecker’s Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco offices, serving as lead counsel in state and federal courts, as well as high-stakes arbitration. Mr. Campbell’s practice focuses on defending companies across materials, industrials, utilities, healthcare, information technology, financials, and consumer discretionary sectors. Mr. Campbell prioritizes organizational objectives over legal convenience to secure favorable verdicts, settlements, and dispositive judgments.
As a trial attorney for Lydecker’s EPLI Department, Environmental Mass Tort, Product Liability Department and Professional Liability Department, Mr. Campbell has defended against complaints involving consumer and commercially available substances and materials, class action, mass, and toxic tort litigation, and recalled products claims. Mr. Campbell spearheaded growing nationwide silicosis litigation by bringing its bellwether case to verdict in Los Angeles County. His work with EPLI offers clients invaluable guidance on navigating the complex landscape of employment law. With a focus on defending employers in employment-related claims, Mr. Campbell has experience handling a wide range of workplace issues, including wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, and wage and hour disputes. Mr. Campbell has a deep understanding of the complexities involved in professional liability cases and is committed to protecting the reputations and careers of his clients. His dedication to delivering tailored solutions and safeguarding his clients’ interests makes him a trusted advocate in professional liability defense.
Finding his roots in the in-house legal department of an international company with over 13,000 employees, Mr. Campbell brings a unique perspective to the courtroom, tailoring litigation strategies to his clients’ executive philosophies and microeconomic constraints to advance long-term organizational goals through a trial-focused approach that forces outcomes on his clients’ terms. This has allowed Mr. Campbell to adopt a proactive methodology in developing internal employment policies and procedures to reduce risks and avoid costly litigation in the first place.
Mr. Campbell’s representative clients are diverse, ranging from multinational corporations, medical device and pharmaceutical companies to local business and municipal governments, as well as global manufacturers, distributors, and major retailers. Mr. Campbell specifically focuses on defending companies against complaints involving consumer and commercially available substances and materials, class action, mass and toxic tort litigation, recalled products claims, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage disputes.
Before joining Lydecker, Mr. Campbell defended businesses operating throughout California, and has acted as lead trial counsel throughout strategic discovery, pre-trial motion practice, and to completion of trial. His prior experience includes a range of manufacturer defect, fraud, employment, and regulatory compliance litigation on a state and federal level. In law school, Mr. Campbell was a Dean’s Merit Scholarship Recipient, and finalist and Best Opening Statement winner in University of California, Irvine School of Law’s Mock Trial competition. Mr. Campbell continues to participate in the development and mentorship of aspiring civil litigators.
Ms. Centrone was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. She attended Columbia College on their Presidential and Leadership scholarships and was a member of the Honors Program, Student Advisory Committee, and Alpha Lambda Delta National Honor Society. Erin completed her undergraduate studies at the University of South Florida where she was a founding member of the Mock Trial Association and active in Pre-Law Society. Erin is a cum laude graduate of Stetson University College of Law where she earned numerous Honor Roll distinctions as well as four book awards.
Ms. Centrone is a seasoned civil litigator with experience defending clients through agency investigations as well as litigation in administrative, state, and federal courts in Florida. Her practice includes representation in diverse first- and third-party claims, including personal injury, premises liability, professional malpractice, D&O, bad faith actions, labor & employment matters, whistleblower, complex litigation, catastrophic claims, and SIU/fraud matters.
Ms. Centrone has been recognized as The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch in each of its first three years, each year in three distinct areas of practice. She received the Ones to Watch designation for Labor and Employment, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Professional Malpractice for 2021, 2022, and 2023. Most recently, Ms. Centrone was named among The Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation – 2024.
Mr. Conto is a Partner at the firm’s Boca Raton Office. Mr. Conto began his career in law representing corporations in legal matters concerning maritime law. Mr. Conto then joined a well-known litigation defense firm with offices throughout Florida. There he focused his practice on defending corporations in construction defect matters, premises liability matters and negligent security matters involving claims of wrongful death. He also represented insurance companies in high exposure first-party property disputes.
At Lydecker Mr. Conto is concentrating his practice on defending developers, general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, environmental consultants, product manufacturers and insurance carriers in a variety of contexts arising from the construction and use of real property. Mr. Conto has successfully represented clients in all phases of litigation including trials, summary judgment proceedings and mediations.
John P. Daly is based in Lydecker’s Orlando office where he serves as Of Counsel. He is a skilled litigation attorney with over 30 years of experience handling complex litigation in State and Federal Courts throughout Florida. He has tried multiple civil jury trials as lead counsel to verdict and handled scores of appellate matters, including oral arguments in the 1st and 2d District Courts of Appeal.
Mr. Daly’s practice areas include automobile negligence, premises liability, professional liability, and first- and third-party insurance claims.
Eliz Demren is an Associate in the Products Liability department of Lydecker’s Miami office. Prior to working at Lydecker, Ms. Demren was an associate at a boutique complex civil litigation firm. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the Honors College at Florida International University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law.
During law school, Eliz received the Dean’s Certificate of Achievement Award and CALI Excellence for the Future Award for receiving the top grades in her courses. She also competed in Moot Court, interned for Circuit Court Judge Spencer Eig, and externed for Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge John J. O’Sullivan. While earning her Juris Doctor, Eliz completed several internships at various law firms to fully maximize her time in law school before beginning to practice as an attorney.
Mrs. Diverio is a shareholding partner at Lydecker’s Miami office and is the chair of the property practice group. She is a trial and appellate attorney for first and third party lawsuits. She handles bad faith claims, third party claims nationally, fire/theft/fraud investigations, windstorm coverage insurance defense, personal injury, general liability, subrogation claims, fraud investigations, and all types of property damage claims.
Mrs. Diverio litigates insurance disputes involving high exposure commercial and personal lines in both State and Federal court. Mrs. Diverio’s practice group handles claims from pre-suit investigations through trials and appeals.
Mrs. Diverio has handled a multitude of appellate and trial matters and has been first-handedly involved in changing and upholding Florida Statutes on significant current insurance defense issues.
Most importantly, Mrs. Diverio’s strength lies in client relations and professionalism. She maintains an open line of communication with her clients during all phases of litigation, settlement of a dispute, and works in conjunction with her adjusters to quickly and efficiently resolve claims.
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.
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.
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.
Morgan Taylor Gieser is an associate in the Miami and Tampa office. Ms. Gieser represents clients throughout the state in a variety of federal and state civil litigation claims with a focus on labor and employment. These claims involve 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. As part of her practice, Ms. Gieser represents clients in pre-suit claims, in addition to handling charges filed with government agencies such as the EEOC and NLRB.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Ms. Gieser represented private companies in all aspects of labor and employment litigation. Ms. Gieser has additional litigation experience in insurance defense, defending clients in a wide array of general liability matters as well as property damage cases.
Brett Goldman is an Partner in the firm’s New York and New Jersey offices. His practice focuses on employment law including discrimination and retaliation cases before state and federal courts and agencies, professional liability matters, and insurance coverage, as well as general liability cases and commercial disputes. Brett has represented health care, treatment and long term care facilities and professionals in cases involving employment claims , professional liability, personal injury, and other matters.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Brett spent two years at a large insurer in Jersey City, New Jersey handling employment practices liability claims, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation matters. While a claims representative, Brett provided litigation and claims management services, made coverage decisions, and oversaw settlement discussions and mediations. Insured clients, found nationwide, ranged from large education networks to healthcare institutions, as well as car dealerships and supermarket chains.
Additionally, Brett spent time as a management consultant for the advisory services division of a Big 4 accounting firm, for which he provided consulting services to clients in the financial services industry. His projects included mortgage remediation for a large U.S. bank and project management for a notable financial services corporation’s anti-money laundering efforts. Brett also gained valuable experience as a volunteer attorney for the New York State Unified Court System’s Access to Justice program, assisting pro se litigants in New York and Kings County Housing Courts.
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.
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.
John Jabro is an associate in Lydecker’s Orlando office where he practices civil litigation with a primary focus on personal injury and premises liability law. Mr. Jabro primarily represents business owners and condominium associations in various civil matters, and litigation.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Jabro worked as a legal assistant for a civil litigation firm located in Sarasota, Florida.
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.
Emma Erickson-Kery is an associate in the firm’s Los Angeles Office. Ms. Erickson-Kery’s practice involves defending clients in various areas of litigation.
Ms. Erickson-Kery achieved her Bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue her J.D., which she earned from Pepperdine University in 2023. While in law school, Ms. Erickson-Kery worked as a law clerk for the California Department of Justice in its Criminal Appeals, Writs, and Trials section. Ms. Erickson-Kery also served as a legal intern at the Los Angeles County Office of the County Counsel in its appeals division. Finally, Ms. Erickson-Kery was the managing editor of Pepperdine’s Journal of Business, Entrepreneurship, and The Law.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Erickson-Kery worked as an associate at a state-wide litigation firm based in Century City.
Julie Kim is an Associate located in Lydecker’s Jersey City office. She is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. Ms. Kim’s practice area involves all aspects of Civil Litigation.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Kim served as the Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable David V. Calviello in the New Jersey Superior Court.
Ms. Kim attended the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she was an editor for the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution. She also interned at the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS). Ms. Kim completed the Bucerius Law School Exchange Program in International Business Law in Hamburg, Germany.
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.
Ms. LaFaurie is a Lydecker Partner overseeing teams throughout the Firm’s Florida and California offices, with extensive experience handling a wide variety of high exposure and complex general liability and personal injury matters. Ms. LaFaurie is the Head of the Firm’s Product Liability Department and the co-chair of the Mass Tort Department. She is one of the firm’s trial attorneys, who regularly handles matters through all phases of litigation, from evidentiary hearings, arbitrations, and through trial, before Local, State and Federal Courts in connection with a wide variety of complex civil and commercial litigation matters.
Ms. LaFaurie’s general liability, product liability, and mass tort litigation experience includes representing premises owners and operators, local and global manufacturers, as well as major national retailers in numerous areas within the wider tort-based field, such as catastrophic injury, premises liability claims, class action, mass and toxic tort litigation, recalled product claims, as well as defending claims involving consumer and commercially available substances and materials. Her experience includes high exposure injury, wrongful death, and commercial matters. Ms. LaFaurie proactively manages and advises her clients on legal and factual matters of first impression, including efforts to mitigate and limit the prospective of emerging and anticipated claims, future class action and large-scale legal exposures.
Ms. LaFaurie is actively involved in leadership and mentorship in several national organizations focused on defense of business owners of all kinds. She sits on several committees with a focus which reflects her practice in civil litigation, product liability and mass tort.
Mr. Lewis is Of Counsel to the firm’s Miami office. Mr. Lewis spent over 35 years as a partner at a well known Miami insurance defense firm. Mr. Lewis concentrates his practice on defense of large corporations and insurance companies in premises liability, negligent security, products liability, legal malpractice and general tort liability.
At Lydecker Mr. Lewis serves as senior trial counsel having tried over 100 jury trials. Mr. Lewis has secured defense verdicts throughout the State of Florida, is AV rated and admitted to practice in all state and Federal Courts in the State of Florida.
Richard Lydecker is a founding partner at Lydecker, a full-service AV-rated national law firm with offices throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, and Georgia. As a distinguished leader and visionary in the legal community, Richard has played an instrumental role in shaping the firm’s reputation and success since its inception in 1994 as an aggressive and responsive law firm.
With a career spanning over several decades, Richard J. Lydecker has established himself as a formidable force in the field of defense litigation. His practice predominantly focuses on complex commercial litigation, professional liability, bodily injury, auto negligence, environmental law, employment, D&O, E&O, accounting malpractice, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, bad faith litigation, and insurance coverage. His extensive background in these areas has earned him recognition as a trusted and skilled litigator, consistently delivering exceptional results for his clients. Richard’s diverse and extensive background makes Lydecker a premiere law firm.
Richard’s legal journey began with a robust education and training, laying the foundation for his future accomplishments. He earned his Juris Doctor from a prestigious law school and quickly rose through the ranks, gaining invaluable experience and expertise in civil litigation. Over the years, Richard has handled a wide array of cases, ranging from intricate commercial disputes to high-stakes professional liability claims.
Prior to Richard’s career in civil practice, he was a Senior Major Case Bureau Prosecutor in New York with an outstanding record of success in preparing, managing, and trying high-profile cases. Casework involved high-profile, high-visibility criminal prosecution of homicides, robbery, arson, rape, and burglary. Richard successfully tried in excess of 100 criminal cases, many resulting in guilty verdicts carrying life sentences. Before accepting his appointment to the District Attorney’s Office, Richard was an attorney at a prestigious Wall Street, N.Y. law firm.
Richard Lydecker’s remarkable career as a founding partner of Lydecker showcases his expertise in defense litigation, his leadership within the firm, and his dedication to client success. His diverse background and extensive experience have made him a respected figure in the legal community, and his contributions continue to shape the firm’s reputation as a premier law firm nationwide.
Today Lydecker has ten main practice areas:
- Appellate
- Bankruptcy and Banking
- Business, Corporate and Transactional
- Condominium & HOA
- Construction Design & Environmental
- Employment
- General Liability
- Government
- Insurance
- Professional Liability
Lydecker has the following sub practice areas:
Accounting Malpractice, Admiralty and Maritime, Appellate Advocacy, Appellate Practice, Architects and Engineers, Attorney Malpractice, Bad Faith Litigation, Banking and Financial Services Litigation, Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights, Bodily Injury Defense, Business Law, Business Reorganization, Catastrophic Injury & Loss Defense, Class Action Defense, Commercial Litigation, Commercial Property, Complex Commercial Litigation, Condominium & Homeowners’ Association Law, Construction & Design Contracts, Construction Accident Claims, Construction Defect Litigation, Construction Payment, Delay and Lien Disputes, Corporate Law, Corporate Liability, Coverage Disputes, Cyber Liability ⁄ Internet Law, Defamation, Directors and Officers, Education Law, Environmental Law, Errors and Omissions, Financial Litigation, General Liability, Government, Government Liability, Healthcare, Hospitality, Insurance, Insurance Agents and Brokers, Insurance Coverage and Extra-Contractual Litigation, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Land Use and Zoning, Mass Environmental Toxic Tort Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Negligent Security, Premises Liability, Products Liability, Property Practice, Real Estate Practice, Residential Property, Tort Liability, Transportation Liability and Workers Compensation.
Complex Commercial Litigation: Richard’s proficiency in complex commercial litigation is well-known. He has successfully represented clients in multifaceted legal battles, navigating intricate legal frameworks and securing favorable outcomes. His strategic approach and meticulous attention to detail have been pivotal in resolving disputes efficiently and effectively.
Professional Liability: Richard has extensive experience defending professionals across various industries against liability claims. His deep understanding of the nuances of professional conduct and standards enables him to provide robust defense strategies, protecting his clients’ reputations and careers.
Bad Faith Litigation: Richard is a recognized authority in bad faith litigation, representing clients in cases involving insurance companies. His tenacity and commitment to justice have resulted in significant victories, holding insurers accountable for their obligations.
Insurance Coverage: Richard’s expertise extends to insurance coverage matters, where he advises clients on complex coverage issues and disputes. His comprehensive knowledge of insurance law ensures that his clients receive the coverage they are entitled to, and he has successfully litigated numerous coverage cases.
Leadership and Oversight
As a founding partner, Richard oversees the firm’s practice groups and manages the firm’s relationships with its clients and carriers. His leadership is characterized by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and client-centric service. Richard is dedicated to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment within the firm, ensuring that every client receives personalized attention and tailored legal solutions.
Richard’s strategic vision has been instrumental in the firm’s growth and expansion. Under his guidance, Lydecker has become a nationally recognized law firm, known for its dedication to client success and its ability to handle complex legal challenges. His emphasis on continuous improvement and professional development has cultivated a team of highly skilled attorneys who share his passion for legal excellence.
Commitment to Clients
Richard’s client-centric approach is at the heart of his practice. He believes in building long-standing relationships grounded in mutual trust and respect. By understanding each client’s unique needs and goals, Richard provides strategic counsel and representation that aligns with their best interests. His ability to navigate complex legal landscapes and deliver practical solutions has earned him a loyal client base and numerous accolades within the legal community.
Personal and Professional Values
Beyond his professional achievements, Richard is known for his unwavering commitment to integrity, ethics, and community service. He actively participates in various professional organizations and contributes to legal scholarship through speaking engagements and publications. Richard’s dedication to giving back to the community is reflected in his involvement in pro bono work and charitable initiatives.
Looking Ahead
As Lydecker continues to grow and evolve, Richard remains dedicated to leading the firm towards new heights of success. His vision for the future includes expanding the firm’s capabilities, embracing technological advancements, and maintaining the highest standards of legal practice. Richard’s legacy is one of excellence, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
Mr. Major is a partner in our Philadelphia and New Jersey offices. Matthew is a seasoned civil litigator who focuses his practice at the state and federal levels in trial and appellate courts with a concentration on general litigation, commercial litigation, insurance litigation, employment litigation, professional and management liability defense, and securities litigation.
Matthew has represented insurance carriers in complex, high-profile coverage disputes; defended large corporations against claims involving dissolution, contract, fraud, fiduciary duty, trade secret, products liability, employment, ERISA and personal injury components; and represented individuals involved in securities, professional licensing, and contract-related disputes.
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.
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.
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.
Daniel Muggeo is an associate in the firm’s Boca Raton office. Mr. Muggeo focuses his practice on civil litigation including the defense of negligence, traumatic bodily injury, wrongful death, and malpractice. Mr. Muggeo is admitted to practice law in Florida state courts. Mr. Muggeo received his Juris Doctorate from the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University where he was a member of the ILSA Journal of International & Comparative Law and the Nova Trial Association. He earned his undergraduate degree from Nova Southeastern University where he received his degree in legal studies.
Brian is Litigation Partner in Lydecker’s San Diego office with more than twenty years of success providing legal analysis, strategy and endeavors to look at all options for purposes of protecting clients. Brian represents parties from incept to trial in proceeding, including alternative dispute resolution.
Brian balances attention to detail and management methodologies to maintain a ‘big picture’ focus while minimizing client /company exposure to risk. He develops working relationships with all counsel in all litigation matter to ensure organization, steer the litigation towards the best resolution, and leverages these relationships to control client expenses.
Brian maintains a strong courtroom presence and drives case strategies to achieve favorable outcomes for individual and corporate clients through the application of critical thinking and outside the box.
Mr. Murphy’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state civil trial litigation with a primary focus on product liability, premises liability, personal injury, and government liability. In his professional career, Brian has successfully represented corporate clients, private individuals, and government clients in all phases of litigation. His representation includes manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and major retailers in numerous areas within the field, such as mass and toxic tort litigation, product defect claims, as well as defending claims involving consumer and commercially available chemicals, substances, and materials.
Over the course of nearly 20 years, Mr. Murphy has represented a diverse range of clients, including large and small businesses in the biotech, chemical, communications, construction, education, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality, insurance, law enforcement, manufacturing, pest control, private post-secondary school, retail, and transportation industries.
Mr. Murphy also has extensive experience defending municipalities (defending government entities and their employees and school districts) and employers. He is admitted to practice in California.He is admitted to practice in all California district Courts, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California.
He earned his law degree from University of San Diego School of Law and his undergraduate degree from University of California, Riverside.
Robert Pariser supervises a talented team of attorneys who practice in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania offices. The attorneys I collaborate with are comprised of former educators, prosecutors, law clerks to state and federal judges and insurance professionals.
Robert Pariser’s legal practice focuses on the defense of claims against professionals (E&O, A&B, LPL or MPL), directors and officers (D&O) and against employers (EPL). Mr. Pariser represents design professionals (A&E) and other real estate professionals, including managing agents, appraisers, title agents, condo and co-op boards and developers in various disputes. On behalf of construction owners and managers, he defends claims prosecuted by injured workers brought pursuant to the New York Labor Law.
Robert Pariser also represent clients on other types of discrimination claims, including alleged civil rights violations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Robert Pariser defends environmental cases, involving mold, asbestos and ground contamination.
Robert Pariser represents public and private educators in breach of contract, employment, bullying, failing to promote and in due process matters.
Robert Pariser has had election, stock redemption, auction, foreclosure/ sheriff sale, false arrest, prosecutorial misconduct disputes. Robert Pariser has been on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list from 2011-present.
Mr. Sanchez Parraga is a partner at Lydecker’s Miami and New York offices. He counsels insurers on insurance coverage, claim adjustment, and contract interpretation on first-party property homeowners and commercial losses, bad faith litigation, fire/theft/fraud investigation, and windstorm coverage. In addition to handling matters of insurance coverage, Mr. Sanchez Parraga frequently represents insurers in trial and appellate courts in first-party property and bad faith litigation. He is also a frequent lecturer on seminars regarding first-party property claims and litigation topics.
Lee Patten is the Co-Chair of the Firm’s National Catastrophic Injury and Loss Defense Department. Mr. Patten has extensive trial court experience in complex litigation, and has defended numerous cases involving wrongful death, paralysis, amputation, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault, and other serious injuries throughout New York, New Jersey, and Florida. These claims and large loss exposures arise from a variety of liability scenarios, including premises liability, medical/healthcare/nursing home liability, school/early education/day care liability, construction site accidents (including New York labor law claims), road construction accidents, commercial trucking and car accidents, negligent security, and products liability, among others. Mr. Patten brings to bear his extensive experience in each of these specific industries to obtain excellent results for his clients.
Mr. Patten maintains a progress-oriented practice, whether pre-suit or in litigation, Mr. Patten works closely with his client to advance the case with every court filing, correspondence, email, and phone conference. Every action is designed to move the case forward toward trial or resolution.
Mr. Patten has taken countless depositions, including deposition of subject matter experts, liability experts, and damages experts. He has attended countless hearings, including important summary judgment hearings, as well as multi-day arbitrations and multi-day framed issue evidentiary hearings.
Mr. Patten has tried cases before many trial courts throughout the state of Florida, New York, and New Jersey, and has obtained many favorable settlement outcomes at the eleventh hour due to detailed trial preparations, including motions in limine and Daubert challenges to opposing experts.
Mr. Patten has also served as monitoring counsel and converted to lead trial counsel in numerous cases involving large losses or multiple layers of insurance. He is successfully able to parachute into potential “problem” or “high risk” cases, and laser in on key areas to prepare liability and damages defenses quickly and efficiently.
Before joining the firm, Mr. Patten was a prosecutor at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office, as well as a prosecutor for the Department of Children and Families. It was there that Mr. Patten started his trial career and was able to transfer those skills to civil litigation. In Law School, Mr. Patten served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review and won several awards for both Mock Trial and Moot Court competitions.
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.
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.
Yehuda brings a wealth of experience as an associate attorney at our Jersey City office. He earned his J.D. from New York Law School in 2023. During law school, Yehuda served as an editor on a regulatory law database at an Amlaw 100 Firm and interned for special counsel at the District Attorney’s office, focusing on appellate matters.
Yehuda is a certified Mediator and is admitted to practice law in both New York and New Jersey. Prior to joining our firm, he worked on estate planning and general litigation matters.
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.
Mr. Quetglas is an associate in the firm’s Miami office. Mr. Quetglas’ practice involves defending organizations and individuals involved in personal injury actions, premises liability matters, negligent security claims, professional liability claims, and construction defect matters throughout the State of Florida.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Quetglas was an associate at a boutique defense litigation firm based in Downtown Miami, Florida, where he represented insurers in complex insurance coverage litigation, claims handling, general liability claims, first-party property coverage, and bad faith litigation.
During law school, Mr. Quetglas worked as a Law Clerk at a national firm in Downtown Washington, D.C. specializing in the litigation of complex personal injury, medical malpractice, negligent security and civil rights matters.
Michael Rawlinson is a partner in our New York office. Mr. Rawlinson’s practice involves all aspects of Federal and State civil trials litigation with a primary focus on architects and engineers, construction (New York Labor Law and construction defect), premises liability and transportation.
Mr. Rawlinson’s trial experience includes trials brought under Labor Law Sections 200, 240, 241(6).
Mr. Rawlinson earned his J.D. degree from Fordham University with honors in litigation and participated in moot court.
Upon entering the workforce, Mr. Rawlinson continued his career in litigation. He has over 120 verdicts in his various practice areas.
Gabriel (Gabe) Z. Reynoso is a Partner of the Los Angeles office of Lydecker law firm. He is a trial attorney with nearly two decades of experience in various forms of complex litigation and arbitrations. During that time, he has represented and counseled small and large business entities and individuals in connection with employment litigation matters pending in both Northern and Southern California and in response to investigations and audits conducted by the DFEH, EEOC, DLSE, and DOL.
His representative employment litigation matters have included single and multi-plaintiff lawsuits, arbitrations, and class actions involving allegations of wrongful termination, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wage and hour law violations, unlawful denial of leave, failure to enforce COVID-19 protocols, denial of COVID-19 supplemental paid leave, unauthorized background checks, PAGA violations, trade secret misappropriation, ERISA violations, and UCL violations.
He has also advised clients on employment matters and personnel issues, including termination, layoffs, disciplinary issues, compliance with wage and hour laws, FMLA/CFRA compliance, employee classification issues, employee compensation agreements, COVID-19, background checks, drug testing, written employment policies and manuals, in addition to conducting workplace investigations.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Reynoso practiced law for over ten years in the San Francisco Bay Area where he worked at both international and regional law firms. Most recently, and since 2014, he has been practicing in Los Angeles, during which time he was a Partner at a national insurance defense law firm.
Anthony Ricucci is a partner in the firm’s San Francisco office. Mr. Ricucci’s practice involves all aspects of federal and state courts civil trial litigation with a primary focus on toxic torts, products liability and bodily injury litigation.
Mr. Ricucci earned his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law, where he was the Director of the Moot Court Board Advanced Competitions and served as an intern at the U.S. Attorneys’ Office in both San Francisco and in Washington D.C. He received trial practice training at the Attorney General’s Trial Advocacy Institute in Washington D.C. Prior to that he received his B.A. degree at UCLA, graduating magna cum laude, and serving as a congressional intern in Washington D.C.
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.
James Spratt is a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office and practices in all courts in California. His primary areas of practice include complex commercial litigation, tort practice in products liability, real property and construction defect.
Mr. Spratt earned his Juris Doctor Certificate from University of La Verne and his Bachelor’s degree in History from University of California, Santa Barbara. While in law school, Mr. Spratt has held numerous legal internships, including Office of Legislative Affairs for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. In Mr. Spratt’s practice, he has held various partner positions with national law firms and has worked for national insurance companies, as staff counsel. He has worked defending national insurance companies in professional negligence, commercial trucking negligence, premises liability and habitability claims.
Mr. Spratt has handled the defense of Property Owners, Landlords, Property Managers, and Homeowners Associations in claims arising out of California Habitability Claims pursuant to compliance with statutory duties under California Civil Code Section 1941.1 and California Health and Safety Code Section 17920.3. While the defense of these claims is often challenging in the pro-tenant environment of California law, Partner, James Spratt has displayed skill and expertise in navigating the display of substantial compliance with statutory duties in order to minimize exposure to risks. This is often achieved by a careful analysis of the jurisdictional building code and health & safety code records, in order to achieve favorable results in mediation of these claims. Additionally, Mr. Spratt has engaged some of the best experts in the fields of Property Management and Environmental Science to defend these claims, including Toxicologists, Microbiologists and Medical Doctors specializing in California Mycotoxin, Mold and Environmental Diseases.
Mr. Spratt is active in conservation efforts of Santa Monica Mountains Restoration Trust and enjoys snow skiing and swimming in his spare time. He also enjoys spending time with his family and his German Shepard dog. Mr. Spratt is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Carrie E. Stricklin, Esq., is a partner in the firm’s Boca Raton office and part of our Workers’ Compensation Practice Group. She practices general civil litigation, concentrating in the areas of insurance defense litigation, including bodily injury; attorney malpractice; negligent security; and workers’ compensation litigation. Ms. Stricklin has represented numerous carriers and private entities such as the State of Florida Department of Financial Services, Whole Foods Supermarkets, Signature Healthcare, AMS Staff Leasing, City Electric Supply Company, iAero, LLC, as well as municipalities including the City of Sunny Isles, City of Bal Harbour, City of Dania Beach, City of Miami Gardens and Town of Surfside through the Florida League of Cities. She has also handled occupational injury and disease claims as well.
Within the scope of her practice, Ms. Stricklin covers the entire spectrum of the defense of the workers’ compensation claims to include the following: investigating suspicious or fraudulent claims; thoroughly evaluating claims for potential resolution at state and/or private mediation; discovery and trial preparation when appropriate for litigation up to and through Final Hearing; evaluation and resolution of subrogation claims; and facilitation and submission of Medicare Set Asides with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Ms. Stricklin also previously developed a comprehensive Continuing Education seminar for claims professionals, which provides an update on numerous developments of the law, as well as CE credit
Ms. Stricklin received her Juris Doctorate from the Shephard Broad Law Center at Nova Southeastern University, where she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and a Law Student Advisor. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree in History from Florida Atlantic University. During graduate school, Ms. Stricklin served as the President of the school’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society.
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.
As a trial attorney for Lydecker’s Environmental Mass Tort, Product Liability Department and General Liability Department, Ronn has tried in excess of sixty (60) jury trials as lead trial counsel with an outstanding record of success.
Ronn had been practicing for less than four years when he tried his first jury trial which involved a collision between an automobile and a 12 year old cyclist with claims of traumatically induced epilepsy. Through a detailed cross-examination of the plaintiff, Ronn was able to prove that she had ridden her bicycle outside of the crosswalk in an attempt to beat the signal light. The jury returned a verdict of less than $14,000 after plaintiff’s counsel demanded $350,000.
Ronn was also retained by a major grocery store chain headquartered in Southern California to defend them and their truck driver whose tractor trailer rig collided with a cherry picker lift occupied by a worker who was replacing traffic signs. The worker fell almost 20 feet and suffered several facial and skull fractures. After a six and one half week trial, plaintiff’s counsel requested a verdict of $1,000,000. The jury returned a verdict for $1,000 less than the pre-trial offer made by Ronn’s client.
Ronn was admitted pro hac vice in the State of Arizona to defend a major supplier to the world’s larger fast food restaurant and successfully defended his client against claims of wrongful termination and racial discrimination.
While working in the City Attorney’s office of a major public entity, Ronn was re-assigned to an adverse liability major injury case six weeks prior to trial. Plaintiff alleged the defendant’s law enforcement vehicle ran a red light, violating his right of way. He suffered severe neck and back injuries with past surgeries to both his neck and back, with allegations of future back surgery being necessary. Plaintiff’s counsel demanded $15,000,000 after a four week jury trial. Although the jury found no negligence on the part of the plaintiff, they only awarded him slightly more than the defendant’s $1,000,000 pre-trial offer.
Most recently, Ronn obtained a 12-0 defense jury verdict in a breach of warranty of habitability case.
Saasha Williams is an Associate Attorney at Lydecker with extensive experience in handling all aspects of civil litigation.
Saasha is a Central Florida native and member of the Florida Bar Association. Saasha graduated from Stetson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies. At Stetson, Saasha was involved in mentorship, community outreach, and fundraising for disabled Veterans.
Thereafter, Saasha earned her Juris Doctorate from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University College of Law in Orlando, Florida. After earning her J.D., Saasha devoted her career to serving the State of Florida as an Assistant State Attorney for the 9th Judicial Circuit and a Senior Attorney for the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Prior to joining the Lydecker, Saasha gained significant litigation experience in a variety of areas of law making her a well rounded asset to the Lydecker family.
Mr. de Zayas’ experience includes debtor-creditor law, bankruptcy law, insurance insolvency, construction litigation, employment litigation, and appeals.
He has tried numerous jury and bench trials in state and federal courts and has been appellate counsel in many reported appellate decisions in the commercial litigation, insolvency, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy areas. Mr. De Zayas also has significant experience representing clients in civil antitrust, competition and restraint of trade litigation in state and federal courts. Mr. de Zayas has served as general counsel for the Florida Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association since 2004. He heads the Bankruptcy and Insurance Receivership Practice Group at Lydecker.
Mr. de Zayas also has substantial experience representing both commercial debtors and institutional creditors in connection with commercial claims, collections; in documentation and perfection of security interests in all types of collateral; in protection of, and realization on, various types of collateral upon default; in enforcement of judgments; in commercial foreclosure of mortgages and other security interests; in contract litigation; in preference and fraudulent conveyance actions, in insurance company and other commercial receiverships, and in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganizations. This varied experience with “both sides” of typical commercial litigation disputes benefits the Firm’s clients in developing successful and efficient strategies for the protection of their interests.
Mr. de Zayas’s practice includes professional liability defense and defense of Bar disciplinary proceedings.
