Samuel Kugbei, a partner based in the Hollywood office of the firm, specializes in a wide spectrum of general liability insurance defense, with a particular emphasis on premises liability and automobile-related cases.
Born in Sierra Leone, Samuel's upbringing spanned diverse locations including England, Syria, and Miami, Florida. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami School of Business in 2009, and in 2013, he earned his Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Miami School of Law.
Education:
- J.D., cum laude, University of Miami School of Law
- Dean's Merit Scholarship
- Dean’s List
- Dean’s Certificate of Achievement in the Miami Innocence Clinic
- Fourth Best Brief - Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition 2013, Rocky Mountain Regionals
- Research Assistant, Professor Sarah Mourer
- Judicial Intern, Honorable Adalberto Jordan in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida
- B.B.A., University of Miami School of Business
- JF Pearson Scholarship
- Provost’s Honor Roll
- Dean’s List
Languages:
- Arabic
Professional Affiliations:
- American Bar Association
Honors and Awards:
- The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch, 2023-2026, Listed in Florida for Construction; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Representative Experience:
- 2025 – Monroe County - Premises Liability Trial
The plaintiff sought $818,000–$1,630,000 in damages at trial after she tripped and fell while stepping off an elevated wooden platform sometimes used as a live performance stage at the defendant’s restaurant. As a result of the fall, the plaintiff fractured her right foot. She underwent three surgeries and multiple rounds of physical therapy. She claimed that, despite years of treatment, she continued to experience chronic pain. The plaintiff argued the restaurant breached its legal duty to maintain a reasonably safe premises because the step was excessively high—allegedly more than 2 inches higher than what was permitted under the applicable building code—and its material and color matched the surrounding deck, creating an optical illusion that concealed the change in elevation. The defense argued the platform, as an existing structure under the building code, was permitted to remain unchanged. The defense further argued the step was not unreasonably dangerous and the plaintiff fell because she was not was not watching where she was walking. The defense also argued that the plaintiff’s fracture had healed and she was able to live without significant restrictions. The jury’s net award was $75,000 after a 50/50 comparative fault finding and no award for future damages. - 2023 – Miami-Dade County - Insurance Coverage Dispute
Defeated breach of contract and loss-of-use claims against an insurer after flood damage to a vehicle. The court granted summary judgment for the insurer, finding it fully complied with the policy and no additional coverage applied. - 2022 – Palm Beach County - Sidewalk Trip-and-Fall
Won summary judgment in a sidewalk trip-and-fall case on the basis that the plaintiff failed to present evidence linking the defendant landscaper’s work to the accident. - 2022 – Miami-Dade County - Slip-and-Fall in Condominium
Obtained summary judgment for a condominium association where the fall occurred entirely inside a privately owned unit, eliminating any duty on the association. - 2022 – Broward County - Premises Liability
Achieved summary judgment with prejudice for a late-added defendant in a premises liability case.