April 8, 2025 | Announcements

Miles A. McGrane, IV Appointed Chair of Local Professionalism Panel

Miles A. McGrane, IV, a Partner in our Hollywood Office, has recently been appointed by the Chief Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, to serve as Chair of the Local Professionalism Panel.  In 2023, the Florida Supreme Court adopted the Code for Resolving Professionalism Referrals and directed the Chief Judge of each circuit to create a local professionalism panel.  The purpose of the Panel is to informally resolve referrals of claimed unprofessional conduct by lawyers practicing in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. The Panel is to promote adherence to the Standards of Professionalism and to receive, screen, and act upon referrals of unprofessional conduct; and address those referrals informally, if possible, or refer those referrals to The Florida Bar for investigation.

March 26, 2025 | Verdicts and Settlements

Attorneys Secure Defense Verdict in Georgia Property Dispute Case

Thomasville, GA managing partner, Joshua C. Canton, and partner, Justin B. Hales, won a defense verdict in a Chatham County, GA case where plaintiffs alleged causes of action for trespass, nuisance, negligence, attorney’s fees, and punitive damages.  Plaintiffs contended that the defendant failed to maintain her property and caused dead or dying trees to fall onto Plaintiffs’ property over a period of five years, destroying structures and endangering lives.  Plaintiffs also argued that the defendant maintained raccoons and rats on her property inside of a dilapidated house and caused the creatures to invade the plaintiffs’ property attacking the plaintiffs and their pets.  Defendant contended that the suit was merely a pre-text for Plaintiffs to obtain the Defendant’s waterfront property.  After a four day trial, Plaintiffs asked the jury to award $500,000 plus punitive damages and attorney’s fees.  The jury returned a defense verdict in less than 90 minutes. 

March 17, 2025 | Verdicts and Settlements

Noelia Vaccaro and Maria Chapman Secure Victory in AOB Dismissal Claim

Noelia C. Vaccaro, an attorney in the Hollywood office, and Maria S. Chapman, an attorney in the Tampa office, recently prevailed on a motion to dismiss in an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) case in Escambia County, in which the Court granted the Defendant's Motion to Dismiss with prejudice. The court ruled that the Plaintiff's AOB was invalid under Florida Statute § 627.7152 because it lacked a written, itemized, per-unit cost estimate of services to be performed — a statutory requirement for AOB validity. The court further determined that the deficiency in the AOB was an issue of standing that could not be remedied through amendment. Consequently, the Plaintiff’s Amended Complaint was dismissed. 

March 12, 2025 | Speaking Announcements

Orlando Partners to Speak at the 2025 Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Forum

Workers’ compensation partners Neil A. Ambekar and Matthew J. Troy will be presenting at the 2025 Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Forum in Orlando, Florida. Both Matt and Neil are Board-certified in Workers’ Compensation by The Florida Bar and hold AV Preeminent ratings from Martindale-Hubbell. They represent employers, carriers, TPAs, uninsured employers, PEOs, and self-insured funds in various workers' compensation matters.