Mr. Labbe concentrates his practice on first and third party insurance defense. He has experience handling various property claims including windstorm, water damage, fire and sinkhole. Mr. Labbe also has experience defending third-party liability claims, coverage disputes, subrogation and construction defect. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, Mr. Labbe worked as an associate attorney at an insurance defense firm specializing in first/third party liability defense. Mr. Labbe is licensed to practice in all state courts of Florida, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Groelle and Salmon, P.A.
-Tampa, Florida
Walton, Lantaff, Schroeder & Carson, L.L.P.
-Tampa, Florida
University of Florida J.D., cum laude
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts B.A.
Florida Bar
Massachusetts Bar
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Office Location:Tampa, FL / Boston, MA
Andrew focuses his practice on first-party property insurance coverage, defending insurance carriers in a vast range of first-party property matters.
Andrew’s first-party property defense experience began practicing as associate general counsel for the largest private homeowners insurance company in the State of Florida, where he exclusively handled the defense of first party property lawsuits throughout central Florida. As in-house counsel, Andrew obtained extensive experience with regard to attending examinations under oath, depositions, mediations, court appearances, etc.
Andrew graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and earned his juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University College of Law in 2015. While in law school, Andrew was a law clerk for an insurance defense firm, where he worked on cases involving premise liability matters. He was a member of the Nova Trial Association throughout law school and served as the Vice President of Operations. During his membership of the trial association, Andrew competed in multiple trial competitions on behalf of his school.
Outside of practicing law, Andrew enjoys spending time with his wife and being outdoors playing golf, biking, or paddle boarding.
Ms. Bellamy is a partner practicing primarily on first party property and insurance coverage matters. She spent the first ten years of her career with a prominent Orlando insurance defense firm, representing insurance carriers and insureds in first and third-party claims in the areas of homeowners insurance law, with a focus on sinkhole and property damage litigation, as well as auto negligence, premises liability, rental car law, and appellate law. Ms. Bellamy spent the last two years with a prominent Orlando Plaintiff’s firm representing hospitals and physicians in the area of Personal Injury Protection law. She is licensed to practice in all state courts of Florida as well as the United States District Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida.
Groelle & Salmon, P.A.
-Orlando, Florida
Bradford, Cederberg, P.A.
-Orlando, Florida
Cameron, Hodges, Coleman, LaPointe & Wright, P.A.
-Orlando, Florida
Barry University School of Law, J.D., Valedictorian
-State University of New York at Fredonia, B.S., Cum Laude
Florida Bar
-United States District Court Middle District of Florida
-United States District Court Northern District of Florida
Office Location::Orlando, FL
Brad J. Mitchell is a partner in Groelle and Salmon’s Miami office. Mr. Mitchell received his Juris Doctor from The Florida State University College of Law. While in law school, Mr. Mitchell served as a Legal Extern with the Florida Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division in Tallahassee as well as a legal intern to Judge Rayford Means on the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
After law school, Mr. Mitchell served as an Assistant-State Attorney in the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted hundreds of crimes ranging from felony charges punishable by life in prison to misdemeanor charges such as driving under the influence. During his time as an Assistant State Attorney, Mr. Mitchell gained invaluable courtroom experience, trying twenty jury trials and approximately fifty bench trials to verdict.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Mitchell practiced first-party property, personal injury and subrogation litigation both at a National Firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and at a boutique firm in Hollywood, Florida. A native of Long Island, New York, Mr. Mitchell earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and a minor in philosophy from Nova Southeastern University.
Bruce A. Epple is a partner in the firm’s Orlando office handling first party property and insurance coverage matters. He has a long history of civil litigation and trial experience handling third party and first party insurance claims, both pre-suit and litigation, in almost every venue in Florida and he has personally participated as first chair attorney in over 20 civil jury trials through verdict during his lengthy legal career.
Before joining the firm, Mr. Epple served 12 years as Senior In-House Staff Counsel for The Hartford Insurance Group. His prior insurance defense experience also includes representation of a wide variety of insurance carriers. He has served in the past as a Certified Circuit Court Mediator and for four years operated his own Mediation practice.
Mr. Epple grew up in Orlando, FL and received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida in 1977, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He then attended law school and obtained his Juris Doctor degree, Cum Laude, from Stetson College of Law in 1980. He is licensed to practice in all state courts of Florida and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Bruce is an avid supporter of the UCF Knights (“Charge On!”) and enjoys attending live sporting events throughout the state whenever his schedule permits.
Stetson College of Law , J.D., Cum Laude
University of Central Florida, B.A., Summa Cum Laude
Florida Bar
-United States District Court Middle District of Florida
Office Location::Orlando, FL
Ms. Finneman is an Associate focusing her practice primarily on first party property disputes in the St. Petersburg office. Before joining Groelle & Salmon as an Associate, Ms. Finneman spent over two years with McCue Reams Bucha & Associates as a Personal Injury Attorney, and while there litigated over 100 cases against insurance companies. Ms. Finneman also has experience in construction defect, and debt collection litigation. She is well versed in all phases of litigation, from preliminary negotiations to appeals.
Caitlin Finneman graduated from Tulane Law School in May of 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and prior to attending law school she was a member of AmeriCorps VISTA.
Bar Admissions:
Florida Bar
Education:
Tulane Law School, JD
Florida Gulf Coast University, BA
Mr. Marante joined Groelle & Salmon, P.A., as an associate in the firm’s Miami office in 2017. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Marante obtained valuable experience in the areas of personal injury litigation and property and contract disputes. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida, and received his Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law. Mr. Marante now practices in the area of first-party insurance defense, with a focus on residential property claims investigation and litigation. Mr. Marante is fluent in Spanish.
Florida Bar
-Middle District of Florida
Barry university School of Law
University of Florida, B.A.
Office Location::Orlando, FL
Chelsey Polgar did her undergraduate studies at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg Florida. She spent a significant portion of her career working for a Fortune 500 healthcare insurance company. She comes to us from Stetson University College of Law where she graduated in May of 2020. Ms. Polgar is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida.
Ms. Michel is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. She received her commission in 1996 and served five years as a Surface Warfare Officer onboard the guided missile destroyer, USS Ross (DD-71) and the strike destroyer, USS John Hancock (DD-981). She obtained her juris doctor from University of Miami School of Law in 2004. In 2004 she became licensed to practice in Florida as well as the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts Courts of Florida and in 2005 she became licensed to practice in Illinois.
Ms. Michel started her legal career as a prosecutor in Charlotte County and was quickly promoted to Drug Court Prosecutor and Domestic Violence Liaison Officer and given the responsibility of a felony docket.
In 2007 she joined the Tampa office of Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP where she handled matters in the areas of professional liability claims, Fair Debt Collection Practices litigation, Employment Law, Workers Compensation, and other insurance defense litigation.
In 2011, Ms. Michel opened her own practice where she focused on complex commercial litigation matters, the defense of insurance claim disputes, foreclosure defense, and administrative law matters with the Department of Professional Business Regulation. As a sole practitioner, Ms. Michel became Of Counsel to Alliance Legal Group, heading their contested foreclosure defense department and, subsequently, Of Counsel to the firm of Moriarty & Chiofalo, P.A. to introduce the foreclosure defense practice area to their firm as her specialty, and handle all trust and estate litigation and complex business litigation for the firm.
In 2016, Ms. Michel joined HD Law Partners, PA where she was tasked with opening their Sarasota Bradenton office and continuing a general civil litigation practice, where she focused on complex business litigation, personal injury, family law, and insurance claim disputes.
Ms. Michel is a co-founder and sits on the Board of Directors of Open Door Mission, a non-profit organization located in Cameroon, Africa, which offers free medical services to the local communities and schools young men and women to become physician assistants with the hope that they will provide medical services to their communities
Mr. Labbe joined Groelle & Salmon, P.A., as an associate in 2021. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the Florida Atlantic University, and received his Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law. He carries with him valuable experience in the areas of personal injury litigation, property and contract disputes. Mr. Labbe now practices in the area of first-party insurance defense, with a focus on residential property claims investigation and litigation. Mr. Labbe is also fluent in Creole.
Ms. Mitchell is an associate attorney practicing from our West Palm Beach office focusing on first party property and insurance coverage matters. She brings to our firm two decades of experience in civil litigation in federal court. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, P.A., Ms. Mitchell’s areas of practice included civil rights, consumer rights, and commercial litigation.
Ms. Mitchell is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida. She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and the U.S. District Courts in the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida.
Groelle & Salmon, P.A.
-West Palm Beach, Florida
Cynthia K. Mitchell, P.A.
-West Palm Beach, Florida
Aurilio & Associates, P.A.
-Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Florida State University College of Law, J.D.
Florida Atlantic University, B.A.
Florida Bar
Court Admissions:
Florida Supreme Court
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal, 11th Circuit
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
Mr. McNalis has been practicing law for over 35 years. Following a distinguished career in public service with the Chicago Fire Department and Cook County State Attorney’s Office in Illinois, Mr. McNalis relocated to Florida where he continued his legal practice in the area of insurance
coverages and defense. Currently, Mr. McNalis’ litigation practice concentrates on construction defects, large property losses, insurance coverage issues, business interruption, arson and fraud, as well as commercial litigation. He has handled a wide variety of cases from residential property losses to large commercial property losses with multimillion dollar damages at issue.
He is an experienced litigator having tried numerous criminal and civil trials to verdict. A sample of the type of criminals trials include DUI, child abuse, arson, and homicide arising from arson. In the civil arena, Mr. McNalis has tried cases in both the state and federal courts throughout Florida. The
variety of civil cases tried includes insurance coverage disputes, catastrophe losses, arson, fraud, and defects cases.
Mr. McNalis is versed in building construction having received extensive training in the fire academy, as a fire lieutenant, conducting fire safety inspections and training fire inspectors with the Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau. This experience has aided his abilities to handle construction and property damage cases. Additionally, he has served as an appraiser for property loss claims including fire losses and catastrophe claims for both residential and commercial properties.
John Marshall Law School, J.D.
University of Illinois, B.A.
Florida Bar
Illinois Bar
-U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida
Office Location::West Palm Beach, FL
Mr. McClelland is an associate attorney focusing his practice primarily on subrogation, representing insurers in matters related to products liability, premises liability, negligence, construction defects, and contract disputes.
Mr. McClelland graduated from Stetson University College of Law in May of 2011. While in law school, Mr. McClelland interned for the Honorable Alexander L. Paskay in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida. Prior to joining the Tampa office of Groelle & Salmon, P.A., Mr. McClelland practiced corporate bankruptcy, business litigation, and represented businesses making claims under the BP oil spill settlement agreement. Mr. McClelland is licensed to practice in all state courts of Florida and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Groelle and Salmon, P.A.
Tampa, Florida
Stetson University College of Law, J.D.
B.A. Criminology and B.S. Public Relations
Florida Bar
Office Location::Tampa, FL
David J. Salmon, born in 1966, St. Louis, Missouri. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 1995. Also admitted to the Missouri Bar, 1991, and Illinois Bar, 1993. Education: Boston College (B.A., 1988), Washington University School of Law (J.D. 1991). Also admitted to the United States District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.
Mr. Salmon is a founding partner in the law firm of Groelle and Salmon, P.A. After practicing law in Missouri and Illinois from 1991 to 1995, Mr. Salmon moved to south Florida, where he actively litigated Hurricane Andrew claims and developed his practice on suspicious first party property losses. In 2003, Mr. Salmon moved to St. Petersburg, Florida to open the firm’s first west coast office in Tampa. The firm now operates in six cities throughout Florida and has expanded practice areas, which include all aspects of insurance, construction defect litigation, commercial litigation, and the defense of charitable organizations and not for profits.
Mr. Salmon practices civil litigation, with his primary focus on first party insurance litigation, claims investigation and evaluation of coverage issues in property claims. Mr. Salmon has tried over a hundred cases in state and federal courts in Florida, Missouri, and Illinois. Mr. Salmon formerly handled and supervised subrogation recovery. While practicing in the Midwest, Mr. Salmon was the lead attorney on all litigation cases in the city of St. Louis and the State of Illinois.
Mr. Salmon is certified by the Department of Insurance as an instructor for continuing education courses. Mr. Salmon has participated in and delivered numerous educational seminars and presented case law analysis and commentary to the insurance industry and claim associations. These include the presentation of continuing education and instructional workshops and courses for the Windstorm Insurance Network and FIFEC. He has also presented case analysis and claim handling instruction at internal seminars for insurers throughout the United States.
Mr. Salmon is a member of the Council on Litigation Management, the Defense Research Institute, the Risk Management Society, the Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention, the WIND Insurance Network, and the Florida Property Fraud Task Force.
Office Location:: St. Petersburg, FL
David Kelly is an associate attorney at the Tampa office of Groelle & Salmon, PA, focusing on first party property liability defense.
Mr. Kelly obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and in 1996 his Juris Doctor from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. He later received an LL.M. in International Law, from the University of Miami School of Law.
Mr. Kelly has served as a trial attorney in the Tampa Bay Area and other venues throughout Florida, handling all phases of litigation in both state and federal court. Along with a variety of other legal areas, he also has experience in third-party insurance defense, including litigation involving catastrophic injury claims. In addition to handling numerous first-party property cases in both law firm and in-house settings, Mr. Kelly defended hundreds of personal injury protection lawsuits as a staff attorney for an insurance company.
Dave is an experienced trial attorney with over 15 years of insurance defense and 4 years of criminal litigation experience involving automobile, PIP, medical malpractice, first party property, product, premises and workers’ compensation claims. Dave has conducted several civil and criminal jury trials to verdict and over 100 non-jury trials. He has also successfully argued before, and authored briefs in, Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal.
Diva Totten is an associate attorney in our Maitland office practicing in the area of first-party insurance defense, with an emphasis on residential property claims, investigation, and litigation. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, Ms. Totten worked for an insurance defense firm also concentrating in the area of first-party insurance defense for residential property claims. Aside from Ms. Totten’s defense background, she also has ample experience practicing in the areas of law involving real estate, business litigation, creditor’s rights, landlord/tenant disputes, plaintiff’s foreclosure litigation, HOA/Condo litigation, title and lien clearing, and probate. Additionally, Ms. Totten gained invaluable experience clerking for the current Chief Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit, the Honorable Donald A. Myers, Jr.
Ms. Totten earned her law degree from Barry University School of Law, where she served as the Research & Technical Editor for the Barry Law Review, a Dean’s Writing Fellow, and a Legal Research & Writing Teaching Assistant.
Ms. Totten is a member of the Florida Bar, the Orange County Bar Association, and the Young Lawyers Section of the Orange County Bar Association. Ms. Totten is licensed to practice law in all Florida Courts and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Gabriela is a Associate Attorney, part of the Tampa Litigation Team at Groelle & Salmon P.A. Gabriela has a legal skillset that includes insurance defense, financial services, mortgage banking litigation, employment law, and trademark prosecution. Gabriela worked in the legal field as a paralegal for many years before becoming a lawyer, now concentrating in defending insurance companies in first-party property actions. Gabriela has handled all aspects of commercial litigation cases – from inception to trial including, appellate work – and has resolved countless cases, by focusing on counseling her clients to achieve their goals in the most cost-effective manner, often before reaching trial, avoiding its uncertainty.
Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, P.A., Gabriela worked as a Litigation Paralegal for the intellectual property law firm, Sanchelima & Associates, P.A., then as a Litigation Paralegal and Attorney for Lapin & Leichtling, LLP, and then as a Senior Associate for Perlman, Bajandas, Yevoli & Albright, P.L, all Miami-based law firms. Gabriela has worked in the legal field for 23 years and has experienced all aspects of litigation, which has allowed her to gain a highly pragmatic view of the law through her work as a legal assistant before she became a lawyer herself. She also holds a degree in fashion design, indicative of her ability to find creative solutions to legal disputes, and is a licensed real estate sales associate in Florida.
While representing servicers in mortgage foreclosure, Gabriela handled a highly-contested mortgage foreclosure case that was the subject of an appeal, which established new precedent in the state of Florida in the mortgage foreclosure context. See U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Becker, 211 So. 3d 142 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017) (Appellate Court reversed order of involuntary dismissal at trial based on Plaintiff’s alleged lack of standing due to original note containing an allonge bearing a special indorsement payable to a third-party, holding that Plaintiff sufficiently established its standing, and establishing precedent in Florida concerning the effect of an “anomalous indorsement” when a note is negotiated.)
Gabriela graduated with honors (Cum Laude) from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, was a member of the Nova Law Review, and also served as the Subscriptions Editor of the Law Review.
Born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Gabriela is fluent in Spanish and has some knowledge of French. She has a multinational and multicultural perspective that allows her to easily relate to clients and opposing parties through her candid approach and diligence.
Giselle Torres is an associate in the firm’s Orlando office focusing on first party property and insurance coverage matters. Prior to joining Groelle and Salmon, Ms. Torres gained significant civil litigation experience concentrating in the areas of family law, foreclosures and general civil litigation. She also practiced in the Federal Court in the area of Bankruptcy.
Within the last five years, her primary practice focuses is on property insurance. Miss Torres is responsible for ensuring that every case is handled with the utmost degree of care and professionalism. Miss Torres has the knowledge and experience necessary to completely handle every phase of litigation.
Miss Torres is licensed to practice in all state courts of Florida as well as the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Miss Torres attended the University of Central Florida, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Organizational Communication, cum laude. She received her Juris Doctor from Barry University School of Law, 2007.
Groelle & Salmon, P.A
Orlando, Florida
Southern Law Group, P.A.
Miami, Florida
The GM Law Firm, P.A.
Orlando, Florida
The King Law Firm, P.A.
Orlando, Florida
Barry University School of Law, J.D.
University of Central Florida, B.A., Cum Laude
Florida Bar
United States District Court Middle District of Florida
Cory Wilkinson is an associate in the Tampa office where he primarily defends insurance carriers in first-party property claims. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, P.A., Mr. Wilkinson gained valuable litigation experience representing insurance carriers and employers in workers’ compensation disputes, particularly in nuanced heart and lung claims.
Mr. Wilkinson is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida and is also a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011 before returning to the Tampa Bay area and earning his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in 2015.
Stetson College of Law , J.D.
University of Texas, B.A.
Florida Bar
Office Location::St. Petersburg, FL
Jacob Linhart is a partner in the firm’s West Palm Beach office. He brings to our firm over three decades of experience as a litigator. He has spent the great majority of his career representing insurance carriers and insureds in first and third-party claims and subrogation claims in the areas of homeowners’ insurance, property damage, auto negligence, premises liability and rental car law. For twelve years, he was the managing partner of a prominent multistate insurance subrogation litigation firm.
Jacob grew up in Brooklyn, New York and entered the University of Miami at age 15, obtaining his Bachelor’s degree, cum laude, at age 19 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami School of Law at age 22. He is licensed to practice in all the State Courts of Florida, New York, Texas and the District of Columbia and has lectured extensively nationwide to insurance adjusters and other insurance professionals on the subjects of automobile and property loss. He is certified by the Florida Department of Insurance as an Instructor for continuing education courses, qualified by the Florida Supreme Court as an Arbitrator, certified by the Better Business Bureau as an Auto Line Arbitrator and is a former Florida Circuit and County Court Mediator. He has served as both a Collections Court General Master and a Traffic Court Magistrate with the Palm Beach County Court and has been a member of the Florida Bar Civil Procedure Rules Committee, Traffic Court Rules Committee, Small Claims Rules Committee and Consumer Protection Law Committee.
Office Location::West Palm Beach, FL
Jason Sexton is a partner in the firm’s Orlando office, with his practice focused primarily on first party property disputes and litigation. In addition to his extensive experience representing insurers in all types of property damage claims, including both pre-suit and in litigation, he has also defended a wide array of third-party premises liability and property damage claims against insureds, giving him significant experience and perspective in identifying and analyzing potential subrogation, and other exposure shifting, issues for his clients.
As a part of his practice, Mr. Sexton has handled both residential and commercial property damage claims, including those caused by hurricane and windstorm, lightning, hail, fire, water intrusion, plumbing/”slab” leaks, sinkhole, and vandalism/theft.
Prior to joining Groelle and Salmon, Mr. Sexton worked for many years in insurance defense, and prior to that developed significant trial and courtroom experience as an Assistant Public Defender. Mr. Sexton received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida and his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School. He is licensed to practice in all state courts of Florida, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and maintains an inactive license in Tennessee.
Mr. Sexton is a native Floridian, and was born and raised in the suburbs of Orlando. Outside of the office, Mr. Sexton enjoys spending time with his family, visiting the theme parks, and is an avid fan of horror movies.
Jayson Serrano graduated from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois in 2011. Since then he’s been practicing civil law and has successfully litigated numerous jury and bench trials. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in May 2018 and joined our firm soon thereafter. He practices in our Tampa office and focuses on first party property insurance defense and contract disputes.
Florida Bar
University of Central Florida, B.A.
John Marshall Law School, J.D.
Office Location::Tampa, FL
John Schreiber is originally from Clifton, New Jersey. He graduated from Pace University School of Law in White Plains, New York in 2003. Upon graduating he practiced law in New York until moving to Clermont, Florida in 2007. John has experience in the areas of first-party insurance defense, real estate, medical malpractice defense and construction law. John is admitted to practice law in New York, New Jersey and Florida.
Mr. Sherman received his Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Florida State University in 2010, and later graduated from St. Thomas University School of Law in 2016. He initially joined Groelle & Salmon, P.A., as an associate in the firm’s Miami office in 2018. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Sherman practiced in the areas of general civil litigation and bankruptcy law, where he successfully argued several bench trials and evidentiary hearings. Mr. Sherman practices in the area of first-party insurance defense, with a focus on litigation of residential property claims. He is fluent in Spanish. Mr. Sherman enjoys playing poker, fishing, and travelling frequently.
Joseph Grosjean earned his Juris Doctorate from Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach, Virginia and his Bachelor of Science in Business, Organizational Management and Ethics from the Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
Prior to joining Groelle and Salmon, Mr. Grosjean was a plaintiff’s attorney, providing representation for client’s beginning at pre-litigation and working through trial for personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death claims.
Justin Patak is an associate attorney in our West Palm Beach office focused on first party insurance coverage and property claims investigation and litigation. Mr. Patak is a native Floridian, born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. He began his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit in Collier County, Florida. From there, Mr. Patak moved over to civil practice with a focus on insurance defense, commercial litigation, premises liability, construct defect disputes, and contract disputes. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Patak enjoyed a successful career in enterprise sales and business development that included working on Wall Street and on Madison Avenue in New York City.
Mr. Patak holds a Juris Doctorate from Ave Maria School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Flagler College. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida and in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, and Middle Districts of Florida.
Mr. Shevenell is a Partner in the Tampa office of Groelle & Salmon, P.A., focusing his practice primarily on first party property and insurance coverage matters. During his legal career, Mr. Shevenell has represented insurance companies and corporations in a variety of insurance-related matters throughout the State of Florida and New Jersey. He has also successfully represented condominium and homeowners’ association clients as both litigation and in-house counsel. Mr. Shevenell oversaw his prior firm’s expansion into New Jersey following Superstorm Sandy. Aside from his extensive civil litigation background, Mr. Shevenell has further represented clients in appeals before the Second District Court of Appeal. Mr. Shevenell is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida, as well as Maine and New Jersey.
Office Location::Tampa, FL
Matthew Kerry is an associate attorney practicing from our West Palm Beach office focusing on first party insurance coverage and property claims investigation and litigation. He studied fundamental investigation procedures and techniques as part of his undergraduate education in Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida and as an intern with law enforcement in the Orlando area. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law and then gained courtroom and trial experience as an intern with the Office of the State Attorney in West Palm Beach, Florida and as a Certified Legal Intern with the Office of the State Attorney in Tampa, Florida. He received the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award on graduation from law school for his dedication to public service.
Mr. Kerry gained his insurance litigation experience with Groelle & Salmon P.A. and is licensed to practice law in all state courts of Florida. He has represented numerous insurers in coverage investigations and in property claim and bad faith litigation, defending insurers in hundreds of insurance claims. His experience with property insurance claims, damage and disputes includes representation of insurers in homeowners and other personal lines, automobile claims, and liability claims, and even under equine insurance policies. He has assisted insurers in the investigation of property damage claims arising from fire, water, mold, theft, vandalism, and fraud. Mr. Kerry has defended insurance companies against allegations of bad faith or tortious conduct in first party claims and has developed strategic defense plans and crafted responses designed to eliminate or mitigate insurers’ liability and financial exposure against such assertions. As a Florida native, Mr. Kerry worked in and assisted his family’s mechanical contracting business, getting exposure to practices and customs of contractors and tradesmen, and becoming familiar with construction or repair methods that he sees daily in his practice related to claims for property damage.
Groelle and Salmon, P.A.
-Wellington, Florida
Office of the State Attorney-Certified Legal Intern
-13th Judicial Circuit, Tampa, Florida
Office of the State Attorney-Legal Intern
-15th Judicial Circuit, West Palm Beach, Florida
Stetson University College of Law, J.D.
University of Central Florida, B.S.
Florida Bar
Office Location::West Palm Beach, FL
Mr. Hirschkowitz joined the firm as an associate in the firm’s Miami office. He has significant litigation experience in the areas of insurance coverage, bad faith, construction defect, and appellate practice. Prior to venturing into the private sector, Mr. Hirschkowitz served as a law clerk to the Honorable Frank A. Shepherd of the Third District Court of Appeal. He graduated cum laude from Florida International University College of Law, where he was the recipient of Book Awards in Florida Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure, served as a Board Member of the Florida International University Moot Court Board, was Comment Editor for the Florida International Law Review, and authored Implying Against Intent: A New Test for Congressional Intent Under Cort v. Ash, 1 F.I.U.L.R. 239 (2006). Mr. Hirschkowitz is a member in good standing of the Florida Bar, and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Groelle and Salmon, P.A.
Florida International University School of Law, J.D.
Florida Bar
-Southern District of Florida
-Middle District of Florida
Office Location::Miami, FL
Ms. Russell is an associate attorney in the West Palm Beach office of Groelle & Salmon, P.A. She practices primarily first party insurance defense litigation, handling first party property loss claims and coverage matters, as well as third party liability defense. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, P.A., Ms. Russell’s areas of practice included litigation in civil rights litigation, employment discrimination/Title VII, housing/landlord tenant, and most recently, medical malpractice defense.
Ms. Russell received her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law, and her B.S. from St. John’s University. She is licensed to practice law in the states of Florida and New York.
Groelle & Salmon, P.A.
-West Palm Beach, Florida
Sonneborn Rutter Cooney & Klingensmith
-West Palm Beach, Florida
Allison M. Heilbraun, P.C.
-Westchester, New York
Hofstra University School of Law, J.D.
St. John’s University, B.S.
Florida Bar
New York Bar
-Southern District of Florida
-Southern District of New York
Office Location::West Palm Beach, FL
Nestor Marante focuses his practice on handling first-party insurance coverage disputes. His experience also includes representing commercial contractors in the State of Florida in construction defect litigation. Nestor frequently presents continuing education courses to Florida insurance adjusters.
University of Nebraska Lincoln College of Law, J.D., with distinction
University of South Florida, B.A., cum laude
Groelle & Salmon, P.A.
Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LP
Goldberg Segalla, LLP
Florida Bar
South Florida Claims Association
Office Location::West Palm Beach, FL
Orlando Amador began his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender for the Fifth and Sixth Judicial Circuits of Florida. Over the past fourteen years of practice, he has tried multiple jury trial and non-jury trial cases including representing major lenders in foreclosure actions. During the height of the economic crisis in the early 2010’s, he traveled extensively throughout the State of Florida representing lenders and working with borrowers to reach agreements to retain their homes.
Mr. Amador graduated in 1999 from Florida International University in Miami, Florida where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He earned his law degree at Nova Southeastern Shepard Broad Law Center in 2003. During Law School, Mr. Amador participated in several Moot Court competitions and earned the Pro Bono Honor Program Award by serving the indigent in the community of Broward County. Now, Mr. Amador is an associate attorney in the Tampa Office primarily defending insurance carriers in first-party property claims.
Patrick Carleton is a veteran litigation and trial attorney who practices in the South Florida offices of Groelle and Salmon P.A. His areas of practice include commercial litigation, contract disputes, real estate and title dispute litigation, insurance coverage litigation, employment litigation, and construction litigation, including construction defect (materials and workmanship) claims, delays and sequencing claims, concealed or unknown conditions claims, and deficient plans and specifications claims, construction lien litigation. He also has experience in other areas of practice including real property law, employment/labor law, and ERISA claims.
Groelle & Salmon, P.A.
-West Palm Beach, Florida
University of Detroit, Mercy School of Law, J.D. magna cum laude
-University of Michigan, B.A.
Florida Bar
-United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
-United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
State Bar of Michigan
-United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
-United States District Court, Western District of Michigan
-United States District Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Office Location::West Palm Beach, FL
Robert “Bobby” Dehne is a partner managing the firm’s Orlando office, and focuses his practice primarily on first party property and insurance coverage matters. He has extensive experience in handling all types of property damage claims, both pre-suit and litigation, and has actively participated in a large number of SIU/fraud investigations.
Mr. Dehne is a certified Florida instructor of insurance adjuster continuing education, and has presented insurance seminars to insurance claims staff and professionals around the Country. Over the years, Mr. Dehne has handled property losses caused by hurricane, windstorm, lightning, hail, fire, water intrusion, plumbing leaks, sinkhole, and theft.
Mr. Dehne is rated AV by the Martindale Hubbell professional rating organization upon review by his peers; the highest rating conferred on practicing attorneys by the Martindale Hubbell organization. Further, Mr. Dehne has been selected to the Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star list from 2017 through 2022, an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice.
Prior to his legal career, Mr. Dehne received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Florida, and his Juris Doctor from the Florida Coastal School of Law located in Jacksonville, Florida. He is licensed to practice in all state courts of Florida, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
In his free time, Mr. Dehne enjoys spending time with his family, watching football, playing golf, and coaching his son’s football team. Mr. Dehne is also an avid Green Bay Packers, Florida State Seminoles, and UCF Knights’ fan.
Office Location::Orlando, FL
Robert Groelle has been actively practicing in the area of insurance defense and insurance coverage law since law school. Mr. Groelle left a prominent insurance defense firm after twelve years with that firm, as an associate and then partner, to form Groelle and Salmon P.A. with another experienced litigator, David Salmon. Mr. Groelle’s active areas of practice and experience encompass both first and third party litigation, including bad faith and evaluation of insurance coverage issues. Mr. Groelle has well over twenty years of trial experience from the defense perspective, and has previously been retained as an expert witness on insurance coverage. Mr. Groelle is rated ‘AV’ by the Martindale Hubbell professional rating organization upon review by his peers; the highest rating conferred on practicing attorneys by the Martindale Hubbell organization.
Mr. Groelle is also a Florida Supreme Court certified Circuit Court Mediator, has extensively served as a property claims appraiser for several insurers in disputed property loss claims.
Mr. Groelle is certified by the Department of Insurance as an instructor for continuing education courses. Mr. Groelle has authored and presented at numerous insurance claims industry conferences and forums, and independent professional educational presentations for the legal profession, presenting on insurance coverage issues, claims investigation, ethics, trial preparation and presentation, fraud investigation, and case law analysis – both oral and published, to forums within the insurance industry and other public arenas. He has presented continuing education courses and instructional workshops for the Florida Insurance Fraud Education Committee, National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators, Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention, Windstorm Insurance Network, Groelle and Salmon, P.A. Annual Property Claims Seminar, Broward Chapter of the CPA Law Forum, Fort Lauderdale Claims Association, South Florida Claims Association, Association of Fire Marshals of Palm Beach County, Property and Casualty Claims Professionals and Palm Beach Mariner’s Club. He has also presented numerous educational and training sessions for insurance claims groups in numerous insurance companies, including Allstate Insurance, Prudential Property and Casualty, American Bankers Insurance, Florida Select Insurance Company, Companion Property and Casualty, United Property and Casualty, Homeowners Choice, Insurance Network Services, Tower Hill Insurance Group and for numerous independent adjusting service companies.
Mr. Groelle has authored numerous articles on insurance coverage issues that have been published in the Florida Defense Lawyer Association’s periodical Trial Advocate Quarterly and in the Defense Research Institute’s periodical For the Defense, as well as serving as a contributing author for several legal compendiums on controversial topics and issues relating to insurance coverage and indemnity obligations.
Mr. Groelle regularly volunteers his time and resources to local youth recreational and charitable programs. He was a Junior Achievement business consultant for many years, teaching weekly classes in the eighth grade and senior high school levels of the Palm Beach School District.
Nova Southeastern University, JD
-Florida Atlantic University, B.B.A.
Florida Bar
-Middle District of Florida
-Southern District of Florida
-Eleventh District Court of Appeals
Texas Bar
Office Location::West Palm Beach, FL
Robert D. Rightmyer (“Bob”) is an experienced litigator and insurance and business lawyer, having honed his skills and practice over the past eighteen-plus years. He is Peer Review Rated as AV–Preeminent® by Martindale- Hubbell’s peer review rating system. His practice and experience includes insurance related litigation, civil and complex commercial litigation, business dispute litigation, professional malpractice litigation (lawyers, accountants, real estate professionals), contractual dispute litigation, non-compete (and other restrictive covenant) litigation, business torts, and outside general counsel services for companies, among other areas. Bob litigates disputes in both state and federal courts, including the United States District Courts for the Middle District of Florida and the Southern District of Florida.
For nine years of Bob’s career he was associated with a prominent, large statewide insurance defense firm where he became Partner, representing insurance carriers and insureds in many and varied types of insurance claims. Thereafter, he joined another highly-respected international law firm as Senior Counsel. Following those rewarding and invaluable experiences, Bob opened his own law practice for close to four years, and joined a local, high-profile law firm.
Bob was born in Ohio, grew up in his early years in Louisiana, attended high school in Maryland, then went off to college in Illinois, and finally to law school in Miami, Florida, all before settling down in the Orlando, Florida area (where he lives with his wife and two daughters). With such a diverse set of exposures and experiences gained through his many and varied domiciles, Bob has the ability to understand many different types of people, customs and attitudes which allows him to more closely identify with, and understand, the equally varied types of clients and what is important to them. It is this unique background, combined with Bob’s legal experience that allows him to provide formidable counsel and representation to his clients. Having such experiences has also developed a greater sense of open-mindedness to new and changing needs of clients, issues they face, and the contexts in which such clients face those issues.
Bob earned his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Miami, School of Law in 1999. While in law school, he was a member of the University of Miami Business Law Review. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, obtained in 1996, where he was also a member of the Phi Kappa Tau social fraternity.
Some past representative matters that Bob has handled include the following:
Ms. Feibusch is a partner focusing her practice primarily on first party property and insurance coverage matters. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, Ms. Feibusch gained considerable experience investigating claims arising from windstorm, fire, sinkhole, theft and water losses, and defending personal lines and commercial insurers in state and federal court actions.
Ms. Feibusch began her legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach County, and litigated all types of criminal cases to verdict before being assigned to the Economic Crime Division, where she specialized in complex financial and fraud crimes. Through a grant from the Florida Division of Insurance, Ms. Feibusch was designated as Palm Beach County’s first Insurance Fraud Prosecutor where she worked closely with the Division of Insurance Fraud, and handled all insurance fraud cases from investigation and filing of criminal charges through successful prosecution.
Ms. Feibusch is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida. She is also admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, and the U.S. District Courts in the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida.
Nova University Shepard Broad Law Center, J.D.
Barry University, M.S.W.
Florida State University, B.S.W.
Florida Bar
Florida Property and Casualty Insurance Fraud Task Force
Palm Beach County Bar Association
Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention
Office Location::West Palm Beach, FL
Mr. Ross’ practice is devoted to third-party liability defense issues, the defense of businesses and professionals. He has substantive trial and mediation experience throughout Florida. Additionally, Mr. Ross has extensive experience in large-loss liability defense including, construction defect; wrongful death; catastrophic personal injury; premises liability; restaurant; theme park; hospital; and physician liability. He has defended clients in complex business matters, as well as professionals in licensure investigations and disciplinary proceedings before Florida Administrative Agencies. Mr. Ross is active in writing and presenting on cutting-edge legal topics, having been published by The Florida Bar Health Law Section; Florida Hospital Association; American Health Lawyers Association; and Florida Society for Risk Management & Patient Safety. He previously practiced with the Tampa office of a national law firm representing healthcare clients in complex business, medical malpractice and licensure matters.
Florida Bar
St. Thomas University School of Law, Cum Laude
University of Louisville, Cum Laude
Hillsborough County Bar Association
-United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle and Southern
Districts of Florida
Office Location::Tampa, FL
Samantha Mazer graduated from Mississippi Collee School of Law in 2014. Since graduating law school in 2014, she was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 2015 and gained experience as a legal professional working as a public defender as well as in family law. She relocated to Florida in 2018, was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2019, and shifted her focus to first party property insurance defense as an Associate Attorney at Pratt & Radford, P.L. in West Palm Beach, FL. Ms. Mazer joined our firm in June 2021 to continue her career in first party property insurance defense in our Port St. Lucie office.
In her free time, Ms. Mazer competes in half and full distance ironman competitions, maintains her vegetable garden, and enjoys doing needlework.
Bar Admissions:
Washington State Bar Association
Florida Bar Association
Education:
University of Mississippi, B.A.
Mississippi College School of Law, J.D.
Sergio Muñiz is an associate primarily focusing his practice on first party property claims and third-party liability representing insurance companies. He has extensive experience in many types of property damage claims, from pre-suit through litigation. While with Groelle & Salmon, he secured a directed verdict in Indian River County on a third-party liability claim for a residential homeowner. He also has experience representing sureties in construction payment and performance bond litigation involving all types of public and private construction project, including construction litigation. In addition, his practice involves Federal government contracts, claims, contractor disputes, bid protests before the GAO and prime/subcontractor disputes. He has extensive experience in Federal government claims and contract litigation before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and various agency board of contract appeals. He has also defended contractors against government claims.
Mr. Muñiz also has experience representing creditors in bankruptcy court, including litigating in adversary proceedings enforcing creditor’s rights.
Mr. Muñiz served in the Air Force as a JAG Officer, attaining the rank of Major.
Education:
United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, B.S. Operations Research
University of Texas School of Law, Austin, TX, J.D.
Bar Admissions:
Florida
Texas
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States Court of Federal Claims
Mr. Abramenko is an associate focusing his practice primarily on subrogation. Stan Abramenko graduated from Stetson University College of Law in May of 2016 in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Florida Bar
Stetson University College of Law, J.D.
Florida State University, B.S.
Groelle & Salmon, P.A.
Tampa, FL
McDermott Law Firm
St. Petersburg, FL
Office Location::St. Petersburg, FL
Ms. Wurster is an associate attorney primarily focusing in the areas of first party property and insurance coverage matters. She graduated cum laude from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law where she was the recipient of the Book Award in Securities Regulations. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. Prior to joining Groelle and Salmon, she worked as an attorney for a healthcare company and gained experience in insurance contracts and disputes. Ms. Wurster also has extensive experience negotiating contracts for pharmaceuticals, consulting and technology solutions with hospitals and health systems. She is a member in good standing of the Florida Bar and is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida.
Susan M. Whetstone, born in 1973, Queens, New York. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 2006. While practicing state, federal and appellate civil litigation, Ms. Whetstone developed her practice of real estate litigation and breach of contact matters in Southwest Florida. Ms. Whetstone practices civil litigation, evaluates insurance claims and focuses on first party insurance litigation. Ms. Whetstone served as a certified mediator for the State of Florida and on the Judicial Administration and Evaluation Committee for The Florida Bar prior to her work as an undergraduate college professor for various law classes. Prior to representing clients in complex civil litigation matters, Ms. Whetstone served at the State Attorney’s Office in Charlotte County then focused her efforts on appellate and litigation practice in Port Charlotte, Sarasota and Naples.
Sydjia T. Robinson is an associate attorney at Groelle Salmon P.A. Her practice areas include property and casualty claims as well as general and commercial litigation. Sydjia also has experience in foreclosure defense, probate, and appellate practice.
Sydjia earned her law degree from the Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law in Orlando, Florida. During law school, Sydjia was a member of Trial Team and won an ABA-sponsored national trial competition. Sydjia also served as the treasurer for the Black Law Student Association and as a research assistant to Professor F.E. Guerra-Pujol.
Prior to attending law school, Sydjia earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sports Science/Sports Management from the University of Florida.
As an avid advocate for community service, Sydjia served as a volunteer at the Legal Aid Society for the Orange County Bar Association.
Outside the office, Sydjia enjoys traveling, cross-stitching, reading, and spending time with her family. Born in Jamaica and raised in Tarpon Springs, Sydjia is happy to consider Florida her home.
Mr. Witowski is an associate in the firm’s Miami office. He has significant litigation experience in the areas of insurance coverage and first-party property defense. Mr. Witowski graduated cum laude from Penn State Dickinson School of Law, where he was a member of the Woolsack Honor Society.
After law school, Mr. Witowski served as a law clerk in the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Throughout his legal career in the private sector in Pennsylvania and Florida, Mr. Witowski has represented numerous regional and national insurers in a vast array of insurance coverage and defense matters.
At Groelle & Salmon, Mr. Witowski’s practice is devoted to first-party insurance defense litigation.
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, P.C.
Post & Schell, P.C.
Penn State Dickinson School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1998
University of Scranton, B.S., 1993
Florida, 2012
District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 2013
Pennsylvania, 1998
Trenton Leigh graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in May of 2011. While in law school, Mr. Leigh worked as a law clerk at the Law Offices of Robert W. Bauer, P.A., assisting in the preparation of personal injury demand packages and reviewing medical records. Mr. Leigh also volunteered at the Three Rivers Legal Clinic helping indigent pro se litigants prepare and file necessary pleadings in landlord/tenant disputes.
After law school, Mr. Leigh returned to his hometown of Tampa, Florida where he began working at a small boutique real estate and bankruptcy law firm as an associate attorney. Mr. Leigh primarily focused on bankruptcy practice while also assisting in real estate cases. In February of 2013, Mr. Leigh started work in the Tampa office of a large Orlando-based law firm. Mr. Leigh began as an associate attorney in the foreclosure defense department, assisting distressed homeowners. Quickly he moved on to complex litigation, and was eventually promoted to managing attorney of the Tampa office. While practicing in the complex litigation department, Mr. Leigh gained invaluable experience in litigating cases from beginning to end, primarily focusing on contract disputes, collections, real estate, and homeowners and condominium association disputes.
Mr. Leigh has now joined Groelle and Salmon, applying the skills and knowledge gained over almost five years of litigation practice to benefit our clients, and achieve optimal results.
Kaufman Englett & Lynd, PLLC. Tampa, Florida
Perry G. Gruman, P.A. Tampa, Florida
The Law Offices of Robert W. Bauer, P.A. Gainesville, Florida
Three Rivers Legal Services Gainesville, Florida
Levin College of Law, University of Florida, J.D.
-University of Florida, B.A.
Florida Bar
-Middle District of Florida
Office Location::Tampa, FL
Tyler Groelle joined Groelle & Salmon, P.A., as an associate in the firm’s West Palm Beach office in 2018. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Groelle obtained valuable experience in the areas of property litigation and contract disputes. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida, and received his Juris Doctor from LSU Paul M. Herbert School of Law. Mr. Groelle now practices in the area of first-party insurance defense, with a focus on residential property claims investigation and litigation.