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
Jacqueline Alastra is a partner in the Orlando office practicing in the areas of first party property loss and property coverage matters. Defending insurance carriers for over a decade, Ms. Alastra has extensive experience regarding all aspects of first party property disputes from inception to resolution. Ms. Alastra has represented carriers for claims related to windstorm, hail, water intrusion, sinkhole, fire, theft, pests, collapse, and mold. She also has experience providing coverage opinions and defending third party liability claims. Before pursuing her career as an attorney, Ms. Alastra worked for a contractor specializing in repairs and restoration associated with insurance claims. Ms. Alastra is licensed to practice in Florida’s state courts, as well as the United States District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. She is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator. Ms. Alastra is certified by the Florida Department of Insurance as an instructor for continuing education courses. She has been recognized five times as a Florida Rising Star in Super Lawyers Magazine since 2013. In addition, Ms. Alastra is fluent in Spanish and Italian.
University of Florida, College of Law, J.D., cum laude
St. John’s University, M.A., summa cum laude
University of Florida, B.A., summa cum laude
Florida Bar
United States District Court Middle District of Florida
United States District Court Southern District of Florida
Office Location::Orlando, FL
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
Erika A. Bieberbach is an associate attorney in our Maitland office focusing on First Party Property Insurance Defense and Litigation. Prior to joining Groelle and Salmon as an associate, Ms. Bieberbach worked for the Office of the State Attorney, Ninth Judicial Circuit as an Assistant State Attorney. During her time at the State Attorney’s Office, Ms. Bieberbach gained invaluable experience in the courtroom. Ms. Bieberbach has litigated hundreds of cases, and has tried several jury trials to verdict. Ms. Bieberbach attended the University of Central Florida for her undergraduate career where she received a Bachelor of Science degree. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from Barry University School of Law. While in law school, Ms. Bieberbach was president of the American Constitution Society and a member of the Trial Team.
Office Location:Orlando, FL
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 countless insurance seminars to insurance claims staff and professionals around the Country. Over the years, Mr. Dehne has handled property losses caused by hurricane and windstorm, lightning, hail, fire, water intrusion, plumbing leaks, sinkhole, theft, as well as business interruption losses.
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 2017, 2018, and 2019 Florida Super Lawyer Rising Star list, an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice, to which only 2.5% of attorneys in Florida receive this distinction..
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, and playing golf. Mr. Dehne is also an avid Green Bay Packers, Florida State Seminoles, and UCF Knights’ fan.
Office Location::Orlando, FL
Emilio Dominguez is an associate attorney at Groelle & Salmon’s Miami office where his focus is first-party property insurance defense. Prior to becoming an associate attorney, Mr. Dominguez worked as a law clerk for the firm and gained invaluable experience dealing with all facets of property insurance defense.
Mr. Dominguez received his Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law, graduating cum laude, and subsequently received his Masters of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. As a law student, Mr. Dominguez was recognized with the pro bono award for his contribution to the public sector; he interned extensively in both federal and state criminal court where he developed litigation skills and obtained court experience. Moreover, he served as an articles editor for the St. Thomas Law Review and as a research assistant for Professor Mark Wolff.
Mr. Dominguez is a Miami native and is admitted to practice law in the State of Florida. He is fluent in Spanish and is currently learning Portuguese.
Florida Bar
University of Florida Levin College of Law, Masters of Law in Taxation
St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D.
Office Location::Miami, FL
Eric Duenas has been practicing law for almost a decade. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 2006 and his Law Degree from the Barry University School of Law in Orlando, Florida in 2010. Mr. Duenas began his legal career working for the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel’s office located in Broward County where he represented indigent Defendants in their criminal matters. Shortly thereafter, he began working in the foreclosure field where he tried numerous cases and handled extremely voluminous caseloads. Mr. Duenas then broadened his practice and began representing corporate and non-corporate clients in landlord/tenant matters, breach of contract cases, negligence case, and other civil disputes. He now focuses his practice in the area of insurance defense and practices in the Firm’s Royal Palm Beach office.
Florida Bar
Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, B.A.
Barry University School of Law, J.D.
Office Location::West Palm Beach, FL
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. 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. Forrest 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. Forrest has represented dozens of insurance companies and multiple governmental entities in a variety of insurance-related matters throughout the State of Florida. He has also successfully represented several clients in a number of complex litigation cases in both state and federal court. Aside from his extensive civil litigation background, Mr. Forrest has further represented clients in appeals before the Florida Supreme Court, Second District Court of Appeal, Fourth District Court of Appeal, Fifth District Court of Appeal, and various Florida Circuit Court Appellate Divisions. Mr. Forrest is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida, as well as the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Office Location::Tampa, 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
Samantha E. Habermehl is an associate attorney in our Maitland office focusing on First Party Property Insurance Defense and Litigation. Prior to joining Groelle and Salmon, Ms. Habermehl practiced Criminal Law as an Assistant Public Defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit where she was a zealous advocate for her clients. During her three years as an APD, she litigated a variety of complex criminal law matters. Ms. Habermehl earned her Juris Doctorate from Barry University School of Law where she was recognized for her academics in Criminal Law and Bankruptcy.
Office Location::Orlando, FL
Christina E. Hedley is an associate practicing primarily on first party property and insurance coverage matters. Prior to coming to Groelle and Salmon, she practiced criminal law as an Assistant Public Defender in the Ninth Judicial Circuit for six years. As an Assistant Public Defender, she litigated a variety of complex criminal law matters and completed more than forty jury trials and eleven bench trials relating to juvenile offenses. Through her work as an Assistant Public Defender, she regularly engaged in the discovery process, legal research, motion practice, depositions, negotiations, and trials. Moreover, her practice required her to consult with, and take depositions of, various witnesses, including expert witnesses specializing in such fields as firearms, pharmacology, toxicology, fingerprints, eye witness identification, and psychology.
Ms. Hedley graduated from Barry University School of Law where she was awarded a certificate in Trial Advocacy with honors. Ms. Hedley earned two Bachelors of Science from the University of New Haven for Legal Studies and Criminal Justice. She is licensed to practice law in all state courts in Florida.
Office Location::Orlando, 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
Mr. Jairam is partner focusing his practice primarily in the areas of first party property and insurance coverage matters. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, P.A., Mr. Jairam practiced similar law at a prestigious law firm in West Palm Beach. He also has experience in commercial litigation, personal injury, and bankruptcy matters. Mr. Jairam is licensed to practice law in all states courts of Florida, New York, and New Jersey, as well as the Federal Bar for the United States District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida.
Groelle and Salmon, P.A.
-Wellington, Florida
Powers, McNalis, Torres & Teebagy
-West Palm Beach, Florida
Cohn, Bracaglia & Gropper, P.C.
-Somerville, New Jersey
Gould & Cimino
-New York, New York
Black & Daiter, L.L.P.
-New York, New York
K.V. Jairam, P.C.
-New York, New York
St. John’s University School of Law, J.D.
-St. John’s University, B.S. cum laude
Florida Bar
New York Bar
New Jersey Bar
Federal Bars for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts
Florida Bar Association
-Board Member of the West Palm Beach Boys and Girls Club
-Hurricane Club
Office Location::West Palm Beach, 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. 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
Ralph B. Leemis is a Florida native from Jacksonville, Florida. He considers himself a “second generation insurance defense lawyer” following in the footsteps of his father, Lloyd C. Leemis, a former FBI Special Agent under J. Edgar Hoover and a founding member of Boyd, Jenerette & Leemis, now Boyd & Jenerette, P.A. He grew up with the mindset of an insurance defense lawyer, attending depositions and trials as a child, and participating in his first surveillance of a fraudulent worker’s compensation claimant at the age of 8. He graduated from Samuel W. Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Florida in 1972 as his graduating class valedictorian.
Ralph attended undergraduate studies at Furman University (for two years) and at the University of Florida, graduating with a B.S. in psychology from the University of Florida in 1976. Before attending law school, he worked as a Mental Health technician at St. Vincent’s Hospital, in Jacksonville, Florida.
He then attended the University of Florida law school, graduating in 1979. While attending law school, he was one of a small group of founding law students for the University of Florida’s Student Legal Services (under Leonard J. Grill, Esquire), with the founding student group becoming notable lawyers and jurists throughout the State including Circuit Judge David A. Giant (deceased) and Fifth District Court of Appeal Judge Jay P. Cohen.
After graduating from law school, Ralph began his litigation career at Peacock and Johnson, P.A. in Orlando, where his first case was a residential sinkhole loss in Seminole County, Florida. His second case was assisting in the defense of a property owner in the eminent domain proceedings for the Epcot interchange on Interstate 4.
From 1980 until 1988, Ralph handled a wide variety of matters in general practice and litigation, and including selected bodily injury and property damage cases.
Since 1988, Ralph has focused his practice primarily on insurance defense law handling first-party and third party cases, for bodily injury and property damage claims and litigation. That has included defense of insureds and coverage matters (for insurers), including analysis and defense of fraudulent cases and bad faith claims. His training has included acquiring Supreme Court of Florida Mediation Certifications for County, Circuit and Appellate Mediations.
His experience includes handling cases involving a wide variety of property damage matters, including sinkhole claims, roofing claims, windstorm losses, structure collapse, construction defects, water loss claims, theft, vandalism, and fire losses.
He has been a frequent lecturer to the insurance industry (providing in-house training to clients and at annual insurance industry conventions) on subjects including examinations under oath and deposition techniques.
Furman University – 1972 to 1974
University of Florida – B.S. in Psychology 1976
University of Florida, College of Law – J.D. in 1979
Insurance Defense, Property Claims
Insurance Defense, Liability Claims
Fraud and Bad Faith Analysis and Defense
Coverage analysis for liability and bodily injury claims
Construction Defect litigation and claims
Florida Bar, admitted October 29, 1979
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
Office Location::Orlando, FL
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
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
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
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
Before joining Groelle & Salmon, Mr. Matera worked for a plaintiff’s insurance firm and also as an Assistant State Attorney. As a plaintiff’s attorney, Mr. Matera, among other things, researched various insurance legal issues and drafted “bad-faith” civil remedy notices. While an Assistant State Attorney, Mr. Matera litigated thousands of cases from the initial inception of the case through a jury trial if necessary. As lead Prosecutor, he litigated eighteen (18) jury trials. He also defended against various Motions including Motions to Suppress Evidence; Motions to Dismiss Charge; Motions in Limine; and Motions for Judgment of Acquittal.
Mr. Matera was raised in the Tampa Bay area where he attended high school in New Port Richey and earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida. Subsequently, he graduated with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in May of 2012. For a semester in law school, Mr. Matera was a legal extern at the Gainesville State Attorney’s Office. During a summer semester in law school, he volunteered at the Gainesville State Attorney’s Office where he earned a pro bono certificate for his work as a volunteer. Additionally, Mr. Matera was also a Senior Research Editor for the Florida Journal of International Law and a Research Editor for the Florida Journal of Technology Law and Policy.
Mr. Matera is a member of the Florida Bar Association and is eligible to practice in all Florida state courts.
University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D.
University of South Florida, B.A.
Florida Bar
-United States District Court Northern District of Florida
-United States District Court Middle District of Florida
-United States District Court Southern District of Florida
-United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Office Location::Tampa, FL
Mr. May is a partner focusing his practice primarily on subrogation. Robert May graduated from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama in May of 2006. He was a member of the American Journal of Trial Advocacy Law Review as well as a Caruther’s Fellow. Mr. May worked as a Westlaw student representative, where he received extensive training on electronic legal research. He is Westlaw Certified in Advanced Case Law Research, Advanced Statutes Research, and Advanced Secondary Sources Research. While in law school, Mr. May clerked for Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton and also worked for the Honorable Judge Virginia E. Hopkins, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division. Mr. May also worked at the Bessemer, Alabama District Attorney’s office, learning about trial techniques and getting an opportunity to try cases.
After law school, Mr. May moved to Florida and spent his first year practicing with a regional insurance defense litigation Firm, focusing primarily on auto negligence, premises liability, slip/trip & fall, subrogation, homeowner’s insurance contract disputes, products liability, and collections. After one year , he decided to begin his own practice, focusing exclusively on subrogation and collections. Now Robert G. May III has joined with Groelle & Salmon P.A. to bring his extensive knowledge of subrogation into practice at our Firm.
Groelle & Salmon, P.A.
-Tampa, Florida
Robert G. May, III, P.A.
-Tampa, Florida
Allen, Kopet & Associates
-Tampa, Florida
Judicial Intern, Honorable Virginia E. Hopkins
-Northern District of Alabama
Caruthers Fellow
-Birmingham, Alabama
Hare, Wynn, Newell, & Newton
-Birmingham, Alabama
Cumberland School of Law, J.D.
-University of Georgia, B.A. Political Science
Florida Bar
Texas Bar
Northern District of Florida
Middle District of Florida
American Bar Association
-Florida State Bar Association
-Member, National Association of Subrogation Professionals
Office Location::Tampa, 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
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
Chazz Pearce is an associate attorney at Groelle & Salmon’s Miami office where his focus is Insurance Defense. Prior to becoming an associate attorney, Mr. Pearce worked privately gaining experience in commercial and residential real estate law. Mr. Pearce has also appeared as defense counsel in Florida criminal and traffic courts.
Mr. Pearce received his Bachelor’s Degree from Texas Tech University and subsequently, his Juris Doctor from St. Thomas University School of Law. As a law student, Mr. Pearce was recognized with a pro bono award for his contribution to the public sector; he was the recipient of a book award in Florida Construction law; he interned with the legal aid where he developed vital legal research and writing skills and invaluable experience in the areas of commercial litigation, and discrimination.
Furthermore, he served as a staff articles editor for the St. Thomas Complex Litigation Journal, where he participated in the editing of multiple publications.
Mr. Pearce is a Miami native and is admitted to practice law in the State of Florida.
Texas Tech University, B.A.
St. Thomas University School of Law, J.D.
Florida Bar
Office Location::Miami, FL
Ana Maria Prentice is an associate attorney at Groelle & Salmon’s Miami office. Mrs. Prentice earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Miami, and she earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law. Prior to joining Groelle & Salmon, Mrs. Prentice gained a substantial amount of litigation experience as a State Attorney. Her legal experience includes clerking for the City of Miami City Attorney’s Office, in the Labor and Employment Division, and providing litigation support to Independent Counsel for the City’s Civilian Investigative Panel. Additionally, Mrs. Prentice was an Attorney with the Department of Children and Families in Miami, where she practiced as the designated attorney for Dependency Drug Court. In Broward, Mrs. Prentice continued advocating for Florida’s abused, abandoned, and neglected children, as an Assistant Attorney General with Children’s Legal Services. There she managed a demanding caseload and prosecuted numerous cases. Mrs. Prentice has now transitioned her litigation experience into civil practice here at Groelle & Salmon in the area of Property Insurance Defense.
University of Miami School of Law, J.D.
University of Miami, B.A.
Florida Bar
Office Location::Miami, 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
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
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
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
Ms. Sharon began her legal career with the Broward County Public Defender’s office, litigating a myriad of criminal matters from misdemeanors to complex felony cases. After her career as an Assistant Public Defender, she entered private practice with an insurance defense firm in Palm Beach County, and gained years of litigation and trial experience defending a broad spectrum of disputed civil issues from construction defect and related building damage disputes , to premises liability and slip and fall personal injury liability and other accident tort claims, to medical malpractice claims, on behalf of several insurers.
Lynn Sharon has handled numerous insurance defense litigation matters to verdict, in both state and federal courts. More recently, she has also had the opportunity to handle numerous first party property damage claims and losses in litigation. She is licensed to practice in federal court in both the Southern and Middle District of Florida as well as all Florida State Courts. Ms. Sharon is a also member of the Animal Law Committee of the Florida Bar and has published articles relating to legal issues associated with animal protection.
Office Location::West Palm Beach, FL
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
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
Ms. White attended the University of Notre Dame where she graduated from the honors track cum laude with degrees in history and psychology. After attending the University of Miami School of Law she clerked for the Honorable Chris McAliley in the United States District Court Southern District. During her extensive civil litigation career she has been an in house counsel to an insurance company and also represented a significant number of insurers in a variety of matters. Ms. White is licensed to practice in all state courts in Florida as well as the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Office Location::Miami, FL
Andrea Zigelsky is a senior associate attorney with experience handling matters involving medical malpractice, premises liability defense, general negligence defense, liability coverage matters, as well as first party coverage and litigation defense.
Ms. Zigelsky’s strengths regarding evaluation of injuries and medical malpractice relies heavily on her over 20 years nursing experience. During her nursing career, Ms. Zigelsky worked as an ICU R.N., with experience in management, trauma services, open heart services, post surgical recovery room services and general medical-surgical services. Ms. Zigelsky has also been a guest lecturer for the Peri-Anesthesia Nurses Association on topics ranging from medical malpractice to living will issues.
Ms. Zigelsky is licensed to practice in all Florida state courts as well as the Middle and Southern District courts of Florida.
Office Location::Port St. Lucie, FL