Palm Beach Shores Personal Injury Lawyers

Attorney James C. Spitz represents insureds, both individuals and families, with claims against insurance companies ( usually arising from an insurance policy), when an insurer refuses to pay a claim.

Many of our clients have sustained damages to their homes and businesses, and after being unsuccessful in resolving their claims on their own, have turned to our law firm for guidance, and to take over the handling,( including litigating), of our insured's claim.

James Spitz is an aggressive litigator who seeks full and fair compensation for his clients.

I thoroughly understand Florida’s personal injury law and the tactics that insurance companies and their representatives use to avoid paying money to victims. Through years of outstanding service to clients, I have earned a reputation as a reputable advocate for the injured in Florida. I am a veteran of tough negotiations with insurers, and have not only gained the respect of my clients, but also the adjusters and attorneys on the other side of the conference table. They know my reputation for representing real victims with real damages, and as a result, I am able to work with speed...

Greg founded Sconzo Law Office, P.A. in 2017. While he now focuses exclusively on Employment Law and Disability Rights matters, Greg has had diverse legal career which has included representing individuals, businesses, and associations in a wide variety of legal matters. The one constant has always been Greg’s focus on righting injustices through civil litigation. Prior to opening his opening of Sconzo Law Office, P.A., Greg spent the prior five years at Kaplan & Sconzo, P.A., where he handled a heavy caseload of civil litigation, discrimination, civil rights, and personal injury cases. Greg has been involved in thousands of federal and state...

David Gaspari is a Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. He has successfully litigated, tried and taken to verdict virtually every type of personal injury case including wrongful death, defective products, automobile negligence, truck accidents, motorcycle injuries and premises liability claims. He has obtained numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. David Gaspari joined Cunningham Whalen & Gaspari as a partner in 2006 after a successful career as a defense attorney defending physicians and personal injury claims and 12 years with the personal injury firm of Lytal Reiter, Clark, Fountain & Williams. He has gained...

For over two decades, John D. Ameen has been an integral part of the South Florida community. After graduating from the University of Miami with General University Honors in 1991 and its School of Law three years later, he gained valuable experience defending various insurance companies in personal injury and accident matters. His extensive knowledge provides him a profound insight into how insurers approach cases - giving his clients an invaluable edge when pursuing justice against them. Since 1994, John has been a respected attorney for plaintiffs and is currently at the forefront of insurance class action cases. In 1998, he...

Michael Cecere is a Board Certified Civil Trial lawyer and co-founder of Cecere Santana, PA.

Prior to founding Cecere Santana, PA, Mr. Cecere was a defense attorney for a leading Broward law firm representing several of the largest insurance companies in the country.

Mr. Cecere gained extensive trial experience while working as a defense attorney. He has successfully handled in excess of 40 jury trials and litigated claims in the areas of automobile accidents, slip and falls, premises liability, negligent security, faulty products, professional negligence, homeowner's property damage, and wrongful death.

He attended Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, where he received his...

Dean H. Freeman is the managing partner of Freeman Injury Law and is proud to represent injured clients in the Miami, Plantation, West Palm Beach, and Orlando area. Mr. Freeman's long and successful career in injury law all began when he joined the U.S. Army, learning the skills of a combat medic. He obtained an honorable discharge and pursued his studies in the health sciences.
Attorney Freeman graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor's in Health Administration, which helped him in understanding the management of health organizations including several health insurance companies.
He continued on to obtain his Juris Doctor...

Hailing from Long Island, New York, attorney Christopher Lassen came over to the beautiful area of South Florida in his childhood. He has since become a true Floridian, completing his undergraduate Bachelor's degree with a Legal Studies major and Business Administration minor from the University of Central Florida.
He completed his law degree in Barry University of Law in Orlando, Florida and went immediately on to obtain experience with various firms in the Orlando and Boca Raton areas, working on cases anywhere from motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall, medical malpractice to general plaintiff’s personal injury legal proceedings.
Having been with...

ANDREA A. ROBINSON has dedicated her career to seeking justice on behalf of those who have been wronged. As an attorney at Searcy Denney, Ms. Robinson represents clients who have been harmed by careless drivers, defective products, harmful prescription drugs and negligent health care providers. Ms. Robinson is very active within the legal community and was recently named the 2014 Young Lawyer of the Year by the Palm Beach County Bar Association. She is a member of the Florida Justice Association, Florida Bar Association, the Palm Beach County Justice Association, and the Palm Beach County Bar Association. In April 2014, Ms....

As a Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA Shareholder, Mr. Hill’s practice focuses on automobile and trucking negligence, product liability and medical malpractice. Since joining the firm, he has secured many million- and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. His highest jury verdict to date was in excess of $30 million in a medical malpractice case. Mr. Hill has been named in the Best Lawyers in America and the Florida Super Lawyers publications since 2013. He has been recognized by both South Florida Legal Guide and Super Lawyers as a rising star in the...

Asheley Figueroa-Santana is an associate attorney at Cecere Santana, PA. Mrs. Figueroa-Santana works on cases relating to Personal Injury and Property Litigation claims. As a member of both departments, she assists Mr. Cecere with cases relating to automobile accidents, slip and falls, premises liability, negligent security, faulty products, and wrongful death. Additionally, she is responsible for obtaining benefits for our clients for damages from hurricanes, storms, fires, water among other types of property claims. She is a zealous advocate for our client’s rights and continually strives to obtain the best results.

Mrs. Figueroa-Santana began her...

Erick Santana is co-founding partner of Cecere Santana, PA.

He has been evaluating personal injury cases for over 20 years, and has successfully settled thousands of cases for his clients, in some instances collecting in excess of $1 million.

Prior to becoming an attorney, he was employed for seven years as an insurance adjuster for State Farm Insurance Co. As a result of his previous employment within State Farm, Mr. Santana knows first-hand what challenges clients face when dealing with insurance companies, which differentiates him from most personal injury attorneys in the area. He uses his expertise and knowledge to work...

ELISE SHERR ALLISON joined Searcy Denney in 2019 after clerking for The Honorable Jose E. Martinez, United States District Court Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and then working with a complex commercial litigation and personal injury firm in Miami. At Searcy Denney, she represents clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases resulting from medical malpractice, defective products, motor vehicle accidents and unsafe premises.

JORDAN A. DULCIE began his legal career in medical malpractice defense at a boutique firm in Palm Beach Gardens, followed by broader civil litigation practice at a larger civil defense firm in Florida. His practice areas include not only medical malpractice, but automotive accidents and nursing home and assisted living cases. In 2019, 2020 and 2021 he was selected by Palm Beach Illustrated magazine as a top lawyer in the area of medical malpractice, and Florida Super Lawyers Magazine lists him as a 2021 “Rising Star.” As an attorney with Searcy Denney, Mr. Dulcie shares the firm’s...

Florida personal injury and commercial litigation attorney Mariano Garcia has been practicing in West Palm Beach since 1994. AV-rated from Martindale-Hubbell and a member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Mr. Garcia has been with Searcy Denney since 2011 as a bilingual lawyer with long-standing commitment to representing the Latino community.

MATTHEW K. SCHWENCKE began his legal practice as a defense attorney, where he gained experience in all facets of civil litigation. Defending hospitals and healthcare providers against multi-million dollar claims has given him insight into defense strategies and tactics, especially in medical malpractice litigation. Mr. Schwencke earned his law degree from Stetson University College of Law, where he was a member of Stetsons award-winning Moot Court Board. While in law school, he served as intern to a federal magistrate judge, and prosecuted misdemeanor criminal offenses as a Certified Legal Intern for the Pinellas County State Attorney’s office. As an undergraduate,...

Florida personal injury lawyer Christopher Speed joined Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA as a Shareholder in 1994 after representing plaintiffs in Virginia for 20 years. He has spent his entire career pursuing justice for victims of personal injury, medical and legal negligence, aviation accidents and defective products.

DAVID P. VITALE, JR. is an experienced trial attorney who has litigated cases throughout the state of Florida. Mr. Vitale was recently recognized for his achievements by The National Trial Lawyers, as a Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff attorney in Florida. In addition to pursing personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice claims on behalf of injured victims, Mr. Vitale also handles complex commercial and business litigation matters. As a result of his prior career as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York, Mr. Vitale has a unique business perspective in developing strategies that are efficient, effective,...

Trial attorney focused on wrongful death, automobile negligence, medical malpractice, products liability, and premises liability.

BORIS ZHADANOVSKIY brings to the Searcy Denney team not only a law degree, but an undergraduate degree in business administration and fluency in both English and Russian. He draws upon his experience in complex insurance litigation to make sure that insurance companies keep their promises to policyholders who have been harmed.

Greg Yaffa joined Cunningham Whalen & Gaspari in 2004 and currently concentrates his practice in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death and insurance company bad faith. Prior to joining the firm, Greg practiced in the Miami-based law office of Stewart G. Greenberg, where he focused on automobile negligence, wrongful death, medical malpractice and product liability cases. Greg is admitted to practice law not only in the State Courts of Florida, but also in the Florida Federal Courts, including the United States District Court, Middle District Court of Florida, the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida...

Matthew Konecky is an experienced criminal defense attorney and personal injury attorney originally from the Moline, Illinois area. Matthew founded his private practice – the Law Offices of Matthew Konecky, P.A. – in 2004. Focusing on the individual, the Law Offices of Matthew Konecky, P.A. specializes in Personal Injury matters and Criminal Defense cases. Since 2002, Matthew has handled thousands of cases involving complex litigation issues as well as simple dispute resolutions. In 2008, he opened a second office in Palm Beach County to expand North in the South Florida Region.

Michael “Mike” Celeste, Jr. was born and raised in Milford, Mass. He received his B.A. in American Studies at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in 1975, where he also played varsity football and lacrosse – with Bill Belichick, the head coach of the New England Patriots. Mike graduated with honors from Nova Law School in 1986, where he was the president of the student chapter of ATLA (American Trial Lawyers Association) and represented Nova Law in the Southern Regional Mock Trial Competitions. While attending Nova Law, Mike was the recipient of the first Krupnick & Campbell, P.A. award, which was...

MARA RITCHIE PONCY HATFIELD, who holds dual degrees in environmental law, began consulting with Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley on issues related to environmental and entertainment law in 2006 before becoming an associate with the firm in 2012. Since then, she has assisted the firm’s clients in obtaining recoveries for injuries arising out of environmental contamination, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, catastrophic automobile crashes, defective products and premises liability (including but not limited to slip and falls). She continues to work on intellectual property and consumer-based class action lawsuits as well.

KAREN E. TERRY is a shareholder at Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley in West Palm Beach, and has been with the firm for 14 years. She recently received the highest honor of being chosen by the Daily Business Review as the "Most Effective Lawyer" in the State of Florida for products liability, along with Chris Searcy. She also was selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America. Ms. Terry has tried many big cases, but in August of 2007, Ms. Terry received a jury verdict of over 25 million dollars in Polk County, Florida against Walgreens for misfilling...

Jonathan is an AV Rated civil trial attorney whose practice is dedicated to representing a wide range of clients in disputes before state and federal courts as well as in alternative dispute forums. Jonathan left a large, international law firm so that he could provide personal attention and the highest quality of legal services to his clients. In his practice, Jonathan represents individuals in civil litigation and construction litigation. In addition to his litigation practice, Jonathan is both a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator, where is serves as a neutral in...

ADAM HECHT, a veteran of more than 75 felony and misdemeanor jury trials as an Assistant State Attorney, now works with Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. handling medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death and products liability cases.

Phil is a founding partner of the law firm of Thompson & Thomas, P.A. He was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society at Auburn University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Auburn in 1992 . Phil attended the University of Florida College of Law and graduated with Honors in 1995. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1996 and was licensed to practice before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals that same year. He was also admitted to the U.S. Federal District Court for both the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida...

egan working for Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA in 1994, and works primarily with James W. Gustafson and T. Hardee Bass on tobacco litigation, overseeing and litigating the firm’s more than 500 cases. Previously, she has worked on products liability, catastrophic automobile accident, personal injury and commercial litigation cases.

I'm passionate and dedicated to the things I care about in life - my career, my family, art, music, and culture - and that passion is what drives me to serve my clients to the fullest extent of my human abilities, every day. I live to see my clients find some closure and relief when I settle or successfully litigate their personal injury case to terms that exceed their expectations. It's a feeling of pride that I cannot duplicate outside of my profession as a personal injury attorney. As a former medical malpractice defense attorney, I know the ins-and-outs of...