Weston Personal Injury Lawyers

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.

Thomas M. Prestia began his legal career serving as a prosecutor at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office. During his tenure as a prosecutor, Mr. Prestia gained the knowledge and experience necessary to manage and litigate cases from the government’s perspective. This knowledge and experience has been critical in defending individuals facing criminal charges, as well as in his general trial practice. After leaving the State Attorney’s Office, Mr. Prestia further developed his trial practice by working at a leading medical malpractice firm. There he gained valuable insight into the operation of medical practices, experience in evaluating and litigating serious...

Mr. Halvorson is a Shareholder and Partner of the firm. He is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in the areas of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death and has successfully prosecuted numerous high profile cases. His practice is devoted 100% to litigation and he has specialized in the areas of motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, personal injury, products liability and wrongful death since 1977.

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

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,...

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.

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 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.

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...

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.

James S. Cunha, Esq. is the Managing Attorney at the Law Offices of James S. Cunha, P.A. Mr. Cunha primarily focuses his practice on family and marital law. As a result of his background in Finance and Economics, Mr. Cunha has become a highly sought-after divorce and family law attorney in South Florida particularly in complex or high asset divorce cases involving asset valuation and alimony issues. Since the inception of his firm, Mr. Cunha has represented corporate executive officers, professional athletes, business owners, medical, legal and financial professionals, homemakers, working men and women–(or their spouses)–in divorce cases,...

William E. Johnson is a highly successful civil trial lawyer who began practicing in his native West Palm Beach in 1983. He is the third generation of his family to practice law in West Palm Beach. Mr. Johnson's grandfather was one of the early pioneers of West Palm Beach. His father, Thomas H. Johnson, was a long time circuit court judge in Palm Beach County, who also served in the Florida Senate and as the State Attorney for Palm Beach County. Mr. Johnson is a graduate of Florida State University, where he received his B.A. degree in 1980. He...

Mr. Weisser is a Partner and Shareholder of the firm. He has practiced law in South Florida since 1996. He began his professional career as Assistant State Attorney in Miami, Florida, prosecuting an extensive felony criminal caseload and tried forty jury trials with only 3 resulting in acquittals. Subsequently, he has been actively involved in Civil Trial Litigation handling all phases of civil cases involving Medical Malpractice, Motorcycle Accidents, Nursing Home Abuse, Trucking Accidents, Products Liability and Motor Vehicle Accidents. Mr. Weisser has handled cases that have generated over $50 million from jury verdicts or settlements...

Stephanie Vega Graves is a trial attorney who handles personal injury cases. Mrs. Vega Graves has represented severely injured clients in cases involving injuries as a result of slip and falls at popular supermarkets and malls; severe injuries due to construction accidents; wrongful death claims; negligent security outside of nightclubs, bars, parking lots and apartment complexes including shootings and assaults; pool drownings; premises liability; car accidents; dram shop; liquor liability; brain injuries; medical malpractice and bad faith claims handling by insurance companies. Mrs. Vega Graves has obtained legal experience at prominent real estate and personal injury law...

Stratton A. Smiley was born in Ohio, but has been a south Florida resident for the past fourteen years. Mr. Smiley received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Florida Atlantic University. While at FAU, Mr. Smiley continuously made the Dean’s List, President’s List, and was a Scholar Athlete.

Upon graduating, Mr. Smiley passed the Florida Bar Exam with one of the highest scores in the state and was the speaker on behalf of the newly admitted attorneys at the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal’s induction ceremony.

After his graduation from American University’s Washington College of Law, Miami attorney Antonio F. Valiente, Esq. began his legal career at the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. There, he gained valuable insight and extensive experience over the course of six+ years. Between his time at the Public Defender’s Office & since founding Valiente, Carollo & McElligott, PLLC., he’s tried over 50 felony jury trials as lead counsel, dozens of misdemeanor jury trials, taken over one thousand depositions, & dozens of juvenile trials/adjudicatory hearings. Mr. Valiente’s experience encompasses everything from minor traffic-related misdemeanors to serious first-degree murder charges.

Jensen Grant is a partner in Kanner & Pintaluga’s Personal Injury Practice and is the managing attorney of the Firm’s Florida Pre-Litigation Team. Jensen joined Kanner & Pintaluga in 2009. Since then, he has supervised or directly settled $150 million dollars in settlements for firm clients. Jensen is a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which recognizes lawyers for the resolution of a single case in excess of $1 million. He has also been recognized as one of the “Top 10 Under 40” by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys and a “Top 10 Attorney” for client satisfaction...

David Markel is a personal injury attorney whose practice consists of representing plaintiffs in serious, catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Mr. Markel focuses on auto, truck, and motor vehicle accidents, cruise ship accidents, maritime and marine related injuries, negligent security, premises liability, victims of crime, and other complex litigation.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Mr. Markel graduated from Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove where he was an All Dade County football player and AP Scholar. Mr. Markel attended Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he continued his football career and graduated with a degree in History...

James D. Payer was born in Nashua, NH. In 1976 his parents moved their family to South Florida, where he attended Elementary School and then High School at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale. After completing High School Mr. Payer attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida and majored in accounting. Upon graduating from Stetson University Mr. Payer returned to South Florida and pursued post graduate studies necessary to become a Certified Public Accountant. In 1992 Mr. Payer passed the CPA exam and became a Certified Public Accountant. After working briefly as an accountant for a multinational hospital supply company Mr. Payer...

Charles E. Cartwright is a well-known and highly respected South Florida personal injury lawyer who has a demonstrated record of results. As Co-Managing Partner at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A., he has recovered more than $45 million on behalf of victims and their families. With more than 20 years of experience as an attorney, Charles is well-versed in all stages of the personal injury arena, from initial consultation all the way through trial.

Charles is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, meaning that he has received the highest possible rating based upon the opinions of other lawyers and judges. Over his career, Charles has received...

I am an attorney licensed in the State of Florida. I have been an attorney for two decades and graduated with honors from St. Thomas University School of Law where I was a member of the International Moot Court Team and a Judge in the Honor Council. I was an Associate Editor of the St. Thomas Law Review and an active member of the Hispanic American Law Society (HALS). I received the Book Award for best student in a subject in Constitutional Law, International Law, Comparative Law and Torts.

Carrying on a family tradition, Carolyn Friedman Frank has followed in her father's footsteps. Carolyn is partner in Friedman, Rodman & Frank that has roots in the Miami Beach firm of Harvey D. Friedman, P. A., the firm started by her father in 1976.

Her work in personal injury includes, workers' compensation, medical malpractice, products liability and nursing home negligence.

Carolyn Friedman Frank was admitted to the Florida State Bar in 1996, after earning her Juris Doctorate at the University of Miami. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree.

Carolyn is married...

Maria Isabel Amaro was born in Colombia, South America in 1970. Ms. Amaro relocated to Miami, FL in 1985 and has lived in Miami for the last 24 years.

Ms. Amaro graduated from Nova Southeastern University with her Bachelors in Business Administration and a minor in Professional Management in 2005. Ms. Amaro attended Saint Thomas University School of Law receiving her Juris Doctor in 2008.

She was also a certified legal intern for Legal Aid of Greater Miami in the Family Law department for two semesters.

Upon being admitted to the Florida Bar in 2008, Ms. Amaro joined the law firm of Friedman,...

Jeffrey Morris is an experienced defense attorney and co-founder of McLaughlin Morris, P.A. who serves those facing criminal charges and personal injury matters in Delray Beach, Florida and the surrounding areas. He has a passion for providing each customer with personal care to meets his or her individual needs. With more than a decade of experience as a prosecutor and an attorney, he is able to apply his knowledge of Florida's courtrooms to the challenging situations that his clients face. This dedication to every matter can be seen in his work ethic and educational background. After studying...

Edward Kone has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lafayette College, 1984, and a J.D. Degree from University of Miami Law School, 1987. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in November of 1987. He has conducted numerous Jury Trials and is in Court in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade counties on almost a daily basis. In over twenty-five years of practice, he has handled over a thousand criminal cases, over 500 personal injury cases, and close to 10,000 traffic tickets.

Ms. Stover is an attorney with extensive knowledge and experience in a wide variety of legal matters including family law (divorce, custody, child support), criminal and traffic (DUI/DWI, theft, Post-Conviction Petitions), personal injury (auto accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and falls), and immigration (naturalization, adjustment of status, and asylum).

After graduating law school, Ms. Stover clerked for the Honorable Marielsa A. Bernard of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD. Throughout her clerkship, Ms. Stover not only gained knowledge of the law and the inner workings of the courthouse, but she also gained extensive insight into a wide variety of family law...

I am a personal injury attorney that practices law with tenacity and an uncommon compassion that comes from surviving a catastrophic plane crash in 2011 that the FAA and NTSB determined was caused by pilot error. Because of my experiences coping with, and recovering from, serious, life threatening injuries, I practice with an understanding and compassion that few injury lawyers possess.

Alton C. Hale, Jr. has focused his practice on helping victims and organizations with legal disputes of the upmost consequences involving insurance claims, business litigation, construction defects, catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.

Mr. Hale served as an assistant state attorney in Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties in Florida’s Treasure Coast. He honed his trial skills as the lead attorney in more than 60 jury trials while serving as a prosecutor in the state’s Nineteenth Judicial Circuit.

Mr. Hale served as an Assistant State Attorney in Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties in Florida’s Treasure Coast. He honed...

Levi Lawrence Wilkes is known as a well-reasoned advocate, protecting his client’s interests as though they were his own. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Mr. Wilkes spent most of his childhood between Texas, Utah, Kentucky and Idaho. Before pursuing a law career, Mr. Wilkes worked in a variety of industrial construction settings around the country, performing various roles, including: pipefitting, rigging, land surveying, boiler-making and commercial diving. After saying goodbye to the construction industry, Mr. Wilkes obtained his undergraduate degrees from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where he majored in Political Science and obtained a minor in Criminal Justice....

Drew McLaughlin is a dedicated attorney who represents those facing criminal charges and others seeking help through personal injury claims in South Florida. McLaughlin serves clients throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties as an attorney with McLaughlin Morris, P.A., the firm he co-founded in 2014. McLaughlin attended Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelors of arts in both history and Spanish, graduating magna cum laude. He then turned his focus to law school at the University of Florida's Levin College of Law, where he earned his start in the legal field as a Certified Legal...

Carol L. Finklehoffe is a partner at Lipcon, Margulies and Winkleman, P.A. who has been practicing for 30 years in both the state and federal courts throughout Florida, California and Massachusetts. Ms. Finklehoffe is an “AV” rated trial attorney who is a certified specialist in Maritime and Admiralty law. The main concentration of her practice relates to complex personal injury, resort law, wrongful death, sexual assault and medical malpractice. Ms. Finklehoffe is also a skilled maritime lawyer who has developed an expertise in cases involving cruise ship passengers and maritime crew members on various types of commercial and private vessels. Ms....