Haines City Lawyers

I have been helping clients receive compensation for personal injuries and representing clients in family law matters for over thirty years.

Darryl R. Smith, Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation Lawyer, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 summa cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies. Darryl went on to attend Vanderbilt University Law School, and graduated with his Juris Doctorate in 2011. He then moved to Orlando to pursue his dream of practicing law in Central Florida.

Darryl Smith began his legal career with the Office of the Public Defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orlando, Florida, exclusively practicing criminal law. In 2012, Darryl Smith was offered the prestigious opportunity to become a Civil Litigation...

Daniel D. Whitehouse entered the legal profession with more than a decade of experience in the information technology (IT) industry. He has had the privilege of managing the IT infrastructures of some of the world’s largest companies while working for one of the largest international IT service providers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), both from Webster University. His unique blend of technology and business experience is an invaluable asset to the clients he represents. Mr. Whitehouse attended Stetson University College of Law and graduated Co-Valedictorian of his class...

At the Kramer Law Firm, our clients can find the best attributes of both large and small law firms. Our attorneys provide client-focused services. At our firm you'll be helped by our entire staff, but will not be "passed off" to a junior lawyer, or have a rotating list of lawyers assigned to your case. Practice in a broad range of legal areas, enabling us to answer questions when cases overlap into multiple areas of law, and to handle highly complex legal challenges. Our firm handles legal challenges ranging from estate planning to incorporating a business to business and mortgage...

Attorney Heather Barry grew up in Napa Valley, California as the youngest of three children. She pursued a variety of interests including Girl Scouts, dance, music, baseball and gymnastics. In high school Ms. Barry participated in Air Force ROTC, campus leadership and had the privilege to serve as a prosecutor in her government class mock trial where she first got her first exposure to law. Ms. Barry moved to Orlando, Florida in 2004 for college where she majored in Entertainment Business at Full Sail University and minored in Recording Arts. During her degree program Ms. Barry took several law...

Diane Claxton is a well-respected attorney licensed in the State of Florida and New York. She currently practices Immigration Law however she has worked in the field of Anti-trust Litigation, Securities, Family Law, and Personal Injury. Previous work includes but is not limited to Voter Protection and Non-Profit Organizations emphasizing on immigrants' rights. She has also worked as a Florida State Mediator. She has worked on Asylum, Cancellation of Removal, Unaccompanied Minors, Visa-U, and Violence Against Women's Act Cases. She is fluent is Spanish, French, Creole, and English.

Attorney Stephanie Modica is a native of Clermont, Florida. Stephanie attended the University of Florida (Go Gators!) graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Subsequently, she earned her Juris Doctor, Cum Laude from Roger Williams University School of Law where she was a participant in the Honors Program and Assistant editor of the Law Review.

Stephanie began her career as a Judicial Staff Attorney in Lake County for the Honorable Don F. Briggs, Honorable Mark A. Nacke, Honorable Michael G. Takac, and Honorable James Baxley. As Staff Attorney in both Circuit & County Court, Ms. Modica developed extensive knowledge...

As Partner at Potts Law Firm, Matthew Tabakman uses his litigation experience to pursue property insurance and personal injury claims on behalf of his clients. Having practiced law in Central Florida since 2002, Matt has handled these types of cases from the time they are pre-suit claims, through the litigation process to negotiated settlement or jury verdict.

Matt studied political science at the State University of New York at Binghamton and international affairs at The George Washington University before pursuing his Juris Doctorate at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. While in law school, he participated in competitions...

Stephen J. Calvacca has over thirty-five years of litigation experience in a broad range of practice areas ranging from murder to legal malpractice. He began his career as a criminal trial lawyer in New York City working as a Public Defender in one of the busiest courts in the country. He was later appointed by New York’s Attorney General as Special Assistant Attorney General to investigate and prosecute corruption in the nursing home industry during its most scandalous heydays. He was lead prosecutor in some of the most significant Medicaid fraud cases in New York City and earned the...

Attorney Tonya Walker has practiced law since 2002 and is Of Counsel to Bloodworth Law, PLLC.

Based in Orlando, Florida, Tonya travels the state providing case support for probate litigation, trust litigation, construction litigation and commercial litigation cases.

Prior to Bloodworth Law, Tonya handled commercial litigation and construction litigation for Jacksonville, Florida, law firms Whalen & Deem, LLC, and Regan, Zebouni & Walker, P.A., in 2007-08.

Tonya continues to teach law students as a Legal Methods Instructor at Florida A&M University College of Law which she began in 2011. She taught at Florida Coastal School of Law in 2006.

Tonya was as an...

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Young spent over eight years working in the securities industry. During that time period, he was a Vice President at a global securities and money management firm located in Winter Park, Florida, holding licenses as a General Securities Registered Representative (Series 7), a Registered Investment Advisor Representative (Series 65), a Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination (Series 63) and Florida Insurance and Variable Annuity. Mr. Young joined the firm of Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter in September 2006 after spending several years practicing plaintiff-side securities litigation with Hooper & Weiss, LLC. He continues to...

Deborah Cook’s life-long passion is families. Licensed as a Marriage and Family counselor, she provided help to families in conflict for over thirty years. Deborah Cook transferred her talent to the exclusive practice of Family Law. She cares deeply, and loves the opportunity to help others. Deborah is an excellent listener and straight forward communicator. She zealously works hard for her clients in an effort to restore balance and happiness in their lives. She is generous with her time and energy. It is her practice to help disputing parties resolve their issues before relying on the...

Vanette Augustin is a savvy Bilingual (Haitian Creole) attorney who has been successfully practicing since 2009 in the areas of Family Law, Immigration Law, and Estate Planning. Over the last 15 years, she has handled hundreds of cases and have assisted countless families navigate the legal system. She is a mother of two daughters who are the joys of her life. She lives by the belief that every day is a new opportunity to refine her skills. There is never a moment when you get to the point of saying I have arrived because as soon as...

R. Gregory Colvin knows what it’s like to be facing difficult family law disputes. He grew up in a single-parent household without his father’s involvement. His mother supported the family on a teacher’s salary. Mr. Colvin is also a single father with sole custody of his child. He truly understands what families are facing when they go through family issues such as divorce and custody because he has gone through it himself. His approach when it comes to practicing law is to provide client-focused and personalized solutions that are tailored to their specific needs.

I was born in Sanford, Florida in 1954, the fourth child of Herbert and Catherine Hill. I was raised in Pensacola until age 10, then moved to Sarasota. After eight years of parochial schooling, I attended and graduated from Sarasota Riverview High School in 1972, with high honors. My interests as a youth were the usual sports, baseball and football, but also I played golf and was the Florida State Junior Jaycees Golf Champion in 1971 and represented the State of Florida in the Junior World Jaycees tournament in San Diego, California, that same year. The only remaining significance to...

Shawn Diederich, founder of Diederich Law Firm, P.A., is a native of Orlando and has been licensed to practice law in Florida since 2008. Shawn’s primary focus is on Workers’ Compensation and personal injury litigation. Shawn is incredibly passionate about being an advocate for the injured. Prior to founding the Diederich Law Firm, P.A. Shawn was a trial attorney at one of Florida’s largest workers compensation defense firms, defending cases for the nation’s largest fast food, rental car and beverage companies. Shawn graduated from Florida A & M Law School in Orlando and received his undergraduate degree from The Florida...

"Whitney Boan is an experienced Orlando criminal defense lawyer with 11 years of trial litigation experience who is committed in serving her clients by treating them with dignity and respect, by humanizing them to the court and to opposing counsel, and by expeditiously and aggressively assisting them by protecting their legal, civil, and human rights through what is sometimes a daunting and complex legal system. In 2015, she formed Whitney S. Boan, P.A. where she continues to handle federal and state criminal cases as well as select family matters for her clients. At Whitney S. Boan, P.A., she...

Attorney Patrick L. Smith was born in Lakeland, Florida. He graduated from Lake Region High School and went on to receive degrees in Political Science and Economics from Stetson University. He received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Prior to coming to Pippen & Associates, Patrick Smith worked at the Walt Disney World East coast tax department from 2002-2003. Patrick Smith is currently an attorney practicing in the fields of estate planning, corporations, and charitable giving. In addition to his current position as a partner at Pippen & Associates, he serves on the...

I am Zarina Hernandez, founder of Z. Hernandez Law where we focus on helping clients with criminal defense and bankruptcy cases. My approach to helping clients undergoing tough situations is centered around having open communication, understanding each client's unique circumstances, and tirelessly pursuing the most favorable outcome for their cases. I believe that every client deserves personal attention, a strong advocate, and a guiding hand during the legal process. I graduated Cum Laude with a high-honors certificate in Trial Advocacy from Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law. Over the years, I have represented clients facing various criminal charges some...

Asad Ali is a criminal defense attorney who represents clients in state and federal courts. Mr. Ali relies on his extensive criminal law experience at the trial and appellate level to zealously advocate for his clients. Mr. Ali began his career at the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office in Tampa, Florida. There, he discovered his passion for defending people against an often unfair criminal justice system. As an Assistant Public Defender, Mr. Ali successfully represented adults and juveniles charged with offenses ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies during pretrial proceedings and at trial. After his tenure with the Public Defender’s...

Attorney Travis R. Hollifield is a Florida native who grew up in Orange County and attended Winter Park High School. After graduating from the University of Central Florida with a Journalism degree, Mr. Hollifield attended Nova Southeastern University Law School in Fort Lauderdale. Mr. Hollifield founded Hollifield Legal Centre to serve and promote the interests of all working women in Florida. Mr. Hollifield focuses on women’s workplace legal needs including litigation of sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, wage theft, retaliation and FMLA claims. He also litigates intellectual property claims including copyright, trademark, and patent disputes.

Darren Findling is the President and Founder of The Probate Pro. The Probate Pro is the leading probate and trust law firm in Michigan, Ohio Florida, and Illinois. As the President of The Probate Pro, PLC, I take great pride in being the leading probate and trust law firm providing administration, litigation, and planning services. Most of my day-to-day operations are dedicated to representing individuals in contested probate and trust matters, Will contests, the embezzlement by fiduciaries, exploitation of the elderly, and disputes in probate and trust files. When I am not working on my own cases, I try to...

Attorney Debi V. Rumph is an Orlando native of 38 years, with strong ties to the community where she lives and serves. Debi graduated from UCF in the Legal Studies program in 1995. After graduating from the University of Florida, College of Law, Debi focused in construction law, commercial landlord tenant law, and general commercial litigation at a major and national law firm. Following that experience, Debi taught at the FAMU College of Law as a professor of law for 3 years. While a law professor, she became a published scholar. After becoming a published scholar, Debi established...

Erin F. Duncan joined the law practice of C. Todd Smith to add family legal services to Todd's existing personal injury practice. Clients can expect Erin to work with them through legal and personal challenges as well as provide support and advice throughout the process. Erin has an outstanding reputation with past and present clients, her colleagues and peers. She stands by the premise that there are no winners in family law cases – families either grow through the inevitable change that litigation brings or are devastated by it. Erin’s insight, direction and no-nonsense approach have helped her clients find...

LEGAL PHILOSOPHY

Thank you for inquiring about the Law Office of Michael E. Morris. I have been an attorney since 1994. I have been licensed in Florida since 1996 and New York since 1995. I like helping my clients to solve their legal matters, and I’m not afraid of the complex cases with multiple parties. I do like going to court, and I do like winning at court. However, I do realize that most cases, especially family cases, really have no clear winners or losers in the end. It is almost always in your best...

For over 20 years, I have devoted my law practice solely to mediation. In 2017 I joined Orlando Legal to establish the Orlando Mediation division. Previously, I was a member of the Fraxedas Mediation Firm and Upchurch, Watson, White and Max.

About 1/2 of my practice is devoted to working with families in divorce, custody and paternity cases.

I've also worked with the U.S. Postal Service REDRESS program and as a panel mediator for EEOC.

As a graduate of the Key Bridge Foundation's Mediation Training Program (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice) I mediate issues involving the Americans...