Saint Lucie County Lawyers

T. HARDEE BASS III earned his law degree from Stetson University College of Law and his undergraduate degree from The Florida State University. Prior to joining Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA, Mr. Bass served as a felony prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office. During his tenure, he handled nearly 50 jury trials to verdict, prosecuting crimes ranging from Driving Under the Influence to first degree felonies punishable by life in prison. Currently, Mr. Bass works with C. Calvin Warriner and David J. Sales. He is a member of The Florida Bar and the Palm...

I have been practicing business litigation and appellate practice in West Palm Beach since 1997. Prior to going in to private practice, I was a law clerk at the Third District Court of Appeal in Miami. From 1997 to 2014, I was a shareholder in a business litigation boutique handling all manner of complex civil and business related disputes, including matters in arbitration, state court, federal court, and on appeal. In 2014, I joined this firm as a shareholder, adding my business litigation cases and appellate work to the firm's thriving probate litigation practice. I routinely...

Attorney, James N. Brown is well versed in the law practice of both commercial and residential real estate transactions. He has a wide range of experience in real estate transactions, including construction, land development, and commercial matters. He graduated second in his class, Summa Cum Laude, with a full scholarship and is the founder of Title Leap. Jim has dedicated his entire life to real estate from General Contractor to veteran attorney, and has helped 1000’s of realtors, buyers and sellers over the past 30 years.

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,...

Mr. Shafran has dedicated his legal career to zealously advocating for victims and seeking justice for others. Mr. Shafran grew up in Parkland, Florida until he attended Florida State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology. In 2012, he received his Juris Doctor in law at Nova Southeastern University College of Law.

Upon graduating law school, Mr. Shafran worked as an Assistant State Attorney in Palm Beach County, prosecuting those accused of committing crimes and representing victims of crimes. As a prosecutor, Mr. Shafran handled thousands of cases ranging from minor offenses like misdemeanors, all the way...

JENNY LANCASTER is an associate attorney with Kitroser and Associates, joining the firm in October 2021. Ms. Lancaster was born in the Caribbean and lived in New York before transplanting to Florida twenty years ago. She is a proud graduate of the City College of New York and received her Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law. Ms. Lancaster began her law career as an attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County in the practice areas of employment discrimination, health care, family law, landlord/tenant issues and government benefits. Ms. Lancaster quickly transitioned to criminal law, serving...

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,...

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,...

Experienced attorney in Federal courts, Florida state courts and FINRA arbitration with focus in securities law, securities class actions, broker-dealer disputes and business law.

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.

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.

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...

Elder Law, Estate Planning & Medicaid Planning Attorney Amy Dow is an attorney focusing on the areas of elder law and estate planning. Amy has more than 25 years of professional experience including practicing law, counseling, teaching and community service. Amy calls South Florida home but hails from New York. Counseling and Law Background With degrees in both law and counseling, Amy brings particular insight and sensitivity when meeting with clients and their families. Amy earned her Law Degree from Boston College Law School, and received a Master's Degree in Counseling Studies from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Her Bachelor’s Degree is from the...

Nicole Hewitt specializes in Estate Planning and Administration, Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, Business Planning, and Real Estate Transactions, with a particular focus on tax implications. She provides expert legal guidance to individuals, business owners, young families, retirees, and the elderly, helping them achieve their estate, tax, and medical assistance planning goals. Additionally, Nicole has extensive experience working with individuals and families with special needs, including the establishment of trusts and adult guardianships. Before co-founding HWK Law Group, Nicole built a robust career that included roles as a senior tax associate with two Big 5 accounting firms, an associate at a...

Lawyer Lindsey Wagner is a partner at Scott • Wagner and Associates Ms. Wagner practices at the firm in the following areas:

Breach of Contract
Class and Collective Actions
Civil Rights
Discrimination
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC, FEHA, and FCHR)
Employment Law (Employee/Employer)
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Harassment
Misclassification
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
Non-Compete Agreements
Public Employee Rights
Retaliation
Severance Agreements
Unemployment Appeals (DEO and EDD)
Union Activity
Unpaid wages, minimum wages, and overtime (FLSA)
Whistleblowing Activities
Wrongful Discharge
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
Ms. Wagner is experienced in matters of litigation, arbitration, and administrative hearings, and is admitted to practice in Florida and California state courts, as well as the United States District Court for...

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

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...

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...

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...

I provide quality legal representation and advocate for the rights and best interests of my clients. I keep clients informed of processes and proceedings and cater to client’s emotions during and throughout litigation.

KATHERINE A. KIZIAH is an attorney with Searcy Denney’s pharmaceutical and medical device mass torts litigation unit.

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.

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.

Are you suffering through problems regarding filing for bankruptcy, or worries about a foreclosure defense? Has your life seemed to take a downward spiral now that problems regarding your finances appear to take up a majority of it? There are thousands of people that find themselves suffering through the same situation, so turn to the careful attention that a professional from Griffiths & Smitherman, PL will be able to provide. It’s with this solid team that you will finally have the chance to leave your heartbreak behind and bring it the honest study that’s desired. It’s time to invest in...

Carolyn Butler Norton, Board Certified Elder Law Attorney, works passionately as an advocate for the senior population and their families. Ms. Norton believes that the practice of Elder Law should be comprehensive, focusing on a Life Care Planning Approach. She works closely with her clients, educating and assisting them with long-term care planning options including asset protection, healthcare and financial choices, and end of life decisions.
Recognizing the particular needs of the Treasure Coast population, attorney Norton limits her practice to the areas of elder law, estate planning, wills and trusts, special needs trusts, guardianship, Veterans Aid & Attendance,...

Caroline R. Olson is the founder and principal attorney at The Law Offices of Caroline Olson, P.A., a marital and family law firm with offices in Jupiter and Boca Raton serving clients throughout South Florida in family and matrimonial matters.

Always driven by a straightforward and solution-oriented approach, Ms. Olson brings experience, compassion, and competence to her clients during one of the most difficult times in their lives. As attested by client reviews, people appreciate the personal attention they get with Caroline R. Olson, Esquire. Divorce is about more than just interpreting and following the law; Ms. Olson understands she is...

I was born and raised in Miami, Florida to Cuban parents. From a young age, they instilled in me the importance of education and hard work. I admire their sacrifice and it is my drive in helping others. I received my law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law and I am licensed in Florida at both the State and Federal levels. Before attending law school, I received my Bachelors from the University of Miami where I focused my studies in Finance and the Spanish language.

After graduation, I worked as an associate attorney at a prominent South Florida law...