FRANKLIN LEGAL GROUP, PA - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Senior Counsel

Ms. Thomas focuses her practice in the area of insurance defense litigation, first party property claims stemming from insurance coverage disputes, policy interpretation and the application of policy exclusions arising from a wide variety of insurance products general liability claims and casualty matters. Ms. Thomas received her Juris Doctorate from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) College of Law in Orlando, FL. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in American Sign Language from the University of South Florida(USF) in Tampa, Fl. Ms. Thomas is licensed to practice law in Florida and is admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.

Job Titles:

• Senior Litigation Counsel

Jennifer is a senior litigation counsel with our Insurance & Litigation Practice Group. She specializes in tort liability, litigation, insurance coverage, bad faith, and unfair insurance practice disputes matters in state and federal courts. She also actively works with our trial teams. Jennifer was admitted to practice law in Florida in 2004 and in Missouri in 2006.

Job Titles:

• Senior Counsel
• Senior Counsel With FLG

Jennifer Ruiz is a Senior Counsel with FLG with vast experience as a civil litigator in matters pertaining to property damage in Florida. In recent years, Jennifer has focused on representing corporations, government entities, condominium associations, and other property owners and operators in hurricane-related loss recovery, bad faith, and business interruption claims. While she is more than ready to proceed to trial, Jennifer usually resolves cases through mediation or informal negotiation and has negotiated many substantial monetary settlements in favor of her clients. Jennifer is fluent in the Spanish language and often handles litigations that require review and use of Spanish language documents. She advises clients from the United States and all over the world. Jennifer has been first chair in numerous trials and appeals. Prior to focusing on insurance litigation for policyholders, Jennifer was a partner at a Miami based litigation firm where she represented clients in complex immigration matters. Jennifer also served as an Assistant State Attorney in Brevard County, Florida, and was an Assistant General Counsel at the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds in Washington, D.C., where she handled complex litigation cases and negotiated collective bargaining agreements. Jennifer attended the University of Miami School of Law, was President of the Moot Court Board and graduated on a full scholarship. Jennifer is licensed in Florida, the District of Columbia, and Wisconsin.

Job Titles:

• Senior Counsel
• Shareholder

Jonathan is a seasoned litigator in the realms of complex litigation, including tort liability, products liability, professional liability, insurance, and reinsurance matters. His reputation as a skilled trial and appellate lawyer reflects his dedication to legal excellence and thorough understanding of high-stakes cases. His legal practice is diverse, catering to insurers, their insureds in liability matters, corporations, and individual clients. This breadth of experience has honed his ability to navigate a wide range of legal challenges, making him a trusted advisor in the field. Currently, he plays a role in working with insurers on aviation insurance claims related to aircraft and related engines in Ukraine and Russia, a challenging endeavor in today's global context. Jonathan's key contributions include: Serving as national coordinating and trial counsel for a product manufacturer. Acting as Florida regional counsel in various sectors, extending his legal expertise to support industry leaders. Providing strategic litigation and appellate counsel for a leading Florida insurer, with a focus on nuanced policy and coverage issues. Offering comprehensive representation in coverage, aviation, liability, and other key areas, tailored to each client's unique needs. Jonathan is honored to be Martindale Hubbell AV Rated™ and a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC). His participation in IADC's committees such as Product Liability, Trial Techniques and Tactics, Insurance and Reinsurance, and others, underscores his commitment to legal innovation and excellence. Above all, Jonathan values the trust and relationships he has built with his clients. He considers it a privilege to partner with them, approaching each case with a blend of professional rigor and a deep respect for the collaborative process. His approach to law is not just about legal victories, but about forging lasting partnerships and contributing positively to the corporate legal community.

Job Titles:

• Senior Counsel
• Senior Counsel With Jonathan Franklin Legal Group

Maria Kristin Indelicato is a seasoned lawyer with a passion for litigation, dispute resolution, and negotiations. With over a decade of experience in the legal field, Maria has honed her skills in providing strategic counsel on a wide range of legal matters while driving business objectives forward. Currently serving as a Senior Counsel with Jonathan Franklin Legal Group, Maria applies her extensive litigation experience representing entities and individuals alike to our insurance practice. Her experience includes preparing cases and presenting them to Courts in a jury or non-jury setting, implementing successful trial strategies, and walking clients through risk assessments. Prior to her current role, Maria lead a dedicated team practicing family law where she learned business basics, how to create a case from the ground up, and how to advise clients even in emotionally charged environments. Additionally, Maria previously garnered invaluable experience as a Drug Unit Assistant State Attorney and Felony Trial Assistant State Attorney at the Seventh Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, where she handled a diverse range of complex criminal cases and conducted many jury trials. As a result of her varied litigation experience, Maria has a unique ability to collaborate with and then zealously negotiate on her client's behalf all while being able to bring a case to fruition even if it does not settle. Her contributions have been recognized with awards such as the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale Hubbell, the Client Champion Platinum from Martindale-Hubble, and the 40 under Forty from the Daytona Beach News-Journal. Beyond her legal prowess, Maria is deeply committed to community service. She is currently serving as the President Elect of the Junior League Daytona Beach, overseeing the management of a 2-million-dollar non-profit dedicated to philanthropic work in the greater Daytona Beach area.

Job Titles:

• Senior Litigation Counsel

Job Titles:

• Senior and Lead Trial Counsel

Sara co-chairs FLG's litigation and trial group. She's known for her ability to simplify complex problems and deliver results. Sara is a talented litigator who represents insurers in the most hotly contested areas of coverage litigation, advancing insurers' interests on a wide variety of critical coverage questions. She represents insureds in a variety of disputed major liability claims.

Job Titles:

• Entrepreneurship Master

Job Titles:

• Senior and Lead Trial Counsel
• Senior and Lead Trial Counsel C
• Strategist

Vanessa chairs our Labor and Employment Group and co-chairs our Litigation Group. She also serves as FLG's chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. Vanessa has over two decades of experience representing clients in state and federal courts and before arbitral tribunals in connection with insurance, reinsurance, employment, and liability disputes. Her experience includes matters involving general liability, construction, product liability, employment, property, and professional liability coverage, as well as underlying claims involving a variety of losses. Vanessa is also skilled in handling insurance disputes of all types, including claims handling and bad faith issues. Clients rely on Vanessa to gather and present evidence during discovery, and to present their strongest positions at summary judgment or trial. They also trust her to advise them on a wide range of sensitive employment matters, including those that can generate significant risk for their organizations. Vanessa leads harassment investigations, litigates racial or gender equity issues, responds to activist shareholder demands, and advises on the myriad of issues that impact her clients' most productive talent. Vanessa serves as a strategist and collaborative partner to her clients. She is a trusted advisor who helps them navigate complex matters and achieve their business goals. She also helps clients meet the challenges of the modern workplace.

Job Titles:

• Senior Litigation Counsel

Before becoming a trial attorney, William played collegiate football at the University of Florida from 2008-2011 and was a part of the 2008 University of Florida BCS National Championship Team. Informed by his experiences and a team mentality, William brings the same caliber of intensity, passion, and teamwork to his work as a zealous litigator for his clients. William works with our litigation ops team on insurance and liability matters. He represents insurers and reinsurers in state and federal court litigation. He also provides counseling on policy language, strategic considerations, and emerging issues. His litigation experience includes a wide range of underlying claims, such as construction defect, property damage, liability, primary and excess general liability, and professional liability.