BILLING COCHRAN - Key Persons
Aline O. Marcantonio is a partner at the law firm of Billing, Cochran, Lyles, Mauro & Ramsey, P.A. She graduated from the Virginia Commonwealth University / Medical College of Virginia in 1983 with a BS in nursing. She worked in multiple areas of nursing care, including labor and delivery, orthopedics, PACU and emergency department until 1989, when she attended Nova University College of Law and obtained her J.D. in 1992. Since then, she has 30 years of experience representing hospitals, healthcare facilities, medical professionals and insurance companies in medical malpractice litigation.
She originally joined the firm in 2001, and has recently returned to the firm after working for other defense firms, including Heath & Marcantonio, Chartered from 2008 - 2015. She continues representing hospitals, physicians, and other professionals, as well as handling premises liability claims for healthcare clients.
Job Titles:
- Associate in the Fort Lauderdale
Brad Kimber is an associate in the Fort Lauderdale office practicing primarily in the firm's medical malpractice and general insurance defense practice areas. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Kimber gained extensive experience participating in the litigation of premises liability, general insurance defense, wrongful death, and complex construction defect cases.
A native of Palm Beach County, Florida, Mr. Kimber earned a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Law with Minor in Criminal Justice from University of Central Florida in 2009 and received his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in 2012. Mr. Kimber has been a member of The Florida Bar since 2012. He was admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh District in 2017.
He has received an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell which reflects the greatest degree of ability and integrity as recognized by the legal community including judges and attorneys.
Job Titles:
- PARTNER
- Civil Trial Lawyer and Counselor
- Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates
Bruce Ramsey is an experienced civil trial lawyer and counselor, who has concentrated his practice in the areas of medical, professional, and product liability cases, since 1981.
Mr. Ramsey earned a bachelor's degree from Florida State University where he graduated summa cum laude. In 1981, he earned a Juris Doctorate, with honors, from the University of Florida College of Law where he was a member of the Board of Editors of the Law Review. Upon entering practice, he rapidly achieved an AV-rating from Martindale-Hubbell and subsequent peer election into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Mr. Ramsey has been recognized as America's Top 100 Attorneys and is included among the 5% of Florida attorneys listed in Florida Super Lawyers. Recognitions also include Top Lawyer in South Florida Legal Guide, Florida's Legal Elite in Florida Trend and Palm Beach Illustrated Top Lawyer. Mr. Ramsey has also been honored by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and Florida's Best Lawyers in the practice area of Medical Malpractice Law.
He was admitted to practice by the Florida Supreme Court in 1981, the US. District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida in 1982, the Trial Bar of the Federal District Court in 1987, and the Supreme Court of the United States in 1989.
Mr. Ramsey is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Defense Research Institute, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, the Palm Beach County Bar Association, the Florida Bar Association, and the American Society of Law and Medicine. Mr. Ramsey has served on the Florida Bar's Grievance Committee and its Substantive Law Committee, Patient Care/Risk Management Division and has also served on the Palm Beach County Bar Association's Medical Legal Dental Liaison Committee.
Additional honors include membership in Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha, Political Science Honor Society, Phi Delta Phi, International Legal Fraternity and Outstanding Lawyers of America. Mr. Ramsey is a two-term past president and member of the Board of Governors of the Florida Medical Malpractice Claims Council, Inc., and was one of the youngest attorneys in Palm Beach County to earn an "AV" rating, the highest rating for ethics and professionalism, from Martindale-Hubbell.
Mr. Ramsey limits his practice to the defense of hospitals and healthcare providers and other medical and drug related litigation, an area of law which he finds limitlessly fascinating. He is frequently called upon to give lectures to both medical and legal practitioners concerning this constantly evolving area of law.
Job Titles:
- PARTNER
- Partner at Billing, Cochran, Lyle
Carol Glasgow is a partner at Billing, Cochran, Lyles, Mauro & Ramsey, P.A. Since joining the firm in 1998, Ms. Glasgow has focused her practice on medical malpractice defense. She routinely conducts pre-suit investigations, maintains frequent and regular contact with clients, evaluates claims, prepares and analyzes written discovery, reviews medical records, obtains expert opinions, attends depositions, and successfully defends clients at trial. Ms. Glasgow's eight years of experience as a critical care nurse is an invaluable asset to the firm's clients.
Job Titles:
- Associate in the Fort Lauderdale
Christine Brown is an associate in the Fort Lauderdale office where her primary areas of practice include the defense of medical malpractice and general liability litigation.
Ms. Brown has been practicing in the area of medical malpractice since 1997, when she graduated from New York Law School and was admitted to the New York Bar, before being admitted to the Florida Bar in 2000.
Her background as a Registered Nurse in the critical care setting is of particular benefit in her practice areas.
Mr. Lyles has been appointed as counsel to numerous special purpose governmental districts and community development districts throughout the State of Florida. He has served as issuer's counsel in connection with a wide variety of tax exempt bond transactions and public financings. He has been recognized by South Florida CEO Magazine's Legal Guide as one of the top lawyers in South Florida. Mr. Lyles has received the highest rating assigned by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (AV Preeminent R).
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Member of the Florida Bar
Gerald Knight practices in the areas of real estate law, land use law, and administrative and governmental law. He represents land developers, builders and other business clients in connection with real estate transactions, land use matters, real estate tax matters and administrative law matters at the state, regional, and local levels. Mr. Knight has represented land developers in connection with obtaining comprehensive plan amendments, rezonings, variances, conditional use approvals, special exceptions, subdivision plat approvals and site plan approvals. Mr. Knight also acts as special counsel to local governmental agencies, including community development districts and community redevelopment agencies.
He is a former Assistant Attorney General of Florida; Assistant General Counsel of Broward County; and Assistant City Attorney of the City of Fort Lauderdale. He was formerly a partner at Gustafson, Stephens, Ferris, Forman & Knight, P.A., and at Holland & Knight LLP.
Mr. Knight is a member of The Florida Bar, Local Government Law and Environmental and Land Use Law Sections; the Broward County Bar Association; Bars of the United States Supreme Court and United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Mr. Knight is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Order of the Coif, and has received the highest rating assigned by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (AV Preeminent R).
Mr. Knight earned his B.A., with honors, and his J.D., with honors, from the University of Florida. He also earned his LL.M in real estate law from the University of Miami.
Job Titles:
- PARTNER
- Partner at Billing, Cochran, Lyle
Ginger E. Wald is a partner at Billing, Cochran, Lyles, Mauro & Ramsey. Prior to joining the firm she was an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Fort Lauderdale and engaged primarily in civil litigation, labor, land use, zoning and building code matters. As an Assistant City Attorney, Ms. Wald was actively engaged in drafting substantial changes to the City of Fort Lauderdale's code enforcement ordinances and education of staff on the best practices for code and zoning enforcement. She served for a number of years as Vice President of the Code Enforcement Section of the International Municipal Lawyers Association and as an annual conference speaker. Prior to that, Ms. Wald was in private practice as a civil trial attorney in South Florida handling insurance defense cases.
Job Titles:
- Associate in the Fort Lauderdale
Gregory F. George is an associate in the Fort Lauderdale office, working with the firm's Local Government Law practice. Before joining the firm, Mr. George gained significant litigation experience as a prosecutor for the State Attorney's Office in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit and as a trial attorney for a major insurance carrier. As part of our local government practice, Mr. George represents a number of community development districts as general district counsel.
Gregory was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Mr. George attended Florida A&M University, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in political science with a concentration in economics and urban development. Mr. George received his Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University in 2018. Mr. George has been a member of the Florida Bar since 2018.
Jeffery R. Lawley joined the firm in 2010 and has spent the past 16 years litigating matters throughout Florida and the Southeast. Mr. Lawley is an experienced trial attorney who maintains a complex litigation practice with a focus on general liability, commercial litigation, medical malpractice and the defense of civil rights claims. He handles all phases of litigation at the state and federal levels with an emphasis in municipal and governmental liability, premises liability, automobile negligence and correctional facility healthcare. Since 2007, Mr. Lawley has served as trial counsel for a national self-storage company in matters throughout Florida. Additionally, he has managed litigation throughout the Southeast as regional counsel for a national corporation directing discovery and trial strategy in catastrophic transportation accidents.
Mr. Lawley also defends claims for personal injury and wrongful death involving medical device and pharmaceuticals. He has represented a diverse clientele of product manufacturers, medical professionals, state hospitals and health care facilities. Mr. Lawley has fashioned his success by building an open dialogue of communication with his clients regarding all aspects of the litigation process. Mr. Lawley handles pre-suit investigations, accident reconstruction, discovery, mediation, arbitration and trial. His experience in analyzing complex legal issues at each stage has resulted in dispositive motions and reduction of litigation costs for his clients.
He has received an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell which reflects the greatest degree of ability and integrity as recognized by the legal community including judges and attorneys.
John C. (Jay) Webber joined the firm in 2016. His practice focuses on healthcare issues, the liability of healthcare professionals, and general liability litigation, including auto and trucking lawsuits.
Mr. Webber also assists insurance companies with coverage matters and related litigation. He has handled many complex litigation matters, including class-action lawsuits, maritime law cases, civil rights cases, and construction accidents in both state and federal court.
He works with clients to develop better quality assurance programs and assists with proactive risk management. Mr. Webber is an expert on the Americans with Disabilities Act, ensuring clients are complying with state and federal regulations.
He is admitted to practice in Florida, New York and Connecticut. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Connecticut and earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in New York in 1999.
Mr. Webber has published articles dealing with liability for medical residents and on nursing home negligence and co-authored a chapter on managed care liability in a book on nursing malpractice.
He has received an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell which reflects the greatest degree of ability and integrity as recognized by the legal community including judges and attorneys. He is also an active member of the community, including serving on the Village of Wellington's Education Committee.
Job Titles:
- PARTNER
- Member of the Florida Bar
Kenneth W. Morgan is a partner at the law firm of Billing, Cochran, Lyles, Mauro & Ramsey, P.A. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1982 and went on to obtain his Juris Doctorate from Nova University College of Law in 1986.
Since he began practicing law in 1986, Mr. Morgan has represented hospitals, healthcare facilities, medical and dental professionals and insurance companies. He joined Billing, Cochran in 1990, where he continues to represent hospitals, physicians, dentists, and other professionals. Mr. Morgan also defends significant premises liability claims for his healthcare clients.
Mr. Morgan is a member of the Florida Bar, the Colorado Bar, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. He enjoys an AV rating with Martindale Hubbell, was an Adjunct Professor of Law at Nova Southeastern University (2006-2008) and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Morgan is also an active member of the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, and the Florida Hospital Association.
Manny Comras' practice focuses on representing insurance carriers and their insureds, health care providers, trucking companies, builders, and other corporate clients in all phases of civil litigation. He has extensive court-room experience and specializes in complex and catastrophic claims. As a litigator with over twenty-two years of experience, Manny has represented physicians, hospitals, trucking companies, construction companies, and motor carriers, in the successful defense of both professional and general liability matters. Manny is involved in all aspects of defending suits filed in state and federal court, from responding to the initial pleadings through final resolution, be it by dismissal upon motion, settlement, or trial. Manny also advises his clients whenever possible on how to avoid litigation, drawing on his experience and best business practices.
In addition to litigation, Manny provides advice and representation to corporate clients and individuals in other matters such as contract disputes, commercial transactions, administrative & licensure hearings, and other investigations. Manny is also fluent in French and serves as outside counsel to international corporations.
Manny has been with Billing Cochran for over eight years and is the firm's youngest shareholder. Prior to joining Billing Cochran, Manny was also a shareholder at a large medical malpractice and insurance defense firm. His significant defense experience gives him the ability to provide seasoned advice on a number of topics, the ability to meet short deadlines, and ability to adapt to unusual circumstances.
He has received an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell which reflects the greatest degree of ability and integrity as recognized by the legal community including judges and attorneys.
Job Titles:
- PARTNER
- Partner in the Fort Lauderdale
Michael J. Pawelczyk is a partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Billing, Cochran, Lyles, Mauro & Ramsey. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Pawelczyk served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Boynton Beach and City of Fort Lauderdale. In addition, he represented numerous other municipal, local government and private clients while in private practice.
Mr. Pawelczyk' s practice now focuses primarily on representation of community development districts and other special purpose governmental districts, local governments, land developers, builders, and other business clients in connection with contracts, public finance, public infrastructure, land use, code compliance, and real property matters.
Mr. Pawelczyk has served as the code compliance hearing officer for Islamorada, Village of Islands since 2005.
He has received an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell which reflects the greatest degree of ability and integrity as recognized by the legal community including judges and attorneys.
Job Titles:
- PARTNER
- Partner at Billing, Cochran, Lyle
Richard T. Woulfe is a partner at Billing, Cochran, Lyles, Mauro & Ramsey and a Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. He has an AV Preeminent® from Martindale-Hubbell which reflects the greatest degree of ability and integrity as determined by the legal community including judges and attorneys.
Mr. Woulfe was named a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2011, an honor extended only to 1% of the total population of lawyers in any state or province in the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 1950, the American College of Trial Lawyers is dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the profession. Membership is by invitation only, extended by the Board of Regents, and is considered a position of genuine honor in the legal profession.
He has been recognized by being selected to Super Lawyers - Florida in the areas of Medical Malpractice Defense and Professional Malpractice Defense (2006-2010 and 2014-2019).
Scott Cochran was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2005. Prior to joining the firm, his initial experience was in the practice of civil and commercial litigation, appeals, and construction law. Mr. Cochran joined the firm in January 2009. His practice now includes litigation support, complex motion practice, and appeals spanning a broad range of areas, including sovereign immunity, medical malpractice, agency issues, premises liability claims, and federal civil rights claims. Mr. Cochran handles all aspects of civil appellate proceedings, including final and non-final appeals and special writs.
As part of his local government practice, Mr. Cochran represents a number of community development districts as general district counsel. He has also assisted local government clients including cities, law enforcement officers, the Clerk of Courts, and community development districts with civil litigation and appellate matters.
Shawn B. McKamey is a partner and has been affiliated with the Firm since November of 1991 as a law clerk and as an attorney since 1993. In his almost 30 years of practice, Mr. McKamey has maintained a vibrant trial practice in the administrative and trial courts throughout the State of Florida. Mr. McKamey has extensive experience in premises liability, wrongful death, products liability, medical malpractice and other tort matters, as well as overseeing the workers' compensation division of the firm for the last 15 years representing Employers and Carriers. Mr. McKamey has also represented several clients in trucking, admiralty / maritime (for a large multi-national corporation), liquor liability and automobile matters, as well as commercial litigation claims. In addition, Mr. McKamey has represented several major hotels, automotive dealerships and restaurants throughout South Florida. Mr. McKamey maintains a statewide practice and has litigated in most jurisdictions of Florida. Mr. McKamey speaks Spanish, and this is of great assistance to many of his clients throughout Florida.
He has received an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell which reflects the greatest degree of ability and integrity as recognized by the legal community including judges and attorneys.