MOODY & GRAF, P.A. - Key Persons
Barney Gentry has over 25 years of civil litigation experience in Central Florida. Barney has practiced commercial litigation with an emphasis on business litigation, construction law, mechanic's lien law, commercial real estate litigation, contract litigation and covenants not to compete litigation. Barney has also litigated landlord-tenant matters, mobile home park law matters, and probate litigation matters as well. Barney has tried matters before judges and juries and has argued before the Second and Fifth District Court of Appeals. Prior to joining the firm, Barney practiced with a well-respected firm in Orlando where he represented a diverse group of clients in the areas of construction and commercial litigation.
Barney's father was in the United States Navy and he was born in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba while his father was in the Navy. His father retired in Key West, Florida after approximately twenty years of service and Barney grew up in Key West. He has lived in Florida for his entire life and has lived in the central Florida area since 1995. He is an avid fisherman and is married with three adult children.
On November 18, 1975, Chet Moody was born in Gainesville, Florida. Chet attended elementary, middle, and high school at P.K. Yonge in Gainesville. Chet won the prestigious John Philip Sousa Award his senior year of high school for superior musicianship, dependability, loyalty, and cooperation. Chet enrolled in the University of Florida and graduated, Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1998. Chet attended and graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 2001.
Rusty Graf is a Board Certified attorney in Construction Law by the Florida Bar. His practice includes all aspects of commercial litigation with a primary emphasis in defending and prosecuting complex construction and design claims, involving both public and private projects throughout the United States. His cases in both state and federal court address all facets of construction law due to his representation of contractors, trade contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, material suppliers, distributors, manufacturers, and sureties. Oftentimes Rusty represents these clients through insurance defense.
Rusty has a wide range of experience with construction disputes which includes lien foreclosures, payment and performance bonds, condominium construction, DBPR complaints, design and construction defects, professional errors and omissions, contract disputes, personal injury matters, changed conditions, extra work, and complex scheduling issues, which may encompass delays, disruptions, accelerations, inefficiency, and lost labor productivity to name a few. Additionally, Rusty handles subrogation claims, insurance coverage disputes, and collection matters. Rusty is an aggressive trial attorney and a master negotiator. When he is not working hard to litigate or settle disputes, Rusty negotiates, drafts, and reviews construction contracts for his clients and provides day-to-day general counsel for them when real time issues or concerns arise on a project.
Rusty has been recognized for his professional achievements in construction litigation. He was selected to the Rising Star list and has been selected to the Florida Super Lawyers list annually since 2019. He carries an "AV" rating by nationally recognized Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating that demonstrates the utmost professional and ethical standards. He also lectures client companies and industry groups on a variety of topics and current issues in the construction industry.
Rusty received his B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He obtained his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, where he was a member of the Client Skills Team and competed in negotiation competitions at both state and national levels. Prior to attending law school, he gained practical experience in the construction industry working as a supervisor/foreman for a construction company in the New Orleans area from an early age all the way through college. This background experience in construction sets Rusty apart from other lawyers because he understands first-hand the intricacies and pitfalls of construction projects. All of his experience serves him well as a member of the City of Maitland's Board of Adjustments and Appeals, which interprets and enforces Building Code standards and hears appeals of decisions and interpretations of the Building Official.
Rusty and his wife Jennifer have three daughters, Kennedy, Presley and Monroe. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and taking on construction projects at home. He is also active with his daughters' competitive swim, dance, and soccer teams.
Mai Le was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2014 and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Mai received her B.A. in 2011 from the University of Florida and her J.D. in 2014 from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. While attending law school, Mai was a Research Editor for the Florida Law Review and Vice President of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association.
Mai was also the Evan Yegelwel Fellow for the Anti-Defamation League and the Minority Fellow for the UF Environmental and Land Use Law Program. Prior to joining the firm, Mai worked in general civil litigation, focusing primarily on first party insurance liability for both plaintiffs and defendants, and worked in insurance defense at an Orlando-based firm, with an emphasis on personal injury, negligence, premises liability, and governmental entity defense. Mai joined the firm in 2021, and devotes her practice to commercial litigation, focusing on construction, general liability, and collection matters.
Practice Areas
Construction Law & Litigation
Mohamed Somji is originally from Tanzania and is a double Gator having graduated from the University of Florida, where he received both his Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy and his Juris Doctorate. Prior to joining the firm in 2019, Mo worked in civil litigation at a Chicago-based firm focusing primarily on consumer claims representing plaintiffs in cases against vehicle manufacturers for violations of the Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act. Mo now devotes his practice to commercial litigation, focusing on construction law and complex multi-party construction defect litigation.
Nicholas Moulos joined the firm in March 2018 and was promoted to Partner in December 2021. He also earned his Board Certification in Construction Law in August 2021. Prior to attending law school at the University of Florida, Nick received his Bachelor of Science in Building Construction (2011) from University of Florida's M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction. While attending the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction, Nick studied all facets of the construction industry, including project estimating, planning, coordination, scheduling, materials, structures, and surveying, to name a few. Nick applies his construction experience in his day-to-day practice in order to effectively represent clients in the construction sector, which include owners, sureties, contractors, subcontractors, independent contractors, suppliers, materialmen, designers, architects, and engineers. Having a background in construction, Nick is able to effectively speak and understand the "language" of construction, which is a vital tool for communicating with clients and for negotiating and litigating complex construction matters.
Outside of work, Nick is an avid outdoorsman whom enjoys spending time on the water with friends. He also enjoys carpentry and woodworking, as well as various DIY construction projects.