ALABAMA LAW - Key Persons
Adrienne Hausser is a Florida native, born in Pensacola and spent her childhood enjoying animals and nature and collecting shells on the beach. She spent her high school and college undergraduate years in Charlotte, North Carolina, and lived briefly in Baden-Baden, Germany, before returning to Florida. After graduating form UNC-Charlotte with a Masters in English, Adrienne taught English Literature, Composition, and Persuasive Writing at UNC-Charlotte. She attended law school at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has practiced workers' compensation law in Florida for over 20 years. Prior to joining Vernis & Bowling, she practiced First Party Property defense.
Adrienne manages and defends workers' compensation cases from their inception and through Final Hearing and appeal. Adrienne has handled thousands of workers' compensation claims and had taken several claims to hearing. Her favorite aspect of litigation is preparing the trial memoranda and appellate briefs. Adrienne's goal as a defense attorney is to achieve winning results, while seeking opportunities to resolve issues and claims to achieve the most cost-effective outcome for her clients. Adrienne has handled a wide variety of workers' compensation claims including catastrophic injuries, occupational disease and first responder/heart and lung claims involving various industries and professions including construction, police, firefighting, retail, restaurant, trucking, airline and manufacturing. She has also handled several claims involving insurance fraud.
Adrienne resides in Miami. She enjoys art and nature. In her spare time, she is very social and spends time with family, friends, her chihuahua, cat and canary. She also paints and it is her dream to eventually show her paintings in a gallery.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Attorney in the St
Alec Settle is an attorney in the St. Petersburg office of Vernis & Bowling. Alec's practice is predominately focused on the areas of automobile liability defense, wrongful death, and first- and third-party property and casualty defense.
Alec grew up in New Jersey but moved to Tampa where he attended college. Alec graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Florida with a double major in Criminology and Psychology. From there, Alec attended Mercer University School of Law in Macon, GA. While in law school, Alec focused his attention on developing skills in oral advocacy by participating in the Mercer Advocacy Council and Moot Court. Alec competed in the Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Moot Court Competition in Buffalo, New York and advanced to the quarterfinals in back-to-back years.
After graduating law school magna cum laude and becoming admitted to practice law in Florida, Alec worked as an Assistant Public Defender in Hillsborough County. Alec zealously advocated on behalf of indigent clients who had been accused of committing crimes. During this time, Alec handled a multitude of criminal cases and gained valuable trial experience, even obtaining a mistrial on his first jury trial.
While not practicing law, Alec enjoys spending time with his wife, Leslie. Together they enjoy travelling and going on adventures with Percy, their dog.
Alexandra Bueno is a civil litigation attorney in the St. Petersburg, Florida office and focuses on defending insured clients in the area of automobile liability.
Alexandra grew up in St. Petersburg and graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2016, with a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies and Political Science. Afterwards, Alexandra moved to New York City to pursue a career in law. She received her Juris Doctorate from Pace Law School in New York. Alexandra focused on Environmental Law and Policy and clerked at the Environmental Protection Agency, The Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic, and the Pace Land Use Center for Sustainable Development.
After graduation, Alexandra became an Assistant District Attorney at the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Domestic Violence Unit. She focused on felony indictments and misdemeanor prosecution for a period of two years.
Alexandra Joined Vernis & Bowling as a Paralegal and then transitioned into a Law Clerk after taking the Florida Bar. Alexandra is admitted to practice law in New York, Washington D.C. and Florida.
She loves live music, hiking, and the great outdoors.
Ali Rahnavard is a civil litigator who joined Vernis & Bowling, seeking new challenges and professional growth.
Prior to joining the firm, Ali's practice focused on general civil litigation, creditors' rights, compliance, and pre and post-judgment collections. In four years, Ali distinguished himself with a litigation-focused approach, initiating several thousand civil suits, advocating for the interest of his clients before courts in all 67 Florida counties on more than 2,000 occasions, and obtaining countless judgments on behalf of his clients. Ali's focus in the last two years of his collections practice was on litigious opposition from Consumer Attorneys and the defense of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act counterclaims.
Ali was sworn into the Florida Bar on his 28th birthday after obtaining his law degree from Stetson University College of Law. While at Stetson, Ali took advantage of their #1 ranked Trial Advocacy program and focused on practical experiences, completing two judicial internships. From his experience with Judge Pamala A.M. Campbell of the 6th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, he learned the importance of preparation and mastery of the rules of civil procedure and sharpened his research skills. His experience with Judge Catherine Peek McEwen of the United States Bankruptcy Court Middle District of Florida, allowed him to hone his legal writing and analysis and obtain valuable working knowledge of the Bankruptcy Code. Ali was also an active volunteer guardian ad litem advocating on behalf of the interest of children in dependency.
A lifelong student of history, Ali graduated from the University of Central Florida with his Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Political Science. His areas of study included European, Greek, and Roman history, but he particularly enjoyed his study of the classics.
Ali was born in Washington D.C. and has lived in the D.C. Metro, South Carolina, and Central and South Florida before settling in Tampa Bay after law school.
Outside the practice of law, Ali enjoys new adventures with his wife Scarlett and their children, connecting with his Persian heritage, staring at a mountain of unread books, and telling himself that one day he really will get around to learning guitar.
Amanda Brennan, Esq. and Kory Watson, Esq. (St. Petersburg, FL) (Negligence) obtained an order granting Final Summary Judgment on behalf of Defendant Mauricio Cabada in an action for gross negligence. The cause of action arose from a golf cart accident that occurred on May 22, 2019, when Defendant Cabada reversed a golf cart and struck Nicholas Berger in the leg while both were in the course of employment with Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers.
Amanda grew up in Tampa, Florida. While there she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Honors from the University of South Florida. After graduation, Amanda served as a sexual assault victim advocate for several years, which inspired her to attend law school. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from American University Washington College of Law. While in law school, Amanda served as the Senior Articles Editor for the American University Law Review as well as a Marshal-Brennan Constitutional Law Fellow with the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project. She graduated Cum Laude and in the top 15% of her class.
Since joining Vernis & Bowling, Amanda's practice area has focused on insurance defense and general civil litigation. She brings her passion for advocacy to every case and enjoys helping her clients through all aspects of litigation.
In her free time, Amanda enjoys practicing archery, painting, traveling, and camping.
Job Titles:
- Regional Director of Client Services & Development
Anthony Aguanno was born in Burlington County New Jersey. He moved to Volusia County, Florida in 2005, and has resided in Florida since. Anthony attended the University of South Florida where he graduated with Bachelors of Arts degrees in Economics and Criminology. In 2016, Anthony received his Juris Doctorate degree from Florida State University, where he was also a member of the Journal of Transnational Law and Policy. After passing the Florida bar exam in July 2016, Anthony began practicing at an insurance defense firm in Tampa, Florida, where he focused on construction defect, premises liability, and bodily injury claims.
In 2019, Anthony and his wife, Melissa, decided to move back to Volusia County to be closer to family. Since joining Vernis & Bowling, Anthony has focused on construction defect, first party property & casualty claims, and general civil litigation defense.
In his free time, Anthony and his wife, a veterinary technician, enjoy spending time with their pets. He is avid sports fan, and enjoys cooking.
Ariana L. Seiler is an associate attorney in the firm's St. Petersburg office. She is a Pennsylvania native. In December 2016, she graduated from Stetson University with a Bachelor's in Business Administration and a Minor in Business Law. As an undergraduate she served as president of Zeta Tau Alpha, president of Phi Alpha Delta pre-law society, was on the Dean's List, and was a member of Rho Lambda honor society. In 2020, Ariana received her Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law. While in law school she was a member of Stetson Trial Team, where she competed on the regional and national level, including Baylor Law's Top Gun competition, an invitational for the top ten advocates in the country and their second chairs.
Ariana originally joined Vernis & Bowling as a law clerk. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar, she has focused her practice on areas of personal injury litigation including auto liability defense, wrongful death, and premises liability. She also has experience in handling property damage cases, lawsuits involving fraud, and construction defect cases.
Ariana is admitted to practice law in all State Courts in Florida. Outside of work she enjoys activities such as going to the beach, watching Game of Thrones and riding her bike on the Pinellas Trail.
Ashley M. Arias was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She graduated from the Saint Thomas University with a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Administration. Following the completion of her undergraduate studies, Ashley attached Saint Thomas University School of Law, she earned her Juris Doctor. While there, Ashley was awarded the Dean's List Award and part took in numerous Student Bar Organizations such as the Cuban American Bar Association, Vice-President of the Florida Association for Women Lawyer's, and the Animal Legal Fund.
After passing the bar and prior to joining Vernis & Bowling of Broward, Ashley practiced in Insurance Defense and General Civil Litigation.
While at Vernis & Bowling, she primarily works on First and Third-Party Insurance Claims and Premises Liability.
Ashley Landrum (N. Palm Beach, FL) (Property Damage) obtained a Defense Verdict in the case of Avishay Rubin v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Plaintiff alleged that the yellow bollards in the drive-through lanes were improperly placed too close to the edge of the curb which damaged his car as he was exiting the lane. He further alleged that Wells Fargo had notice and knowledge of the issues with its bollard placement causing damage to its customer's vehicle because of the scrapes and marks present on the bollard after the incident occurred. His arguments were countered by presenting evidence that the yellow bollard was an open and obvious condition, nothing was present to obstruct his or other customer's view of the bollard, Plaintiff saw the yellow bollards as he entered the drive-through and was aware of their placement in front of and behind the depository equipment, and that this location has never had an issue with or claimed damage to a customer's vehicle caused by the bollard. Further, the bollards' presence was to protect the drive-through equipment, which necessitates a bollard in front of and behind the drive through equipment. After hearing all of the evidence, the Court rendered a Defense Verdict.
Ashley N. Landrum is originally from Boca Raton, Florida. In 2011, she graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature. She attended law school at Michigan State University College of Law in East Lansing, Michigan, where she received her Juris Doctorate degree in 2014. While at Michigan State, Ashley was on the Dean's list Spring 2013, received the Sales and Leases Book Award Fall 2012, and received the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute Certificate. Upon graduation from Michigan State University College of Law, Ashley moved back to the warm, sunny South and joined Vernis & Bowling of Palm Beach in 2014.
Ashley's areas of practice include: community based care, director and officer liability, employment law, condominium and homeowner association disputes, liability defense, premises liability claims, automobile liability claims, and general insurance defense claims, and appeals. Specifically, she has experience in handling cases from defending clients involved in Federal and State Agency charges of discrimination, handling pre-suit demands, responding to preparing and arguing motions, conducting hearings, depositions, engaging in settlement negotiations and mediations, non-jury trials and appeals. Ashley has appellate experience at the state level in multiple District Court of Appeals and was responsible for all aspects of the appeals including writing briefs, reply briefs and preparing for oral argument.
Ashley strives to ensure she is thoroughly familiar with all aspects of her claims to provide her clients with specific strategies to navigate quick and efficient resolutions of the claim(s) while vigorously advocating for her client in a polite and professional manner. She is a member of the Craig S. Barnard American Inn of Court (2019-2020; 2020-2021; 2021-2022), and the Young Lawyer Division. She is licensed to practice in the State of Florida and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the Middle District of Florida.
When not in the office, Ashley enjoys reading, going to the spa, spending time with family, and traveling.
Brandon Keller is a native of Miami, FL. After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St. Thomas University in 2019, Brandon worked as a caseworker for the United States Senate prior to attending Liberty University School of Law.
Brandt Carlson (St. Petersburg, FL) (Appeal) This case concerned a motor vehicle accident between Ronnie Rondell and the son of Cuong Vi Diep. Daniel Romano, our client, was considering purchasing a 2002 Honda Accord for his daughter from Mr. Cuong Vi Diep, the vehicle's registered owner. In anticipation of the purchase, Mr. Romano acquired insurance on the vehicle. In the interim, the accident happened.
On February 3, 2017, Rondell filed suit naming Romano and the Dieps alleging negligence. On August 24, 2020, we obtained a Summary Judgment dismissing Mr. Romano from the case due to the fact that he never actually purchased the vehicle.
Brandt Carlson joined Vernis & Bowling in March 2020, when he relocated his legal practice from Sarasota to St. Petersburg. Brandt's prior litigation experience includes a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from commercial, construction, and complex civil defense to judgment collection and employment law. His primary exposure has been in handling insurance defense, major commercial disputes, and construction litigation in state and federal courts throughout Florida, where he has practiced since August 2015.
Brandt received his J.D. from the University of Florida, cum laude, in May 2015. During his time at the University of Florida, Brandt served as an editor for the Florida Journal of International Law and as an advocate on the prestigious Florida Moot Court Team, where he received the American College of Trial Lawyers Medal for Excellence in Advocacy. As a law student, Brandt spent his summers clerking for the Honorable Steven D. Merryday in the Middle District of Florida and interning for small firms specializing in first-party insurance litigation, employment law, and personal injury matters.
Brandt also pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, where he majored in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Philosophy. He graduated summa cum laude in May 2011 after publishing his senior thesis on election turnout in the United States.
Brandt was raised in Riverview, Florida, and has lived and worked in multiple locations throughout the Sunshine State. In his free time, Brandt enjoys traveling, movies, and the great outdoors.
Candace is an associate attorney at Vernis & Bowling of North Florida, P.A., in Jacksonville, Florida. She focuses her practice in the areas of employment law, civil rights, condominium/homeowner association law, insurer bad faith/extra-contractual liability, insurance coverage issues, and other civil litigation such as automobile and premises liability. Her clients include various public and private employers, insurance carriers and servicing agents, political subdivisions and state agencies, and other self-insureds.
Candace is a Jacksonville native who loves being outdoors hunting and fishing. She is most passionate about inshore fishing and has competed in several local kayak fishing tournaments. Candace also enjoys volunteering and helping new anglers to become more confident while learning to fish.
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
Carlton Bober was born in Miami, Florida. He graduated from Emory University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Economics and Political Science. While at Emory, Carl's honors included being selected for the Dean's List and ranking in the top 20% of his class. He subsequently obtained his Juris Doctor from the George Washington University National Law Center in 1989, which he attended after receiving a full academic tuition scholarship for all three years of law school. At George Washington, Carl was elected by his fellow students to serve as a representative to the Student Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Civil Litigation
- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
Job Titles:
- V. P.J. Rodriguez D / B / a Chick - Fil - a Naples Center
Ken Amos and Kory Watson (St. Petersburg, FL) (Premises Liability) obtained a directed verdict on September 15, 2021 for Defendant P.J. Rodriguez d/b/a Chick-Fil-A Naples Center ("Defendant") on the third day of a jury trial in a premises liability case before the Twentieth Judicial Circuit in Collier County Florida before Judge Elizabeth V. Krier. Lori Conklin, Esq., Alec Settle, Esq., Amanda Brennan, Esq., and Alanna Heelan, FRP were also fundamental in the preparation of the case for trial, as well as motion practice before and during trial.
The incident occurred on October 23, 2014, when the Plaintiff was allegedly struck on the head by an aluminum restroom partition headrail which spanned from a wall on one side of the men's restroom stall to the partition divider near the entry door to the men's restroom stall. The headrail, which weighed 2.6 pounds, allegedly fell on the side closest to the door once the Plaintiff entered the stall and closed the door-hitting him on top of the head. Plaintiff alleged head, neck, and lower back injury from the incident, including surgery on the neck and the lower back.
Discovery revealed the restroom partition headrail which allegedly fell was installed approximately 6 months before the date of loss by Horizon Construction Company ("Horizon") with materials, parts, and instructions provided by Clayton Fixture Company ("Clayton"). On August 10, 2017, a proposal for settlement was filed by Defendant to Plaintiff in the amount of $22,500. Horizon and Clayton were subsequently named as Co-Defendants in the case. The case was arbitrated on July 21, 2020, with an adverse decision to Defendant, Horizon, and Clayton rendered on September 21, 2020. A judgment was entered in accordance with the arbitration award as to Clayton. Defendant and Horizon moved for a trial de novo. Horizon reached a confidential settlement with Plaintiff before trial.
Prior to trial, Plaintiff's expert, Chris Zimmerman, testified in his discovery deposition that Defendant failed to maintain the men's restroom stall partition in a reasonably safe condition because the aluminum headrail allegedly fell and struck the Plaintiff. Mr. Zimmerman did not offer any opinions as to what PJ Rodriguez specifically failed to do or should have done to maintain the fixed restroom partition headrail structure during the period of approximately six months before its alleged failure. Mr. Zimmerman did not suggest that the screws should have been tightened or inspected with any specific frequency, or that any parts needed to be inspected, replaced, or lubricated over time. Mr. Zimmerman provided an opinion on an ultimate issue in the case, that Defendant failed to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition, purportedly in violation of Florida building codes, without any facts or data, or any reliable methodology. Mr. Zimmerman's opinion was that the restroom partition headrail fell, and because it fell, Defendant must not have maintained it properly. Mr. Zimmerman did not provide a methodology for his opinion as to Defendant's failure to maintain the restroom partition. Defendant filed a Motion in Limine to Exclude Testimony of Chris Zimmerman specifically with regard to these opinions. In response, Plaintiff withdrew expert witness Chris Zimmerman before trial. Plaintiff also withdrew the low back injury claim before trial.
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Public Sector
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- Managing Partner
- Business and Real Estate Law
- Trucking
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- Business and Real Estate Law
- Special Counsel / Conflict Counsel
Job Titles:
- Regional Managing Attorney and General Counsel )
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- Education Law
- Public Procurement
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- Civil Litigation
- Professional Liability / E & O
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- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
- Product
- Professional Liability / E & O
Job Titles:
- Business & Commercial Law
- Civil Litigation
- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
Job Titles:
- Florida Workers Compensation Director of Client Services & Development
Job Titles:
- Regional Director of Client Services & Development
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- Business & Commercial Law
- Government Law
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- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
- Product
- Trucking
Job Titles:
- Business & Commercial Law
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Construction and Construction Defect Litigation
- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
- Product
- Professional Liability / E & O
- Trucking
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Commercial Litigation
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- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
- Ethics
- Government Law
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Civil Litigation
- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
Job Titles:
- National Director of Client Services & Development
Job Titles:
- Regional Director of Client Services & Development
Job Titles:
- Business & Commercial Law
- Civil Litigation
- Construction and Construction Defect Litigation
- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
- Product
- Professional Liability / E & O
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Business & Commercial Law
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Civil Litigation
- Trucking
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Civil Litigation
- Construction and Construction Defect Litigation
- Director & Officer Liability ( D & O )
- Government Law
- Health Law
- Product
- Professional Liability / E & O