News

The lawyers at DSBC keep abreast of changes in Federal law to protect our clients’ interest in all aspects of litigation.  Knowledge and compliance with the Rules leads to best practices and optimal client outcome.

DSB&C Partner, Bryan Black, successfully defends his client in a million dollar arbitration claim.

Another win in the books as DSB&C Associate, Hillarie Miller, scored a dismissal for her client with her Motion for Final Summary Judgment.

Robert A. Stern has joined Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad (“DSB&C”) as a Subrogation Partner, and will manage its New York and New Jersey offices. Robert was formerly a shareholder, Board of Director and Chair of Clausen’s Miller’s Subrogation group. Robert presently serves as Vice President of the National Association of Subrogation Professionals.

The ability to make a recovery is directly tied to how efficiently and effectively the subrogation process is handled on a new loss. If the proper steps are not taken, it is very likely that any chance of a subrogation recovery will be lost.

A bill is advancing through the Florida Legislature which proposes to place onerous requirements on apartment complex landlords to protect tenants from the threat of violence posed by employees with criminal histories.

Many, if not all, Uniform Trial Orders include a mediation requirement. Increasingly, some judges have also been uniformly ordering cases to non-binding arbitration as an alternative method of resolution. Non-binding arbitration can be both a blessing and a nuisance.

This action arose out of the construction of four townhomes in Bay Harbor Islands (the “Project”).  The Owner/Developer entered a Prime Contract with the General Contractor, who subsequently entered various contracts with numerous Subcontractors, including the Client.

Arbitration Forums, Inc. (“AF”) was founded in 1943 and is a membership-driven, not-for-profit organization.  Many insurers are signatories to agreements that provide for arbitration.  This means that the insurers agree to submit any applicable claim that may arise between them to AF and agree to forego litigation.

It may sound dubious to think that in the world of civil litigation one can find ways to give back to the community, but hopefully I can provide some helpful insights for other legal professionals who feel a desire to engage, participate and give back to their community by using our unique legal education.   […]

Subrogating a claim with diverse parties and over $75,000 in controversy – going to federal court right? “Not so fast!” as the inimitable Lee Corso would say. While federal jurisdiction may not affect your case’s merits or deter your filing of a given case – if you or your clients prefer to file in state […]

Here ye! Here ye! Calling all lovers of humans! Calling all haters of cancer! The “No Shave November” Committee of the Palm Beach County Bar Association Young Lawyer Section is holding its annual “No Shave November” event to raise money for a charity – Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope – and we want your […]

October 25, 2021 – (West Palm Beach, Florida) —- Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad (“DSB&C”) announced today that it has brought on Meghan Wilson, Esq. as a Partner to take over the helm of DSB&C’s First-Party Defense Division. Meghan was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2007 and has since focused her practice almost exclusively […]

In Urena v. Target Corp., Plaintiffs, as parents and natural guardians of their minor child, claimed their daughter sustained physical injuries when she struck an end cap in Target’s Palm Beach Lakes store while shopping with her mother and grandmother.

Most Massachusetts attorneys have likely heard other attorneys, or have themselves bemoaned one of many Massachusetts-specific rules or requirements that tend to frustrate practicing attorneys: the need for blue ink signatures; the need for original summonses to file with the court; or the dreaded 9C conference—the list goes on.   However, few rules are as […]

Subrogation and workers compensation, together, normally are not a topic of conversation at many events or family gatherings. However mundane as it sounds, if you are a workers’ compensation carrier or injured worker, you may want to learn more as Florida law allows for other parties, not just the injured worker, to recover from the third-party who caused the injury.

DSB&C’s Managing Partner, Michael B. Stevens, has been selected by the National Association for Subrogation Professionals to speak at this year’s annual conference. Michael will be speaking on the topic of the Implied Co-Insured Doctrine which he has litigated in various states and in Florida all the way to the Florida Supreme Court. The conference […]

As the court system seeks to return to its new post-pandemic normal, DSB&C remains committed to legal excellence in representing clients.  The goal in litigated cases is to obtain the fair and just determination in every case.  In Federal Court, consent to a magistrate judge may be a tactical advantage to consider.  28 U.S.C. Chapter […]

The premises liability team of DSB&C of our West Palm Beach office successfully defended an appeal in the Eleventh Circuit Court of an Order granting Final Summary Judgment.  In Espinoza v. Target Corp., 843 F. App’x 168, (11th Cir. 2021), Plaintiff claimed physical injuries to her head, neck, back, and shoulder; she also claimed damages […]

June 1, 2021 – (West Palm Beach, Florida) —- Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad (“DSB&C”) announced today that Michael B. Stevens has been appointed Managing Partner of the firm, effective June 1, 2021. Michael is the firm’s first Managing Partner to succeed the founding and outgoing Managing Partner, Jon D. Derrevere.   Having made Partner […]

April 13, 2021 – Haskett, et. al. v. Hibiscus Springs Rental Homes, et. al. This action arises out of claims asserted by four (4) Plaintiffs against a Rental Home company, Property Management company, various individual employees and a Certified Mold Assessor & Air Quality Testing Company (“Defendant”). Plaintiffs filed their initial complaint in February 2020 […]

January 15, 2021 Update – Bryan W. Black, Esq. In June 2020, at the Fourth District Court of Appeals, Appellant/Plaintiff sought plenary review of the final “Order on Defendant’s Motion for Final Summary Judgment”. Appellant argued that (1) the lower court erred in granting final summary judgment in favor of Appellee/Defendant since failure to comply […]

On February 7, 2015, a fire ripped through a 5 Napkins Restaurant on South Florida’s popular outdoor retail strip on Lincoln Road in South Beach. The damages to the building were extensive and ultimately caused the restaurant to close. Michael B. Stevens, Esq., and Mary Grecz, Esq., from Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad filed a […]

Michael B. Stevens has been selected to speak at the upcoming NASP Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., on October 28, 2019. Michael will be discussing Florida Statute §440.39 and the different mechanisms for recovering in worker’s compensation cases in Florida. The statute provides unique procedures with strict deadlines that, when complied with properly, allows a […]

Michael Stevens and Mary Grecz will both be presenting at the 2018 National Association of Subrogation Professionals’ (“NASP”) Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Stevens will be presenting on the topic of Ethical Management, which will cover managing employees on both the insurance carrier and law firm sides. Mrs. Grecz will be presenting on the […]

Every year, Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad celebrates Halloween with an office costume contest. Although unplanned, this year turned out to be “The Year of Winnie the Pooh.” Both Michael Stevens’ and Jon Derrevere’s teams showed up to the office in Winnie the Pooh garb.   Everyone looked spectacular but as with any contest, there […]

The West Palm Beach-based law firm of Derrevere Hawkes Black & Cozad has recently changed its name to Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad. Along with the name change, Michael B. Stevens has become the Managing Partner for the firm’s new satellite office in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr. Stevens manages the Insurance Subrogation and Real Estate Divisions for […]

Attorney Bryan Black will be speaking at next year’s XL Catlin Adjuster Webinar. Mr. Black will be speaking about Pre-Suit Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Clauses.

Michael Stevens and Teddy Stevens will be speaking at the National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference in Austin, Texas on November 7, 2017. The title of the presentation is: Yes, but is it classy (ethical)?: A year in review of effective/ineffective communications and how to handle it with class. A re-education on how to […]

December 7, 2016 – Smith v. Calvary, et al: Counsel for Architect: Bryan W. Black. This action arises out of personal injuries sustained by Plaintiff that occurred while Plaintiff was descending stairs in the center aisle of a theater on the Subject property. Plaintiff sustained serious injuries to his legs which have led to multiple […]

December 22, 2016 – 900 Biscayne Condominium Association v. 900 Biscayne, LLC, et al: Counsel for Defendant Architect: Bryan W. Black. This action arises out of claims asserted by 900 Biscayne Condominium against the Developer, Designers, Contractor and Subcontractors. 900 Biscayne, LLC (Developer) also filed cross and third party claims, including claims against certain individual […]

Attorney Bryan W. Black, an Allied Member of the American Institute of Architects, spoke at the organization’s Conference on Architecture on April 29, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. The event featured workshops, seminars, tours and events lead by industry-leading architects and design professionals. Mr. Black, who represents architects and other designers throughout the State of Florida, […]

After a two week jury trial, and three hours of deliberations, a six member St. Johns County jury found Florida Rock & Tank Lines, Inc. to be primarily at fault for the fuel spill, fire and eventual explosion that destroyed The 5th Wheel BP gas station owned by Coomes Oil & Supply, Inc., and neighboring […]

Michael B. Stevens will be presenting at the National Association of Subrogation Professionals’ Florida Chapter Meeting on April 15, 2014. Mr. Stevens will be speaking about Waivers of Subrogation and Subrogation Prohibitions in Florida. Click here to download a copy of the event’s flyer. If you have any interest in attending, please contact Kris Leal […]

Effective July 1, 2010, Fla. Stat. 768.0755 provides that a business invitee, store customer, who slips and falls on a transient foreign substance in a business establishment must prove that the business owner had actual or constructive knowledge of the dangerous condition. In most cases, the plaintiff has difficulty proving the business owner had actual […]

Always Consider Whether Attorney’s Fees are Available In Jomar Properties, LLC (“JOMAR”) v. Bayview Construction Corp. (“BAYVIEW”), Case No. 4D12-3081 (Fla. 4th DCA September 25, 2013), Senior Appellate Counsel Shirley Jean McEachern, was successful in defending against JOMAR’s appeal from a Final Summary Judgment in favor of the firm’s client BAYVIEW with respect to JOMAR’s […]