Archives: Team Members

Malinda Lugo received her Bachelor of Science from Florida State University in 1989. She received her Juris Doctorate Cum Laude from Florida State University College of Law in 1996. Her prior experience includes medical malpractice defense, nursing home negligence defense, premises liability, and general personal injury. She spent several years as a health care attorney where she frequently negotiated employment and vendor contracts and represented providers before administrative agencies including the Florida Board of Medicine and the Office of Civil Rights.

As a litigator, her multifaced expertise spans commercial and employment disputes, breach of contract claims, foreclosures, and non-compete agreements. For ten years she had a solo plaintiff’s practice litigating medical and dental malpractice, nursing home negligence and personal injury cases.

Malinda is a Certified Civil Court Mediator and Arbitrator in Florida. Drawing on her extensive litigation background, she leverages her insider knowledge of defense and plaintiffs’ strategies to guide parties toward resolution. Her fluency in Spanish enhances the mediation process ensuring clear communication and cultural sensitivity.

• Florida State University College of Law – Juris Doctorate (Cum Laude)
• Florida State University – Bachelor of Science in Criminology

• Civil Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Premises Liability
• Professional Liability
• Health Law
• Mediation

• Florida
• Middle District of Florida

• Certified by the Supreme Court of Florida as a Circuit Mediator
• Arbitrator
• Hillsborough County Bar Association
• Tampa Bay Hispanic Bar Association

Jennifer Allegra is a Senior Associate at Derrevere Stevens Black and Cozad. Born in Brooklyn, Ms. Allegra’s family has been involved in the construction industry in New York City for three generations. Ms. Allegra is a construction defect litigation team member, focusing her practice exclusively on construction defect matters. Before joining Derrevere Stevens Black and Cozad, Ms. Allegra represented and defended general contractors, window manufacturers, architects, and engineers in construction liability matters.

Ms. Allegra earned her Juris Doctorate, cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law in Coral Gables, Florida, and her LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center. During her studies at the University of Miami School of Law, Ms. Allegra was on the Dean’s List, awarded high honors in the Litigation Skills Pre-Trial Program, and served as a Legal Fellow.  Ms. Allegra also has an extensive background in securities law. In addition to being an Associate Attorney at a global securities litigation firm representing institutional clients such as national and international pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, Ms. Allegra was an Assistant General Counsel at the State of Florida Office of Financial Regulation-Division of Securities, representing the State of Florida in security enforcement matters.

When not practicing law, Jennifer can be found in South Florida sportfishing, paddleboarding or playing  golf.

• Georgetown University Law Center – LL.M.
• University of Miami School of Law – Juris Doctorate, cum laude, 2015
• Rutgers University – Bachelor of Arts

• Construction Defect
• Securities Law

• Florida

Aaron Leviten is a Trial Attorney with Derrevere, Stevens, Black and Cozad practicing in various attorney groups with the firm. Aaron’s prior practice focuses on personal injury defense, premise liability and commercial and personal auto cases.

Aaron Leviten has extensive litigation experience, including representing individuals, insurers and businesses in state courts throughout Florida. Mr. Leviten has had success in trial in the state of Florida, including a recent defense verdict in an auto defense case in Brevard County. This case required an aggressive cross examination of the Plaintiff that resulted in the jury finding no liability against the insured defendant in the case. Likewise, Aaron has been involved in and enjoys working with claims partners with training and continuing education to assist a better understanding between our clients and the state of the law in Florida.

Aaron Leviten obtained his J.D. from the University of Florida in 1999, where he graduated with honors despite working two jobs to assist with financing his law school efforts. He obtained his B.A. from the University of Florida in 1995. Aaron was actively involved in working with the University’s Agriculture college in drafting materials that helped clarify the status of laws affecting Florida farmers.

In his free time, Mr. Leviten enjoys spending time with his wife of 26 years and children. He also enjoys playing with the family dog, Gus, reading, hiking and Florida Gator Sports.

• University of Florida School of Law – Juris Doctorate Cum Laude
• University of Florida – Bachelor of Arts

• Personal Injury
• Premises Liability
• Commercial and Personal Automobile Cases

• Florida

Fabianna R. Pergolizzi is a Southwest Florida native and an attorney in DSB&C’s Subrogation group. She is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and Florida and has extensive experience in subrogation, complex commercial litigation, and personal injury claims.

Fabianna manages cases from inception through trial, focusing on cost-effective and strategic solutions to achieve the best results for her clients. She is deeply committed to providing comprehensive legal analysis and reliable counsel, helping clients protect their varied interests. Throughout her career, she has handled numerous depositions, arbitrations, alternative dispute resolutions (ADR), motion hearings, and trial-related matters.

Her litigation experience spans all phases, including drafting pleadings, directing discovery, preparing dispositive motions, conducting depositions, and representing clients in hearings, arbitration, mediation, and trial.

• Temple University Beasley School of Law – Juris Doctorate
• Georgetown University – Bachelor’s Degree

• Subrogation
• Complex Commercial Litigation
• Personal Injury

• Florida
• Pennsylvania

• The Journey Into Law School, the Gift of Learning (Jan. 04, 2021).

• Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers – Trusts and Estates (2025)
• Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers (2024, 2025)
• Top Lawyer, Naples Illustrated – Trusts and Estates (2023), Commercial Litigation (2024)
• Caplan, R, Pergolizzi, F. (2019, January 25). In New Jersey, Workers’ Compensation Liens Are No Longer Subject to the Verbal Threshold. The Subrogation Strategist.
• Pergolizzi, JV JR., et, al. (2018). Driving Under the Influence of Opioids: What Prescribers Should Know. Journal of Opioid Pain Management.
• Pergolizzi, F. (2013, January 1). Fibromyalgia and Bullying: A Systematic Review of the Literature. The Georgetown Undergraduate Journal of Health Sciences.
• Pergolizzi, F., et al. (2011). Bullying in Middle School: Results from a 2008 Survey. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 23(1), 11–18.
• Pergolizzi, F., et al. (2009). Bullying in Middle School: Results From a Four-School Survey. Journal of School Violence, 8, 264-279.
• Pergolizzi, F., et al. (2009, January 1). Two-Year Survey of Bullying in American Middle Schools. Journal of Medicine.

Jan Aguilera is a dedicated attorney with a specialty in civil litigation. Mr. Aguilera started his education in South Florida, where he earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida International University. Mr. Aguilera graduated from Florida State University College of Law and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2023.

Mr. Aguilera has experience in complex construction, civil litigation, professional liability insurance defense, premises liability, commercial contracts and agreements, corporate and business transactions, and insurance cases in Florida Courts both State and Federal. Mr. Aguilera has trial experience and was awarded a complete defense verdict in his first trial.

Mr. Aguilera has a passion for personal injury law, construction and contract litigation. After completing law school, Mr. Aguilera joined one of the largest Florida personal injury firms where he evaluated and developed thousands of cases while developing his craft as a civil litigator. Mr. Aguilera represented and counseled clients from the beginning stages of their cases to the final resolution, working to investigate and settle claims or transition them into litigation.

Mr. Aguilera enjoys spending time with his friends and family, snowboarding, and cooking

• Florida State University College of Law (Juris Doctorate)
• Florida International University (Bachelor’s Degree)

• Civil Litigation
• Complex Construction Defense
• Professional Liability Defense
• Premises Liability

• Florida
• South Federal District Court

Kate Girard earned her Juris Doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Law in 2012 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a concentration in Business Administration from Framingham State College. She specializes in subrogation law, focusing on complex cases involving catastrophic property losses, product liability claims, fire and water damage, and auto claims.

Kate has represented bus nesses and insurance companies nationwide, guiding them through challenging claims and litigation. Her practice includes developing liability strategies, overseeing expert witnesses, and if necessary, vigorously pursuing litigation to maximize recovery.

Kate’s legal career began in the insurance industry in 2006, where she gained hands-on experience while attending law school at night. Outside of her legal practice, Kate is committed to her community as a coach for Girls on the Run and recently completed both the Chicago and Boston marathons. She is also extremely proud of her son, who serves in the United States Navy.

Kate is admitted to practice in Massachusetts’ State and Federal Courts and is an active member of the Worcester County Bar Association.

• Massachusetts School of Law – Juris Doctorate
• Framingham State College – Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

• Liability Strategies
• Subrogation

• Massachusetts

Stephen Smith is a graduate of Cornell University where he received a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in government. He received his juris doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law in 1996, was admitted to practice law in New Hampshire in 1996 and the State of Florida in 2001.

Stephen’s law career began representing clients in negligence, medical malpractice, contracts and construction defects. After relocating back to Florida, Stephen worked for a well-known Coconut Grove firm, where his practice included insurance defense, professional liability, and policy coverage matters. Stephen has represented numerous insurance carriers, employers, and construction companies in a wide range of litigation matters. Stephen is also admitted to practice in the Middle and Southern Federal District Courts.

• University of Miami School of Law – Juris Doctorate
• Cornell University – Bachelor of Arts

• Civil Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Construction Litigation
• Professional Liability
• Premise Liability
• Commercial Contracts

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (M.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla)
• New Hampshire
• Massachusetts

Anne earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Albany and her Juris Doctorate from Western New England University School of Law. Anne concentrates her practice on subrogation and recovery, bringing significant experience in investigating new, time-sensitive, and high-value losses. She is a member of the National Association of Subrogation Professionals.

Prior to joining Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad, Anne was an attorney at an AM100 firm and was previously a partner at a boutique law firm in Hollywood, Florida, where she negotiated more than $15 million in settlements. Before that, she served for over a decade as a special investigator, maintaining a Top-Secret clearance. Later she served as the Director of Investigations for a New York-based firm. The in-house investigative unit she built and oversaw was staffed with attorneys tasked with conducting high-profile investigations into criminal and civil matters.

• Western New England University School of Law – Juris Doctor
• University of Albany – Bachelor’s Degree

• Subrogation and Recovery

• Florida

Jeffrey obtained his Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. He earned his Master’s Degree in Counseling from Mississippi State University and his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Austin.  After obtaining his law degree, Jeffrey has represented insurance carriers defending First Party Property, Personal Injury Protection, Workers’ Compensation, Construction Defect, and other liability claims.  He has also had the opportunity to argue before the 1 st District Court of Appeals.  Jeffrey has represented insurance carriers in all aspects of a case from referral to trials.  Prior to obtaining his law degree Jeffrey worked with disabled individuals to assist with
their return to work including managing their medical recovery and finding positions that meet their capabilities.

In his spare time, Jeffrey enjoys reading, sports, and being with his family.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctor
• Mississippi State University – Master’s Degree in Counseling
• University of Texas – Bachelor’s Degree

• First Party Property
• Personal Injury
• Worker’s Compensation
• Construction Defect

• Florida

Nedhi Teixeira studied Legal Studies and earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.  She continued her education and received her Juris Doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Law in 2020.

Following her admission to the Massachusetts Bar, Nedhi built upon her extensive experience as a litigation assistant by handling complex domestic relations cases as an attorney.  She subsequently transitioned to a role as a law and policy consultant, where she provided advocacy across a wide range of legal areas, including housing, immigration, employment, public benefits, family law, and criminal law.  Notably, Nedhi has submitted Amicus Briefs to the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, championing tenant rights.

• Massachusetts School of Law – Juris Doctorate
• University of Massachusetts Amherst – Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies

• Subrogation
• Family Law
• Criminal Law

• Massachusetts

• Massachusetts School of Law WLA Finalist Award – Writing and Legal Advocacy Competition 2018

• Massachusetts Bar Association
• Women’s Bar Association