Archives: Team Members

Milana Kamenezki was born in the United Kingdom. She attended law school in London, receiving her Bachelor of Law degree from The University of Law in 2014. Ms. Kamenezki went on to receive her Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida in 2016. She was admitted to the Florida Bar later that year.

During law school, Ms. Kamenezki served as an Editor on the Florida Coastal Law Review and was a recipient of the Governor’s Merit Scholarship. Additionally, she was an active member for the Moot Court Honor Board where she received the Best Oral Advocate Award in the Internal Competition and advanced to the Chicago Bar Association Moot Court Competition.

• Florida Coastal School of Law – Juris Doctorate (Cum Laude)
• The University of Law – Bachelor of Law

• Insurance Subrogation
• Product Liability

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

• Young Lawyer’s Division of the Florida Bar

Mary Grecz began her career with the firm as a law clerk in 2014. After graduating from law school cum laude she remained with the firm and has since focused her practice on commercial litigation and insurance subrogation. Ms. Grecz has experience litigating cases of all sizes from small claims to multi-million dollar disputes involving various issues such as product liability, negligence, breach of contract, property damage, and personal injury. She also serves private clients who need legal representation in real estate transactions and corporate matters. Ms. Grecz is a native Floridian, and believes strongly in giving back to the community through local organizations and networks. She is currently serving as a committee member for the Palm Beach County Bar Association’s Lawyers for Literacy Committee and Law Related Education Committee, and has been an appointed member of the Florida Bar’s Law Related Education Committee since 2019.

• Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center – Juris Doctorate (Cum Laude)
• South University – Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies (Cum Laude)

• Litigation & Appeals
• Real Estate
• Commercial Transactions

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (Middle District of Florida)
• U.S. District Court (Southern District of Florida)

• National Association of Subrogation Professionals
• Broward County Bar Association
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar
• Palm Beach County Bar Lawyers for Literacy Committee
• Palm Beach County Bar Law Related Education Committee

Elizabeth Zimmaro received her Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center in May 2010. While in law school, she was an active competing member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and was also involved in law school’s International Center for Human Rights.

Ms. Zimmaro focuses her practice on complex civil matters including Construction Defect Litigation, Complex Commercial and Business Litigation, and General Liability Defense. For over the past decade, Ms. Zimmaro has worked extensively in all facets of construction law, including representation of design professionals, contractors, subcontractor and other in both state and federal courts throughout Florida.

• J.D. Nova Southeastern University, 2010
• B.A. Palm Beach Atlantic University, 2002

• Construction Defect Litigation
• Construction Law
• Professional Liability
• Premises Liability
• General Liability

• Florida Bar, 2010
• U.S. District Court (M.D. Florida)
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla)

• Florida Bar Member
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• American Institute of Architects

Peggy D. Cozad received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with honors from Louisiana State University in 1987. She became a registered nurse in Louisiana in 1987 and a registered nurse in Florida in 1988. Ms. Cozad actively practiced nursing through 2012 and her experience includes medical-surgical, orthopedic, neurology, telemetry, intensive care, and cardiovascular step down. She was previously employed as a nurse at Pembroke Pines General Hospital in Broward County and at JFK Medical Center in Palm Beach County from 2005-2012. Ms. Cozad received her Juris Doctorate Cum Laude from the University of Miami in 1992 and was admitted to the Florida Bar later that year. She was admitted to the Federal Bar, United States District Court Southern District of Florida in 1995. Her prior experience includes asbestos defense, products liability, medical malpractice, premises, and auto. Her wealth of medical knowledge and experience in nursing allows her to delve deeply into the medical issues of all cases. Her background is integral to her medical-legal analysis involving injury causation, damages, and pharmacology. Ms. Cozad joined Derrevere, Hawkes, Black & Cozad in 2011 and became a full-time associate in 2013.

• University of Miami – Juris Doctorate (Cum Laude)
• Louisiana State University – Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honors)

• Litigation
• Premises liability
• Automobile liability
• Products liability

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla.)

• Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
• Registered Nurse – Florida
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support

Theodore “Teddy” Stevens is a graduate of Florida State University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Education, cum laude. Mr. Stevens received his Juris Doctorate Degree, cum laude, from Florida Coastal School of Law in 2011 and was admitted to practice law in the State of Florida in 2011. While attending law school, Mr. Stevens clerked at the United States Attorney’s Office Middle District in Jacksonville where he assisted with numerous prosecutions. Mr. Stevens practices in all areas of civil litigation, including, but not limited to, subrogation recovery, insurance defense, foreclosures, construction defect, products liability, contract disputes, and landlord/tenant disputes.

• Florida Coastal School of Law – Juris Doctorate (Cum Laude)
• Florida State University – Bachelor of Science in Education (Cum Laude)

• Litigation & Appeals
• Real Estate
• Commercial Transactions

• Florida
• Vermont
• U.S. District Court – Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court – Southern District of Florida

• National Association of Subrogation Professionals
• Palm Beach County Bar Association

Shirley Jean McEachern received her Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University, graduating in the top ten percent of her class. Ms. McEachern graduated from Indiana School of Law at Indianapolis. Ms. McEachern is admitted to the Florida Bar. Her legal career has expanded over three decades, at both the trial and appellate level of the State and Federal Courts of Florida. Ms. McEachern is also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, in Atlanta Georgia. Ms. McEachern is senior appellate counsel for Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad.

• Indiana School of Law – Juris Doctorate
• DePauw University – Bachelor of Arts

• Litigation & Appeals
• Real Estate
• Commercial Transactions

• Florida

• Florida Bar
• Palm Beach County Bar Association

Zurich American Ins. Co. v. Puccini, 271 So. 3d 1079 (Fla. 3d DCA 2019)

Espinoza v. Target Corporation, 843 Fed. Appx.168 (11th Cir. 2020)

Dieuvil v. Boynton Beach Assoc. XVI, LLLP, 303 So. 3d 940 9Fla. 4th DCA 2020)

Altman-Glenewinkel Constr. Co., LLC v. Orange & Blue Const., Inc.,

307 So. 3d 63 (Fla. 4th DCA 2020)

Kiefer v. Sunset Beach Inv., LLC, 207 So. 3d 1012 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017)

Sunset beach Investments, LLC v. Kimley-Horn and Assoc., 207 So. 3d 1012 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017)

Target Corporation v. Kaufer, 244 So. 3d 315 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018)

Jomar Properties, LLC v. Bayview Constr. Corp., 154 So. 3d 515 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015)

Hustad v. Architectural Studio, Inc., 67 So. 3d 219 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011)

Malon v. Colony Ins. Co., 778 So. 2d 1014 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000)

Derrevere v. Derrevere, 138 So. 3d 1038 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014)

Derrevere v. Derrevere, 924 So. 2d 987 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006)

Derrevere v. Derrevere, 899 So. 2d 1152 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005)

Malon v. Colony Ins. Co., 778 So. 2d 1014 (Fla. 3d DCA 2000)

Bart Cozad graduated from Loyola University (New Orleans) in 1984 and Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Lansing, Michigan) in 1987. Mr. Cozad is admitted to all State and Federal Courts in South Florida and has tried over forty cases to jury verdict. Mr. Cozad’s practice area includes insurance defense, auto negligence, premises liability, toxic tort, products liability, construction litigation, insurance agent/broker errors and omissions, subrogation, libel/slander, bad faith litigation, wrongful death, corporate governance and compliance, commercial contracts and agreements, and corporate and business transactions.

• Thomas M. Cooley Law School – Juris Doctorate
• Loyola University (New Orleans) – Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

• Litigation & Appeals
• Real Estate
• Commercial Transactions

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

• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
• Past Member – Defense Resource Institute (DRI)
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• Broward County Bar Association

Michael is the Managing Partner of Derrevere Stevens Black & Cozad and chair of the firm’s subrogation and real estate divisions. In 2005, Michael graduated from The Florida State University College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and in 2008 obtained his Degree of Juris Doctorate from the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center. Michael joined the firm as an Associate in 2008 and was made Partner in 2013 just before his 30th birthday.

With the mindset that the practice of law mimics a marathon rather than sprinting, Michael’s focus is the client, and he has expanded his practice to include complex civil litigation, insurance subrogation, construction defects, family law, products liability, commercial and residential landlord tenant disputes, corporate governance and compliance, commercial contracts and agreements, corporate and business transactions, and premises liability.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate
• Florida State University – Bachelor of Science in Accounting

• Insurance Subrogation
• Product Liability
• Complex Business Disputes
• Landlord Tenant Law

• Florida
• Massachusetts
• District of Columbia
• Vermont
• New Hampshire
• Connecticut
• Rhode Island
• U.S. District Court (M.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (N.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (Vermont)
• U.S. District Court (Massachusetts)
• U.S. District Court (Connecticut)

• Super Lawyer Rising Star 2012-2021
• National Association of Subrogation Professionals
• Palm Beach Bar Association
• American Bar Association

• “Battling Back Against the Implied Co-Insured Doctrine” – 2021 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “Florida Worker’s Compensation Subrogation” – 2019 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “Ethical Management: Meet the New Rules, Same as the Old Rules” – 2018 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “Yes, but is it Classy (Ethical)?: A Year in Review of Effective/Ineffective Communications and How to Handle it with Class” – 2017 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Annual Conference
• “Waivers of Subrogation and Subrogation Prohibitions in Florida” – 2014 National Association of Subrogation Professionals Florida Chapter Meeting

Zurich American Insurance Company v. Puccini, LLC, 271 So.3d 1079 (Fla. 3d DCA 2019)

14269 BT LLC v. Village of Wellington, 240 So.3d 1 2018 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018)

Lapi West, LLC v. Village of Wellington, 4D17-2377 (Fla. 4^th DCA 2018)

Solonenko v. Georgia Notes 18, LLC, 257 So.3d 460 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018)

Solonenko v. Georgia Notes 18, LLC, 246 So.3d 1248 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018)

Solonenko v. Georgia Notes 18, LLC, 182 So.3d 876 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016)

Gaspareto v. American Mortg. Inv., 195 So. 3d 375 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016)

Finer v. Naples Opportunity Fund, LLC, 175 So.3d 293 (Fla. 2d. DCA 2015)

Castle Key Ins. Co. v. Raymond H. Duke Enterprises, Inc., 135 So.3d 578 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014)

Derrevere v. Derrevere, 138 So.3d 1038 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014)

Bryan W. Black is a third generation Floridian from Fort Myers, Florida. He is a graduate from Western Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Law and a graduate of Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center. Mr. Black joined the firm as an Associate in 2005 and became a Partner in 2006. Mr. Black is admitted to the Middle and Southern Federal District Courts and the United States 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Black is a member of the American Institute of Architects (Allied member), and Florida East Coast Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America. Mr. Black has experience in complex construction, civil litigation, professional liability insurance defense, premises liability, products liability, architectural and engineering defense, toxic tort, commercial contracts and agreements, corporate and business transactions, and insurance agent/broker errors and omissions cases in Florida Courts both State and Federal.  He also assists his clients with contract creation, review and enforcement.

• Nova Southeastern University – Juris Doctorate
• Western Carolina University – Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

• Construction litigation
• Civil litigation
• Professional liability
• Insurance defense
• Premise liability
• Products liability
• Architectural and Engineering defense
• Toxic Tort
• Commercial contracts and agreements
• Corporate and business transactions
• Insurance agent/broker errors and omissions

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (M.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla)
• 11th Circuit Court of Appeals

• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• American Institute of Architects (Allied Member)
• American Society of Civil Engineers
• Asphalt Contractors Association of South Florida
• Florida East Coast Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America

Jon Derrevere graduated from the University of Florida with Highest Honors in 1978 and earned a Juris Doctor from Cornell University in 1981. Since being admitted to the Florida Bar at age 23, Mr. Derrevere has tried more than 200 cases to jury verdict. Mr. Derrevere concentrates in complex litigation with an emphasis on construction, product liability, professional liability and large-loss recovery claims. Mr. Derrevere also acts as a private mediator. He is admitted to practice before all State and Federal Courts in Florida and has represented clients throughout the United States. Mr. Derrevere is a member of the American Bar Association section on Construction Industry Practices and has published articles relating to construction litigation.

• Cornell University – Juris Doctorate
• University of Florida – Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

• Litigation & Appeals
• Real Estate
• Commercial Transactions

• Florida
• U.S. District Court (M.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (S.D. Fla)
• U.S. District Court (N.D. Fla)

• American Bar Association Construction Industry Section
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Palm Beach County Bar Association
• South Florida Associated General Contractors (Associate Member)