Melanie R. Skenian

JUAN C. DIAZ AVIL A has devoted his legal career to the litigation of personal injury, premises liability, wrongful death, negligent security and products liability claims, representing his clients in both state and federal courts from inception of the case through trial. As a native Spanish speaker, he is especially well equipped to understand and serve the needs of the Latino community. Before joining Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart, & Shipley, P.A. Mr. Diaz Avila worked with the larg...

Brian F. LaBovick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Brian F., who practices law in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William H. Pincus is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. William H., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

EDWARD V. RICCI was born and raised in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He is a graduate of The Benjamin School (1997), Georgetown College (2001), and Georgetown University Law Center (2006). Since joining the firm in 2008, Mr. Ricci has successfully tried numerous personal injury and wrongful death cases to verdict and obtained significant settlements on behalf of his clients. He has advocated for his clients in complicated cases involving product defects, medical malpractice, automobile neglige...

Laurie J. Briggs is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. Laurie J., who practices law in West Palm Beach, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laurie J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

JACK P. HILL played football at Yale University, earned all-Ivy and all-American academic honors, and served as a felony prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s office before joining Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. A native of Palm Beach County who attended the Benjamin School in North Palm Beach, Mr. Hill handled dozens of jury trials as an Assistant State Attorney, prosecuting crimes ranging from DUI to first degree felonies punishable by life in prison...

CHRISTIAN D. SEARCY is president and CEO of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A. and writes and lectures extensively about civil trial practice, personal injury and wrongful death. For 46 years he has litigated cases primarily involving catastrophic injury and death in venues throughout Florida as well as in other states. At age 29, he had the distinction of being the youngest lawyer in the United States to achieve a verdict of $1 million for a single personal injury lawsuit. In...

Larry Rochefort is the chair of Akerman’s Litigation Practice Group, a leading team of trial lawyers advising companies in complex litigation and arbitration across the United States and Latin America. Larry is recognized for Bet-the-Company Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America and as a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation . He represents financial institutions, developers, owners, contractors, insurers, and retailers in real estate, lending, and other disputes. He...

Jim McCann has devoted his career to helping clients resolve individual and business disputes. Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Business Litigation, he is recognized for his experience in bench and jury trials, appeals, and dispute resolution across a wide variety of cases for clients in the financial services, healthcare, automotive, insurance, agriculture, real estate, and professional services sectors. Jim litigates in state and federal courts, and utilizes alternative dispute resolut...

BRENDA S. FULMER is a Partner and Shareholder with the law firm of Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, P.A., one of the largest personal injury law firms in Florida. She also serves on the firm’s executive committee and leads the firm’s dedicated mass tort unit, which focuses on complex litigation for defective drugs, medical devices, and consumer products. For the past 26 years, Ms. Fulmer’s practice has focused on the areas of pharmaceutical and medical device ma...