I hold a BM with Distinction from the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester in Education and Vocal Performance. I taught school in the Rochester suburbs for 5 years while pursuing my Masters of Science in Education and Psychology. I then moved to the US Virgin Islands to continue my teaching duties. While there, I began my insurance carrier with Crown Caribbean Ltd as an Independent Adjuster in 1984.
In 1986 I returned to the mainland and began working with Great Oaks Casualty in Boca Raton as BI Supervisor and eventually Corporate BI Manager. I also worked with The Travelers in Plantation, Transportation Casualty in Ft Lauderdale and then was recruited to work with United Auto, where I spent 15 years as PIP Litigation Supervisor, Legal Administrator and finally Vice President of Claims.
I am now with Ascendant Claims Services in Miami as Director of Claims Operations. I oversee the Bodily Injury and Customer Service teams handling Commercial Auto, Garage Keepers, For Hire and General Liability claims.
In all, I have been in the insurance industry for 31 years. I am excited about claims adjusting and fighting fraud.

Ed is a native of Miami and grew up in North Miami, Florida.  He is a graduate from Florida International University, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.  Ed started his professional Risk Management career with the City of North Miami, as Risk Manager in 1982.  Yes; hard to believe 30 years ago…even harder to believe he was a risk management child prodigy – then age 10.
 
In 1985, Ed was hired by the City of Hialeah, Florida as Risk Manager.  In 2004, he was appointed Director of Human Resources for the City, retiring from Hialeah in June 2006.  
 
Also in June 2006, Ed accepted the Risk Manager position for the City of Pompano Beach, Florida, where he is currently employed and enjoying the new challenges.
 
Ed and the City’s HR/Risk team conduct monthly employee training sessions on a variety of topics relating to employee health, safety, risk exposures and financial wellness.  This has helped Pompano Beach and its employees successfully reduce expenses associated with employee benefits, group health insurance, general liability exposures and worker’s compensation injuries.
  
Ed currently serves on the National Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA) Board of Directors.  He is very active in the local South Florida PRIMA Chapter as well, currently serving on their Board of Directors.
 
 

John’s primary practice is in the area of insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, although he also practices in the areas of appellate practice and insurance defense. Recently, John has litigated insurance coverage actions in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Illinois, Maryland, and Puerto Rico in connection with, among others, CGL, D&O, commercial auto, truckers, and environmental cleanup policies. Prior to joining Litchfield Cavo LLP, John served as senior coverage counsel for St. Paul Insurance Companies.While in law school, John was a member of the National Moot Court Team, where he was awarded Best Brief and Best Oral Argument in the Myerowitz Moot Court Competition. He was also a member of the Maryland Law Review, and he was recognized with the William P. Cunningham Award for Excellence in Achievement and Service.John speaks regularly to insurer clients about insurance coverage and good-faith claims handling, and offers certified continuing education classes for Florida adjusters.John serves as Managing Partner of Litchfield Cavo’s Fort Lauderdale office. Education University of Maryland School of Law, JD, 1996; with honors University of South Carolina, BA, 1993; interdisciplinary studiesAdmissions Florida United States District Courts: Northern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida United States Court of Appeals: Eleventh CircuitProfessional Activities American Bar Association Defense Research InstituteRepresentative Reported Cases Sparta Ins. Co. v. Colareta, --- F.Supp.2d ---- , 2014 WL 31986 (S.D. Fla. 2014) Rowland v. Diamond State Ins. Co., 2013 WL 5278219 (S.D. Fla. 2013) Evanston Ins. Co. v. Heeder, 490 Fed.Appx. 215 (2012) Wheeler’s Moving & Storage, Inc. v. Markel Insurance Co., 2012 WL 87107 (S.D. Fla. 2012) Discover Property & Cas. Co. v. Mitchell Co., Inc., 2011 WL 5037381 (S.D. Ala. 2011) Markel Intern. Ins. Co., Ltd. v. Florida West Covered RV & Boat Storage, LLC, 437 Fed. Appx. 803 (11th Cir. 2011) Eastpointe Condominium I Ass’n, Inc. v. Travelers Cas. & Surety Co., 664 F.Supp.2d 1281 (S.D. Fla. 2010), affirmed, 379 Fed.Appx. 906 (11th Cir. 2010) Essex Ins. Co. v. Dixon, 2010 WL 3746295 (S.D. Fla. 2010) Noonan v. Vermont Mut. Ins. Co., 761 F.Supp.2d 1330 (M.D. Fla. 2010) First Specialty Ins. Corp. v. Mississippi State University, 355 Fed.Appx. 815 (5th Cir. 2009)