Firm in Brief

Founded in 1956 by Homer L. Marlow (1925-2000), Marlow, Connell, Abrams, Adler, Newman & Lewis has built its reputation based on an outstanding level of responsibility and integrity. The firm has extensive history and experience in aggressively handling defense claims representing professionals, businesses, manufacturers, employers, health care providers, insurance companies and third party administrators. It is empowered to practice in all state and federal courts in Florida and in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

With a solid roster of trial attorneys, coverage attorneys and appellate attorneys and a dedicated support staff, Marlow Connell is widely recognized for its expertise, success and discretion in representing difficult, large and complicated matters through trial as well as successfully representing clients in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. The firm operates with a full appreciation of the economic concerns of its clients and an understanding of the discretion required in all cases.

Marlow Connell is fully committed to each and every client, demonstrating a strong dedication to achieving successful outcomes. The firm’s successful track record is a result of its superior level of knowledge and expertise and a team approach to complex cases. Principals of the firm are actively involved in all client cases from initial contact to final resolution. Unlike many other firms, substantive “hands on” work on cases is performed not by clerical staff and junior associates but by seasoned attorneys, with an average of 10 to 20 years in practice. All major decisions are made by veterans.

Marlow Connell prides itself on giving sound advice and straight talk. Clients can expect the most candid assessment of their case and the bottom line is always well defined. Pending cases are evaluated in order to objectively weigh the feasibility and financial risk of litigation. The firm’s services are then tailored and fine-tuned to achieve the client’s specific goals and all work is performed within a prescribed framework.

Offering clients experience, integrity and commitment
with responsive and discrete service.

News

JOSH LEVY wins summary judgment in commercial coverage dispute involving catastrophic injury. Josh Levy recently won a summary judgment in federal court in an insurance coverage dispute on behalf of a commercial liability insurer. The case arose out of a catastrophic accident at a construction site in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The insured was a general contractor. The contractor’s president hired his company and used its employees to construct his new home. One of the employees suffered a spinal cord injury when a masonry wall he was reinforcing collapsed. The employee collected workers’ compensation through the contractor’s workers’ compensation policy. After collecting over $2 million in benefits, the employee sued the contractor for personal injury damages, claiming that he was a guest of the contractor’s president, rather than an employee, at the time of the accident. The contractor’s general liability policy contained an Employer’s Liability Exclusion, which excluded coverage for work-related injuries to employees. The court ruled that this exclusion applied to the employee’s personal injury lawsuit, because his injuries were clearly work-related, and his claim that he was the president's guest was inconsistent his earlier claim in that he was the contractor's employee eligible to receive workers’ compensation. The ruling eliminated the client’s potential exposure to a multi-million dollar judgment. (see opinion).

MARLOW CONNELL is proud to be recognized by U.S. News - Best Lawyers® as a BEST LAW FIRM for 2011-2012. Additionally, Joel Adler and Andrew Connell were named in Best Lawyers® for 2011-2012.

SCOTT NEWMAN was recently appointed to the Managing Partner Task Force of the International Association of Defense Counsel. Scott, along with six other defense practitioners throughout the country, has been asked by this internationally recognized defense organization to develop strategies for law firms working closely with 21st century business.

JENNIFER HOFFMAN recently spoke on "Managing and Responding to a Crisis" along with a co-presenter as part of the CLE program to the Retail and Hospitality Law Committee at the DRI Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

SALLY SELTZER was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Florida Defense Lawyers Association.

JENNIFER HOFFMAN has been appointed as Vice-Chair of DRI's upcoming Retail and Hospitality Seminar to be held at the Swissôtel in Chicago May 10 and May 11, 2012.

SCOTT NEWMAN and RENEE DANIELS, in what appears to be a case of first impression in Florida, recently obtained a summary judgment in the U.S. Dist. Ct. S.D.Fla., voiding the Employer's Liability coverage part of a combined Worker's Compensation and Employer's Liability Policy issued to a contractor, Sandi Construction, insured by Commerce & Industry Ins. Co. for material misrepresentations in the application for coverage. The ruling eliminated the carrier's exposure for liability in a wrongful death suit arising out of a workplace accident. (See Opinion).