954.568.6015
dcooney@ctkplaw.com
Florida, 1978
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
1978 University of Notre Dame, J.D.
1975 University of Notre Dame, B.B.A. (Finance), Magna Cum Laude
Tort Litigation
Insurance Law
University of Notre Dame Law Review
AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Diplomate, American Board of Trial Advocates
Diplomate, Litigation Counsel of America
Leading Florida Attorneys
Florida Super Lawyers
Who's Who in American Law
Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America
Who's Who in the South and Southwest
Who's Who in the World
Dave began practicing law as a trial lawyer in Southeast Florida in 1978 and his trial skills have received the highest recognition by his peers: He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, a Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a Diplomate of Litigation Counsel of America and listed in Leading Florida Attorneys, Who’s Who in American Law, and Florida Super Lawyers.
Dave represents and defends several national and international corporations including Ryder Truck Rental, Target Corporation, Costco Wholesale Corporation, and The Hertz Corporation.
Dave has tried in excess of 150 cases to verdict, successfully defending clients in major lawsuits involving wrongful death, catastrophic brain injury, paralysis, loss of limbs, and rape/sexual assault.
954.568.6028
btrybus@ctkplaw.com
South Africa, Transvaal Provincial Division, 1987
Florida, 1993
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1995
U.S. District Courts, Middle District of Florida, 1999
1992 Nova Southeastern University, J.D. Cum Laude
1985 University of the Witwatersrand, L.L.B.
1983 University of the Witwatersrand, B.A.
Automobile/Trucking/Transportation Litigation
Products, Premises and Professional Liability
Florida Defense Lawyers' Association
Defense Research Institute
Broward County Bar Association
American Bar Association
Bruce Trybus grew up in Zimbabwe, then obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, before being admitted to practice in South Africa in 1987. Later that year he moved to Florida, having been invited by David Cooney to join the firm with which Dave was then associated. Bruce initially worked as Dave’s paralegal while re-qualifying to practice law in the United States, and then became an associate with the firm after obtaining his Juris Doctor degree (cum laude) from Nova Southeastern University in 1992.
Bruce has tried serious cases (some of them months-long) including death, brain-damage, and amputation lawsuits in state and federal courts in south Florida and elsewhere. He represents corporations, third party administrators and insurers (and their insureds) and has a particular interest in cases involving complex or unusual injuries and medical issues. Bruce is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell.
954.745.4040
wkwavnick@ctkplaw.com
Florida, 1996
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
1996 Nova Southeastern University, J.D. Magna Cum Laude
1993 McGill University, Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) with Great Distinction
Appellate Practice
Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith
Broward County Bar Association
Florida Defense Lawyers' Association
Author, "The Supreme Court Rules that HMO Contractual Discounts are Properly Set Off as Collateral Sources Under Section 768.76, Florida Statutes," Trial Advocate Quarterly vol.24 No.5 (Summer 2005).
Co-Chairman, Florida Defense Lawyers Association Automobile/Transportation Committee
Originally from Canada, Warren obtained his Bachelor’s degree (with Great Distinction) from McGill University in 1993, before graduating with his law degree (magna cum laude) from Nova Southeastern University in 1996. Warren then clerked with the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach before entering private practice. He has handled over 150 appeals and over 70 oral arguments in Florida’s appellate courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Warren is the firm’s appellate partner and insurance coverage/bad faith specialist. He also teaches appellate practice at Nova Southeastern University.
954.568.3958
apeets@ctkplaw.com
Florida, 1996
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
1995 Nova Southeastern University, J.D.
1992 University of Central Florida, B.A.
Products & Premises Liability
Drug, Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Litigation
Professional Liability including Medical Malpractice
Mass Tort Litigation
Automobile/Trucking/Transportation Litigation
Broward County Bar Association
Palm Beach County Bar Association
Florida Defense Lawyers Association
Florida Medical Malpractice Claims Council
Defense Research Institute
Al obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida. He earned his law degree from Nova Southeastern University where he won the school’s Moot Court Competition. He developed an interest in medical malpractice defense while attending Nova and working for Emergency Medical Services Associates, which later became known as Inphynet Medical Management. Upon graduation he specialized in medical malpractice defense, defending various hospitals, nursing homes, physician groups and healthcare providers.
Al also specialized in drug and medical device litigation while defending American Home Products and Wyeth/Ayerst during the Phen-Fen mass tort litigation claims. Like the other founding partners, he is a member of the Florida Defense Lawyers’ Association and the Defense Research Institute, and also belongs to the Florida Medical Malpractice Claims Counsel.
As a member of the FBI's Citizen Academy Alumni Association, Al assists the local FBI office with community-based initiatives including the development and implementation of the FBI-SOS Program, a safe online surfing (SOS) program, the FBI Summer Youth Academy, and the Citizens Academy Alumni Association Holiday Program.
954.568.3403
gturnau@ctkplaw.com
Florida, 1998
1998 Nova Southeastern University, J.D.
1992 Florida International University, Bachelor of Science, Political Science & Criminal Justice
Insurance Defense
Broward County Bar Association
Phi Delta Phi Honor Society
Born and raised in Miami, Grisell was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1998. While attending Nova Southeastern University, she graded on to Law Review and was a member of the ILSA Journal of International and Comparative Law. Grisell has more than 12 years experience as practicing insurance defense litigator, handling a wide variety of matters for large corporate clients and insurance carriers. Grisell attended Florida International University, where she received a B.S. with a major in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice.
954.568.6669
bkashi@ctkplaw.com
Florida, 2004
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
2004 University of Florida, J.D. (Cum Laude)
2001 University of Florida, B.S. (With Honors)
Automobile/Trucking/Transportation Litigation
Products, Premises and Professional Liability
Construction Law
American Bar Association
Florida Bar
Benjamin Kashi grew up in Plantation, Florida. He studied journalism at the University of Florida for his undergraduate degree and graduated with honors. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Benjamin attended the University Of Florida Frederic G. Levin College of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor degree and graduated Cum Laude. During his studies at UF Law, he received a book award in Conflict of Laws.
Benjamin was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2004. He started his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Orlando, where he practiced for six years. Benjamin has tried eighty five criminal jury trials, eighty of which involved felony charges. He handled various types of cases, such as burglaries, aggravated assaults, aggravated batteries, drug trafficking, and domestic violence. Benjamin tried one attempted murder case as well. He has also tried approximately 100 bench trials while prosecuting in juvenile court. Since leaving the State Attorney's Office, Benjamin has transitioned to civil law and now focuses on insurance defense litigation.
954.568.1374
mweiss@ctkplaw.com
Florida, 2011
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
2010 Nova Southeastern University, J.D. Cum Laude
1994 Emory University, B.A
Appellate
Litigation
Federal Bar Association
Moot Court Honor Society, Chief Justice, Nova Southeastern University
Book Award, Trial Advocacy
National Order of the Barristers
Meredith grew up in South Florida and earned her undergraduate degree from Emory University. After careers in education and politics, Meredith returned to law school at NSU where she earned her law degree (Cum Laude) in 2010. While in law school, Meredith competed in national and statewide Moot Court competitions as well as trial competitions. In 2008, she won Best Written Brief and Runner-Up Oralist before the Florida First District Court of Appeals in the E. Earle Zehmer Workers' Compensation Moot Court Competition. Meredith was named the Executive Justice of Teams and eventually the Chief Justice of the Moot Court Honor Society. Additionally, she served on the Dean's Task Force and on the External Competitions Committee. As a law student, Meredith interned with a Federal Magistrate, researched for a law professor, and clerked for a business/corporate litigation law firm.
954.745.4049
mweiss@ctkplaw.com
Florida, 2008
2008 Nova Southeastern University, J.D. Cum Laude
2005 Old Dominion University, B.A. Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice
Automobile/Trucking/Transportation Litigation
Products, Premises and Professional Liability
Association of Women Lawyers
Pi Beta Phi Woman's Fraternity, Alumni
Junior League of Palm Beach County
Rachel was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia and relocated to Florida in 2005. During law school, Rachel Gray served as a research assistant at the Center for the Study of Youth Policy. In addition, Rachel was the Secretary of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, a member of Phi Alpha Delta and a member of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society.
954.568.3207
jfarshchian@ctkplaw.com
Florida, 2011
2010 Nova Southeastern University, J.D. Summa Cum Laude
2005 Florida International University, B.A. Cum Laude
Appellate Litigation
Broward County Bar Association
American Bar Association
Lawyers for Children America (attorney ad litem)
Nova Law Review, Senior Staff Member
Twelve Book Awards (including Appellate Practice, Civil Procedure, and Legal Research & Writing)
Co-author of Child Victims of Sexual Abuse and the Law, Michigan Child Welfare Law Journal, Spring 2009
Goodwin Scholar, Full Academic Scholarship at Nova Southeastern University
Presidential Scholar, Full Academic Scholarship at Florida International University
Jennie Farshchian grew up in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey and relocated to Florida in 2001. She studied English at Florida International University and graduated with honors. During law school, Jennie served as a research and teaching assistant to Professors Charlene Smith and Timothy Arcaro. She also worked as a legal intern for the Broward County Attorney's office, and clerked for a commercial litigation law firm. As a result of her educational achievements, Jennie graduated from Nova Law in the top 1% of her class.
