Accident & Injury

Alex Mehdipour attended the University of California San Diego where he received his degree in political science. After graduating from UCSD, Mr. Mehdipour attended Southwestern University School of Law where he received his JD. Upon passing the bar, Mr. Mehdipour gained invaluable experience both in a law firm and business setting. Mr. Mehdipour uses his prior business and legal experiences to negotiate the most advantageous results for his clients.

Having practiced law as a trial attorney for over 13 years, John Roach has committed himself to helping victims of negligence achieve justice. As a solo practitioner in Northern California, John is dedicated to protecting his clients’ civil rights by constantly working on his trial skills and litigation strategies. John frequently goes to court to fight large corporations and insurance companies. His practice focuses on spine injuries and brain injuries. Mr. Roach is fluent in Spanish. He has many clients who only speak Spanish. Mr. Roach takes great pride in his ability to offer high-quality legal services to the Spanish-speaking community.

Michael Scafiddi is a practicing attorney in the state of California. He received his J.D. from California Southern Law School in 1996. He currently practices at his private firm of Scafiddi Law.

Isacc Toveg is a practicing lawyer in the state of California.

Stephen Bernhardt has been an attorney since he was 25 years old. Now, nearly a decade later, Bernhardt has extensive trial experience in both criminal and civil law. He began his legal career as a prosecutor, first handling misdemeanor offenses such as DUI, Battery, Possession of Controlled Substance, Violation of Injunction and many others. Bernhardt was quickly moved to a felony division and become the State Attorney’s Office’s representative for the county’s Drug Court Program. In this role, Bernhardt learned many techniques to help individuals overcome addictions as well as the differences between the many rehabilitation establishments throughout Florida. Prior to leaving the State Attorney’s Office, Bernhardt was the lead prosecutor in his division. Bernhardt conducted several jury trials that ended in convictions and sentences of more than thirty years, including a mandatory life in prison sentence. After leaving the State Attorney’s Office, Bernhardt began practicing civil law for one of the largest creditors’ rights firms in the United States. Bernhardt quickly became the lead litigating attorney for the firm’s Florida office and handled countless civil hearings and trials before leaving to start Bernhardt Law, PLLC. Bernhardt Law focuses on the practice areas of Criminal Defense, Personal Injury and Debt Defense. Using the knowledge gained throughout the years, Bernhardt Law is dedicated to making sure each client’s specific situation is handled with the utmost professionalism, attention to detail, and integrity. How did you build a successful practice? I was fortunate enough to begin my legal career having great mentors and practicing in front of great judges. Having that foundation and always continuing to work hard has helped me build a successful practice. What should clients look for in a lawyer? Clients should look for a lawyer that has a strong work ethic and that conducts himself/herself with integrity. How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? Having knowledge of the local judges and attorneys for the other side in very important in all areas of law. What information can you provide in a free phone consultation? I’m happy to discuss an individual’s legal matter for free over the phone or at one of our locations. I would review their case, discuss the strengths and weaknesses and determine what options may be available for the client What information do you need in a free phone consultation? I would like to review any paperwork they’ve received from the other attorney/party as well as contact information for following up. What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? The two things that separate me from other lawyers are (1) my trial experience and (2) my experience on the opposing side. I have handled more trials in my first decade as an attorney than most attorneys will handle in their entire career. Additionally, as it pertains to criminal defense and debt defense, I have been the head attorney in my respective divisions for the sides I now go against. This gives me a big advantage in those cases. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? When someone comes to me, it usually means they’re going through a tough time. Either they’ve been hurt, arrested or sued. Helping someone get through that difficult time by putting these legal issues behind them is very rewarding. What are your other interests in addition to law? I am a big sports fan and I also love to travel.

In 2012, Donovan was selected by Florida Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star,” an honor extended to only two and a half percent of Florida lawyers each year. Donovan Whibbs received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in 1994. In 1997, he received his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he was Associate Editor for the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. He is a member of both the Florida and Alabama Bars. Mr. Whibbs is a member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers and the Escambia-Santa Rosa County Bar Association. His practice focuses primarily on workers’ compensation and personal injury.

Scott E. Gwartney graduated from Liberty University in Virginia in 1985 with a degree in political science and human resource management. The Tallahassee native then returned home to attend Florida State University College of Law, graduating in 1991. He has remained in Tallahassee since. After working with the first attorney to successfully submit a nursing home case to verdict in the State of Florida, renowned trial lawyer Kenneth L. Connor, the two went on to create The Connor & Gwartney law firm. The firm eventually joined the Tampa-based nursing home litigation firm of Wilkes & McHugh, becoming its Tallahassee office, where Mr. Gwartney continued to work until he joined Brooks, LeBoeuf, Foster & Gwartney in 2002, becoming a firm partner in 2003. Mr. Gwartney’s practice is unique: While he always carries a significant number of case files for auto claims and medical litigation in his Tallahassee hometown, his expertise in the fields of Medical Malpractice, Assisted Living Facility, Nursing Home and Group Home litigation is widely known throughout Florida and Georgia. And so, he often finds himself pursuing claims in courthouses from Naples and Ft. Meyers, up the Gulf coast to Pensacola, and on the east coast all the way to Savannah and Augusta Georgia … and virtually all points in between. Mr. Gwartney passionately believes that our disabled and senior citizens deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. In the same manner that fine china is treated with a gentle and compassionate touch, our physically frail citizens also need to be treated with a gentle touch and great respect. The fragile among us deserve no less respect and dignity than that which is afforded to any other member of our society. The results of Mr. Gwartney’s experience and efforts on behalf of the elderly speak volumes about his expertise and dedication. His work on behalf of his clients has led to numerous verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more across the southeast. While Mr. Gwartney’s case load is most active throughout Florida and Georgia, he is also licensed to practice law in Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Katherine Piccin Glynn was born in Southfield, Michigan on May 29, 1969. She was a Ford Foundation Scholar at Eckerd College, from which she graduated with honors in 1991. She then graduated from St. Thomas University School of Law, was admitted to The Florida State Bar in 1995 and US District Court, Middle District in 1999. Upon graduation, she was appointed Assistant State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. During the next four years she gained extensive jury trial experience, mainly with white collar crime and other felony cases.

Mr. Klemawesch joined the firm in 2014. His practice includes all aspects of both criminal defense and personal injury in both State and Federal Court. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Klemawesch worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, Florida, where he tried over seventy-five cases to juries, including cases involving homicide, hate crimes, sexual battery, weapons charges, and many other areas. He was a member of the Vehicular Homicide Squad, focused on the investigation and prosecution of severe DUI cases involving significant injuries and deaths. Before working for the State of Florida, Mr. Klemawesch worked at several Florida law firms, practicing civil and commercial litigation; he also served as a Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Gregory Presnell, United States District Judge in the Middle District of Florida. Mr. Klemawesch graduated in the top 3% of his law school class, and was a member of both the Trial Team and Law Review. Mr. Klemawesch has worked as a teacher in a Maasai community in Kenya, teaching English to elementary school children, and served with Doctors Without Borders in a trauma hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Rob Cook is the founder of Rob Cook, P.A. Mr. Cook has practiced Civil Litigation and Trial Law since 2002. He has served as lead counsel on civil litigation for plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury, insurance claims and coverage, intellectual property/copyright infringement claims, contract disputes, real property disputes, maritime/admiralty law, property damage, federal civil litigation, business disputes. Prior opening his own practice, Rob worked for the law firm of Vernis & Bowling of The Florida Keys P.A. Rob obtained his Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law and a BS in Political Science from Capital University. At Rob Cook Attorney At Law, P.A. we are pleased to offer a wide range of legal services to fit your needs. Our attorneys take pride in giving each case the individual attention it deserves. When you choose our firm to represent you case, you are a treated as a person and not just another case number. Are you unsure about your rights in a legal matter? We offer a free consultation to review the details of your case. During you consultation we will gather and examine the information to determine the best course of action to protect you.