Insurance

FORMER LAW PROFESSOR & BIG FIRM DEFENSE ATTORNEY. Ms. Willis is an Orlando car, truck and motorcycle accident lawyer who gives each and every one of her clients extra special treatment. She is a former law professor, and former large firm defense attorney. She previously represented corporations and excess insurance companies, including numerous cases valued in the range from 1 million to 50 million. She does not operate on a high volume basis. Before she even started practicing, Ms. Willis began accumulating extremely prestigious awards, including Order of the Coif and Law Review. She graduated 2nd in her class at Florida State University College of Law, in 1995. She has since earned many awards during her career, detailed in her profile below. She diligently represents those seriously injured or killed from the negligent acts of others. She also represents those with moderate injuries, or those who don't yet know the extent of their injuries. If she is unable to give the client the time they need, she also has developed a close network of attorneys who have similar philosophies, and who will do an excellent job on any case. Sometimes lawyers who specialize further are also needed. She will refer anyone to another lawyer if needed to get each person the most money possible for their case. She strongly encourages anyone injured in an accident not to speak to any insurance adjusters, or witnesses. Also beginning medical treatment very quickly is extremely important to case value. But what you say to medical providers is also important. So calling a Central Florida auto accident attorney very quickly is your most important job. Beware of insurance adjusters who may be very nice, but whose only job is to find a way to pay you the least amount of money possible. They usually will not disclose all of the money that they should be paying you. For example, very often they will not mention pain and suffering damages, future medical bills, or lost wages. They succeed when you get less money. They also take notes about what you tell them, and can use it against you later. So don't talk to them until you talk to a lawyer. This is true even if they admit their insured was at fault for the accident. The big question then is the AMOUNT of your damages -- and that's where the fight often takes place. Call Tina to speak with a lawyer who will carefully evaluate each and every case, and advise clients what they need to know to get the most money possible (or help them find another lawyer who will do the same).

William R. Larkin, III ("Bill") and Joseph P. Farrell, III ("Joe") built their careers together at a mid-sized firm with a high volume litigation practice. Joe started at the firm in December 2001 and Bill followed shortly thereafter in April 2003. Both were promoted to Partner in 2008. Bill had the privilege of running the day-to-day operations of the firm as Managing Partner while Joe was the lead trial attorney and Manager of the arbitration and appeals departments. They represented large insurance companies, government agencies, and private clients in thousands of lawsuits over the course of 15+ years before leaving the firm to form Larkin Farrell, LLC. At Larkin Farrell, LLC we refer to ourselves as a "team" throughout our website and sales materials because it is important to us that we convey to our clients, and potential clients, the collaborative nature of the way we handle each file we are assigned. We, as a firm, do not assign a file and forget about it. We collaborate and strategize every step of the way. We are committed to surrounding ourselves with individuals who think outside-the-box and who can contribute to the success of the firm on multiple levels. We are committed to our clients and work together to solve their legal problems in the best, most cost-effective way. Below are the profiles of the individuals that make up the Larkin Farrell team.

Michael D. Sechrest is widely recognized by both his clients and the legal profession as a highly-skilled and successful expert litigator. Focused on complex, high-value, multi-party lawsuits, Mr. Sechrest has recovered tens of millions of dollars in damages for his clients. He has a solid record of excellence and applies his dedication, experience, and superior legal skills to every case he pursues. Mr. Sechrest graduated with honors from the University of Florida in 1995 with a difficult dual major in Pre-law and Criminology. He received a J.D. from the University of Florida, Frederic G. Levin College of Law in 1998. Since graduating, he has returned to the University of Florida as a guest lecturer on legal issues in construction. He also serves as an arbitrator on a multi-arbitrator panel for complex business disputes. Mr. Sechrest has represented clients in the areas of business/construction litigation, personal injury, products liability, wrongful death, and medical malpractice. His clients include injured plaintiffs, contractors, subcontractors, architects, business owners, engineers, suppliers, sureties, and lenders. He has litigated against various cities and counties within Florida, the State of Florida, and the U.S. Federal Government. In addition, he has battled against numerous insurance companies including Allstate, Nationwide, MetLife, Geico, Hartford Insurance, Berkshire Hathaway Insurance, State Farm, Liberty Mutual, Progressive, CNA Insurance, Cincinnati Insurance, Travelers, USAA Group, and Zurich Insurance. He has also taken on large corporations and institutions including Wal-Mart, BP Oil, Goldman Sachs, CVS, Publix Supermarkets, Target, Shands Hospitals, and the University of Florida. In addition, he handles OSHA proceedings, bid protests, and federal and bankruptcy claims involving construction. Mr. Sechrest clearly is not afraid to take on large and powerful defendants. His professional successes and commendations speak for themselves. Call Michael Sechrest and the firm of Warner, Sechrest, & Butts, P.A. today for a confidential consultation. We look forward to providing you with superior legal representation.

Brett C. Drouet, Esq., is a sixth generation Southern Californian, who has served Southern, Central and Northern California clients for over two decades as a member of the California State Bar. Mr. Drouet is recognized as a litigator’s litigator, who is uniquely experienced in catastrophic personal injury and death actions for trauma victims in auto accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, bus accidents, bicycle accidents, worksite accidents, DUI victim/plaintiff, construction defect, product liability and medical malpractice. Having represented Fortune 500 companies and major insurance companies’ insureds in thousands of catastrophic personal injury and death actions for over a decade, Mr. Drouet is a seasoned litigation veteran representing trauma victims, who have suffered life-changing injuries for over a decade. Traumatic, catastrophic personal injuries require an attorney with extensive, broad-based knowledge of evidence based medicine, treatment, and medical causation to best serve trauma victims, which is why Mr. Drouet is called upon to co-counsel and consult with other attorneys and law firms representing California trauma victims. Mr. Drouet has significant experience and expertise in product liability in catastrophic personal injury and death actions involving consumer products, chemical products, toxic substances, industrial products, industrial machinery, construction equipment, vehicles, tires, wheels, housing components, construction materials, and finished products. Mr. Drouet has substantial experience and practice in brain injury, loss of brain function, burn injury and Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome injuries.

Mr. Schneider concentrates on representing injured parties, plaintiffs, in car crashes, slip and falls, insurance bad faith and wrongful death litigation. He has obtained substantial recovers on behalf of his clients through settlement, arbitration and trial. Mr. Schneider began his career working for the insurance companies working both as an employee of Farmer’s Insurance, and as an outside counsel attorney for several insurance companies. Through his insurance defense practice, Mr. Schneider defended many cases through jury trial with excellent results. In 2009, Mr. Schneider changed from working for the insurance companies to helping injured parties. He started with the Gaiennie Law Office in Denver where he successfully argued the case of Silva v. Wilcox before the Colorado Court of Appeals which allows an illegal immigrant to bring a lost wage claim in Colorado. He then transitioned to Bachus & Schanker where he flourished in their high volume setting assisting hundreds of clients obtain justice. Wanting a change to a lower volume practice Mr. Schneider has been with Larson & Larimer, PC since March of 2016. During that time Mr. Schneider has represented clients for a wide variety of claims with exemplary results. In 2020, Mr. Schneider was named a partner of the firm where he continues to work hard for his clients throughout the State of Colorado.

Mr. Adler received a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and was awarded Special Distinction in Business. Mr. Adler was also awarded scholarship memberships in Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma Phi, a National Professional Business Fraternity. Prior to entering law school, Mr. Adler, who graduated from college 6 months early, worked as an Alternate Funding Analyst for Aetna Life and Casualty in Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Adler attended Western New England College of Law and graduated Cum Laude, and thereafter entered private practice. Mr. Adler’s practice is concentrated in the areas of civil litigation including personal injury; wrongful death; premises liability; all insurance and coverage matters; product liability; cases involving every form of motor vehicle and boat; and business and commercial matters. Mr. Adler regularly and successfully tries the cases in State and Federal courthouses throughout the State of Connecticut. Attorney Adler serves as a member of the “Counsel on Litigation Management” and the law firm is recommended counsel by “A.M. Best” rated insurance attorneys. In addition to a wide range of community and charitable activities, Mr. Adler is on the Board of Advisors of the University Of Connecticut School Of Business.

Derek graduated with distinction from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 2006. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2009. As a testament to his writing and oral advocacy skills, Derek was the only person to simultaneously be a Law Review Editor and Moot Court Board Member during law school. In addition to his accomplishments outside of the classroom, Derek graduated from law school as a Sterling Honor Graduate and was the recipient of the Law School’s prestigious Gavel Award. After graduating, Derek clerked for the Honorable Justice Judith Meierhenry of the South Dakota Supreme Court from 2009 until 2011. As a law clerk, Derek reviewed over 1,000 appellate briefs, heard approximately 100 oral arguments, and assisted the South Dakota Supreme Court in writing its decisions. He joined the firm after his clerkship ended. Since joining the firm, Derek has developed a comprehensive litigation practice with a focus on insurance-based and insurance bad faith cases. Derek has tried jury trials across South Dakota, given oral arguments before the South Dakota Supreme Court, and has appeared regularly in South Dakota’s Federal Courts. Derek’s advocacy skills have earned him a reputation for excellence, which has resulted in his retention by other attorneys to assist with high-value and high-stakes cases at trial and on appeal. Derek is admitted to practice in South Dakota, Minnesota, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribal Court. Derek is a member of the American Bar Association, South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association, South Dakota Trial Lawyers Association, Second Judicial Circuit Bar Association, and Defense Research Institute. Derek is AV-Preeminent rated for high professional ethics and legal abilities.

The Michigan personal injury attorneys at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., have a reputation for meticulous case preparation-an approach that results in major verdicts and settlements for our clients. We handle all types of accident and injury cases, including auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death cases, medical malpractice lawsuits, nursing home neglect cases, slip and fall cases, dog bite attack cases, and all other personal injury matters. Our family-owned Michigan personal injury law firm was founded by David and Vicky Buckfire in 1968. They're now retired and their two sons, Daniel and Lawrence, run the firm. They have continued the firm's reputation as an award winning personal injury law firm in Michigan and have assembled a top team of lawyers and support staff. They have earned the highest possible rating in the legal profession for ability and integrity and are rated Superb by the top Internet lawyer rating service Daniel Buckfire specializes in cases involving automobile negligence, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, no-fault insurance litigation, dram shop liability, and general negligence cases. He is rated as a "Superb" lawyer by the top internet lawyer rating service and "Best Personal Injury Lawyer" by a Detroit business magazine. Daniel's adept knowledge of these areas of law has resulted in numerous significant settlements and verdicts on behalf of his injured clients. He is member of the Michigan Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice. He is also a member of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan and the Michigan Brain Injury Provider's Council.

What should you do when your Insurance Company rejects or underpays your claim? Shochet Law Group is proficient in helping people with rejected, underpaid or delayed Insurance claims. We can help you overcome this problem and restore your life back to normal. Unlike Insurance Companies, we build our relationships with clients on trust. Call or email us today for a free case review.

Meredythe is a fourth generation Austinite. She comes from a local insurance family going back three generations. Originally, her paternal grandfather was a well-known independent adjuster in the Austin area. Presently, her parents run their own, separate insurance agencies in the area. You could say it’s in her blood. After graduating from SMU Law, Meredythe started her legal career in Dallas working for a boutique commercial litigation firm before deciding to move home to be close to her family. Once home, she spent a decade of her legal career working on the insurance defense side of personal injury litigation learning how big insurance works against you. After years as a partner in a statewide defense firm, she got tired of fighting insurance adjusters who were more concerned with their bottom line than compensating those who are truly injured. Meredythe joined forces with her partner, Mark McLean, a seasoned Austin personal injury lawyer, in 2023 to form Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers. She’s now passionate about fighting for your value, using her unique insight from her in depth experience on the defense side. Let her put your insurance knowledge to work as your lawyer to maximize your recovery. Meredythe’s practice focuses primarily on personal injury litigation with an emphasis in the areas of car accidents, commercial vehicle collisions, trucking accidents, premises liability, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death and survival claims, and catastrophic injury cases. Meredythe resides in Austin with her husband, Todd, and their adorable young son. When free time arises, she enjoys spending time at Austin’s various music venues, being outdoors, especially on the lake, trying out the ever evolving local fare, and spending time with her family.