Insurance

Simms & Associates is widely regarded as one of the top personal injury law firms in the State of Alabama. The firm was founded in 1999 by lead attorney Derek Simms after gaining years of insight as an insurance industry insider. Simms & Associates will provide you with firsthand knowledge of how auto insurance companies operate. Insurers have specific methods of evaluating cases to determine their worth. Some insurance companies fear litigation – others do not. Simms & Associates can help guide you through the complex legal landscape to arrive at the best possible outcome in your personal injury case. Even if you have received a letter from an insurance company denying your claim on the basis of “contributory negligence,” Simms & Associates may be able to recover money damages on your behalf. Simms & Associates has also earned a reputation as an aggressive criminal defense firm that tries bench and jury trials in state and federal courts throughout Alabama. Simms & Associates is well-known for fighting hard and going to trial if needed to achieve the client's goals. Success in criminal defense requires persistence in the discovery phase and a detail-oriented approach. Simms & Associates works diligently to protect the rights of clients. The firm handles a wide range of criminal cases, including DUI and drug offenses The lawyers at Simms & Associates take personal pride in achieving the best possible outcome in the cases they handle. Their track record speaks for itself, with countless dismissals and jury acquittals.

Sylvan was born in San Antonio, Texas, and has lived most of his life in South and Central Texas. He received his undergraduate degree in History, with Special Honors, from the University of Texas at Austin in 1986, and obtained his law degree from the Southern Methodist University Deadman College of Law in 1989, graduating Cum Laude and Order of the Coif. During law school, Sylvan served as the Assistant Editor in Chief of the Southwestern Law Journal. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1989, and is licensed to practice law in the state courts in Texas, as well as the United States District Courts in the Western, Southern and Northern Districts of Texas. Sylvan is also licensed to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Sylvan's legal career has been both rewarding and multi-faceted. After law school, from 1989 to 1990, Sylvan had the unique opportunity to serve as law clerk to the Honorable Edith Hollan Jones, on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Thereafter, Sylvan returned to San Antonio as an associate at Plunkett, Gibson and Allen from 1990 to 1994, practicing insurance defense and handling cases in the areas of personal injury, automobile accident, product liability, insurance, medical malpractice, and legal malpractice, from the defense perspective. From 1994 to 1996, Sylvan chose a new and challenging experience, following his wife, Amy, to Dallas while she completed her medical fellowship. During this time, Sylvan sought and obtained a unique and completely different experience-serving the under-represented poor at Legal Services of North Texas (civil legal aid). After practicing law at legal aid, Sylvan knew he could never work for insurance companies again. Upon returning to San Antonio, Sylvan co-founded Lang & Kustoff LLP in 1996, focusing one hundred percent of his practice on representing clients with claims related to insurance, construction matters, personal injury, and employment law. In 2008, Sylvan founded Lang Law Firm, P.C., where he continues the same focus of trial work, delivering personalized, client-focused results in an ever-changing world. Sylvan cherishes recreational time with his wonderful family, wife and two daughters. He has devoted over a decade of Board service and leadership to both Temple Beth-El and Saint Mary's Hall. His other hobbies include ranching, hunting, fishing, hiking and enjoying the outdoors.

Karyne T. Ghantous is a California licensed attorney with close to 20 years of litigation and insurance defense experience successfully negotiating the resolution of, and trying cases in State and Federal court, in Contra Costa County, Alameda County, San Francisco County, Santa Clara County, Sacramento County, Solano County, Marin County, Monterey County and other jurisdictions in the Bay Area. Ms. Ghantous is the founder of the Ghantous Law Corporation. The Ghantous Law Corporation is a San Ramon law firm representing businesses and HOA’s in general liability, civil, commercial, insurance, contract, indemnity, construction, product liability, personal injury, wrongful death, mold, toxic tort, housing, landlord-tenant, property liability, FEHA, ADA access, California Disabled Persons Act and Unruh Civil Rights Act litigation matters. Ms. Ghantous welcomes the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver a proactive and cost-effective defense, allowing you to focus on your company’s business objectives.

Experienced Alabama Products Liability, Construction, Warranty, Employment, and Insurance Defense Litigation Attorney with Ritchey & Ritchey, P.A. Recognized as a Top Lawyer in B-Metro: The Magazine of Metro Birmingham Living in its March 2010, 2011 and 2012 issues. In 2012, named a “Top Rated Lawyer” in Construction Law by American Lawyer Media. American Lawyer Media publishes national and regional magazines, as well as newspapers. This recognition was published in the November issue of The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel magazines. The Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct require the following disclosure: "No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers." Alabama Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 7.2(e) (2002). Lawyer.com FAQ What are the top legal services your firm provides? Construction law; Products Liability; Sexual/Racial Harassment/Discrimination defense; Landlord-Tenant; Insurance; Insurance Defense, Warranty disputes, Manufactured homes What is your approach or philosophy when representing a client? We are one of the oldest law firms in Birmingham as well as Alabama, founded in 1959 on a simple premise: provide clients with the guidance and expertise of a large law firm but with the service and value of a small law firm. How do you keep current on new information pertaining to your specialty?We incorporated the latest legal technologies into our practice. These advancements include weekly updates on Court rulings in Alabama.

I was born and raised in Nebraska and lived there until I relocated to California in 1990. Early on, I was expected to work and because of that, I have developed a strong work ethic, which I have carried forward with me. I treat each client with equal importance, no matter how small or large the value of their case. I have been practicing full-time in California for over seventeen years. Since 1995, the focus of my practice has been in representing victims of personal injury and accident claims in the Southern California area. Prior to representing injured victims, I worked for approximately four years as an insurance defense attorney, representing the insureds of various insurance companies who were being sued in a wide variety of accident and injury matters. The insurance defense experience that I possess has provided me with invaluable insight into how the insurance companies work, and has given me an edge in maximizing compensation for my clients. I am a strong believer in keeping all clients informed on a regular basis as to the status of their case, and make it a point to respond to all client inquiries on a timely basis. I understand that my clients need fair compensation and reimbursement in a timely fashion, and do what I can to ensure that there are not any unnecessary delays. I have extensive experience in representing injured victims in all types of personal injury accidents, and look forward to discussing your case with you and representing you in your injury case.

In a nutshell, my passion has always been in public service. At the age of 18 I was working my first job as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the City of New Chicago, Indiana. I was only on the job for 6 months, when I was in the back of an ambulance delivering a baby. I went on to become a police officer in New Chicago; and after battling frost bite for a few years, I accepted a position as Deputy Sheriff with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. During my time there I was assigned to the Patrol Division, Fugitive Division and Tourist Policing Division; I received numerous awards and honors, which I am very proud of today. I met a young woman recently at a hospital where a careless driver caused her to lose her unborn baby. The careless driver was clearly at fault, the insurance company for the careless driver never offered an apology or offered money to help with any medical bills. They only called and asked permission to inspect her car to make sure she was somehow not at fault for the accident. I met a husband and wife not long ago who were badly injured in a car accident. Their car was totaled and they were both out of work. The insurance company refused to pay for a rental car even though the accident was clearly not their fault. I talk with mothers and fathers, nurses and teachers, construction workers and police officers, people from all walks of life everyday who have been injured at no fault of their own– people who are looking for justice, fairness and help for the challenges they face each day after an accident. In each of these conversations I’m reminded why I became a trial attorney: Everyday injury and accident victims need and deserve a champion, and I would be honored to be that champion for you!

Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney Lee Gunn focuses his practice of law upon the prosecution of cases involving substantial losses in the State of Florida. These cases frequently involve wrongful death and serious injuries to patients victimized by medical malpractice, defective products, and construction accidents. He also prosecutes direct and bad faith insurance claim dispute actions against insurance companies. Often these cases involve hurricane and other property owner claims where an insurer refuses to pay fully, fairly and promptly. Before representing plaintiffs, Lee defended insurance companies, hospitals, product manufacturers and other large corporations from 1983 until 2000. Lee Gunn is Board Certified in Civil Trial by The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocates, AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named among Leading American Attorneys by his peers, to Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite and named in Florida SuperLawyers Magazine since its first Florida attorneys rating.

An aggressive litigator, Karina Perez Ilić has diverse expertise in civil litigation including catastrophic workplace accidents, contracts, commercial disputes, premises liability, and Tampa motor vehicle accidents. She is not afraid to be a fierce advocate for clients who have been wronged or injured. A Florida native, she ventured to New Orleans to receive her bachelor’s degree in business law with a minor in French language at Tulane University. She continued her legal education in New Orleans, graduating from Loyola University in 2010 cum laude. Attorney Karina Perez Ilić is a member of the Florida State Bar and is admitted to practice in both the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Southern District. She is also a Certified Continuing Education Instructor in the State of Florida. As Managing Attorney at our firm, she is devoted to providing our clients with superior service to ensure that each of their unique needs have been met and that they have achieved the highest compensation possible. Se habla español.

Mr. Dettman has tried 57 cases through verdict. He has handled thousands of Kentucky personal injury matters and helped recover millions for his clients. Simply put, Brian fights for his client's interests. He focuses his practice on all things injury including car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, products liability. Mr. Dettman also handles slip and fall, catastrophic injury, medical malpractice, insurance bad faith, and consumer rights cases. Brian prides himself on client communication, hard work, and successful results. As a Louisville trial attorney he has the skill, ability, and knowledge to protect your rights.

Richard C. Gramlich focuses his practice on Business, Real Estate and Construction Litigation, Insurance Bad Faith, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, and Product Liability. He routinely represents contractors and owners in construction defect, non-pay/stop-pay claims, delay claims, professional negligence, Registrar of Contractor’s hearings, and general breach of contract. Mr. Gramlich was the lead counsel for the Scottsdale “W” Hotel’s construction defect and delay claim. Mr. Gramlich achieved the largest per home verdicts in Arizona for damage caused by expansive soil.1 He has successfully tried Business Tort, Personal Injury, Product Liability, and Insurance Bad Faith actions resulting in significant recoveries, and has earned the nickname “Bulldog” by many of his clients. Mr. Gramlich graduated from the University of Arizona in Business Administration, Finance and Real Estate, cum laude, in 1989 and from the Arizona State University College of Law, in the top third of his class, in 1992. He has been practicing law for the last 25 years in both State and Federal Court.