Mass Torts

Native to Savannah, W. Andrew Bowen is an attorney proven by years of experience in personal injury and wrongful death litigation. After completing his undergraduate studies at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, Andrew attended Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law where he earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1998. Andrew began his legal career as a Savannah personal injury lawyer representing defendants in automotive collisions, medical negligence, and other personal injury claims as well as working for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee. Since 2001, Andrew has focused his career on representing individuals who have suffered serious injury or death. Within this specialty, Andrew has successfully tried cases involving medical malpractice, wrongful death, as well as car, truck, and motorcycle wrecks. Andrew is a member of the Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina Bars, and practices in the Federal Courts in the State of Georgia and South Carolina. In addition to the Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., Andrew has earned admission to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia. He’s also earned admission to the 11th Circuit Court of Federal Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Andrew Bowen is currently serving as Vice-Chairman of the Automobile Law Committee and as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Policy Task Force of the ABA’s Tort and Insurance Practice Section. Andrew has also served as the Savannah Trial Lawyers Association President, and the Supreme Court of Georgia appointed him as a member of the State Bar’s Unlicensed Practice of Law Committee. In addition to his professional affiliations, Andrew is an active member of the Board of Selectmen of the Historic Midway Church and the Administrative Board of the Skidaway Island United Methodist Church. He is also President of the Washington and Lee University Alumni Chapter for the Savannah area. Andrew and his wife, Melissa Safrit Bowen, have two children—Evelyn Brooks Bowen (born 2008) and Woodrow Alexander Bowen (born 2011).

Stephen D. Morrison, III, is a Savannah native and son of a commercial fisherman. He is a formidable trial lawyer, championing his client’s cause with a unique combination of elite legal experience and blue-collar work ethic. After years of mostly defense practice, with big firms and the federal government, Stephen joined Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers to fight for plaintiffs and those wronged by the acts of others. He is adept at navigating diverse legal landscapes in high-stakes disputes, with broad-ranging experience from personal injury claims (like motor vehicle accidents, maritime injury, and medical malpractice) to commercial disputes involving mass torts, antitrust, consumer law, breach of contract, data practices, real estate, and unfair and deceptive trade practices. He has litigated cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the nation. Stephen now uses his experience in complex litigation to achieve a simple goal: win for his clients. Stephen’s expertise is born from high-level legal practice. His career began in Washington, D.C., as an associate with one of the world’s largest law firms representing Fortune 100 companies. After D.C., Stephen returned to Georgia to spend two years clerking for (now) Chief Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr., in Atlanta, Georgia. He returned to private practice in Minnesota, litigating complex cases and serving in lead roles on trial teams in multimillion dollar disputes. Among other engagements, Stephen has served as trial counsel in opioid litigation brought by state attorneys general and municipalities and held key roles in trial teams defending antitrust class actions and consumer investigations. His former defense counsel and federal law clerk experiences animate his plaintiff-focused practice at Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers. Outside of the office, Stephen maintains a deep connection to his local and professional community. He is an Eagle Scout, volunteers with his neighborhood’s event committee, and holds various roles in national and local bar organizations. He has also provided thousands of hours of pro bono representation to clients who cannot afford counsel. Stephen lives in Savannah with his wife, Erin (also an attorney), daughter, Milligan, and English cream retriever, Ollie. He enjoys spending time outside, especially on the water, cooking, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and traveling within and without the USA.

Maria Tejedor graduated from the University of South Florida, Magna Cum Laude, in 1992. In 1993, she commenced law school at Stetson University, the number one ranked law school in trial advocacy. In 1994, she participated in a college-wide competition and was selected by her peers at Stetson to join the law school’s prestigious and exclusive trial team. She spent the following two years representing Stetson College of Law in national and statewide trial competitions. Throughout the years she competed, Stetson College of Law maintained its number one national ranking in trial advocacy. In 1995, Maria Tejedor was the first-place winner of the American Criminal Defense Bar National Trial Competition . Ms. Tejedor secured second place in both the Florida Bar’s State Trial Competition and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers State Competition. She was the 1996 Regional Champion in the American Bar Association National Trial Competition and was awarded the American College of Trial Lawyers Medal for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. In 1996, upon graduation, Stetson University College of Law presented her with the Harris Ferrell Competition Award for Individual Excellence in Intercollegiate Trial Competition. In 1996, she joined the law firm of Martinez, Manglardi and Diez-Arguelles. In 2004, she became one of the youngest women to be board certified in the state of Florida. That same year she was named a full partner at the law firm and the name was changed to Martinez, Manglardi, Diez-Arguelles & Tejedor. In 2009, fueled by a passion for helping women and children, she founded the law firm of Diez-Arguelles & Tejedor and became its managing partner. That passion and focus have led to her numerous successful statewide appellate and Supreme Court decisions, which have established laws that protect the rights of the most vulnerable. Those include: The Supreme Court of Florida affirmed a $2,000,000.00 verdict for the parents of a baby boy who died due to the negligence of a hospital. Pub. Health Tr. of Miami-Dade Cty. v. Acanda, 71 So. 3d 782, 783 (Fla. 2011). The appellate court held that a negligent healthcare provider could not get a vulnerable patient to sign away their right to bring a lawsuit in the event of malpractice. Crespo v. Hernandez, 151 So. 3d 495, 496 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2014), approved, 211 So. 3d 19 (Fla. 2016). The appellate court ruled the victim of medical malpractice had a right to their day in court. The courts had to provide one upon request. Garcia v. Lincare Inc., 906 So. 2d 1268, 1269 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2005). The court held that a child who has suffered brain damage due the negligence of her hospital has a right to sue that hospital and that a law imposing a three-year limitation on such a right was not applicable. Exposito v. Pub. Health Tr. of Miami-Dade Cty., et al., 141 So. 3d 663, 664 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2014). Reversing a lower court’s dismissal of brain-injured infants’ claim against a negligent hospital and proceeding to trial later resulting a several million dollar jury verdict in favor of the injured child. Mobley v. Homestead Hospital, 291 So. 3d 987 (Fla. 3 Dist., 2019) Reversed lower court’s order dismissing an injured child’s medical negligence claim based on the statute of limitations. The appellate court determined the statute of repose had not expired and allowed the case to proceed to recovery. Reyes v. Baptist Hospital et. al., 360 So. 3rd 438 (Fla. 3 Dist., 2023) Reversing a lower court’s dismissal of a brain-damaged minor child’s claim based on the statute of limitations. The appellate court ruled in favor of the injured child and allowed the claim of the child to proceed to trial. Over her career she has successfully tried numerous medical malpractice cases throughout the nation recovering over $500 million in awards for injured families. She has been awarded record verdicts in medical negligence cases, many of which are the highest ever recovered by a woman trial lawyer in her state. In the state of Florida, she has successfully tried cases in almost every county, including Dade, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Hillsborough, Clay, Polk, Leon, Broward, and Alachua. She has also been admitted to practice and has litigated cases to success on a national level. She was awarded a judgment over $64 million in a medical negligence case, making that judgment, the largest judgment entered by a jury to a single plaintiff in a medical negligence case in Orange County history. She was also awarded over $40 million dollars by a jury in a brain damage in fact case, also reflecting a record verdict for an injured child in the state of Florida. Her jury awards in medical negligence death cases have also been record-setting. In 2019, she obtained an $18 million award for the death of mothers during a delivery and 2012 an $11,600,000.00 verdict in Volusia County, which is the highest medical malpractice wrongful death verdict in the county’s history. She was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Florida Justice Association. During that time, she successfully testified before Congress and passed legislation to protect the rights of the women and children injured from malpractice. In 2011, after much success before the Florida Senate, she was appointed to the governing body of the Florida Justice Association. Ms. Tejedor focuses on medical malpractice cases, including injuries to children, as well as mass torts and dangerous drugs. She is a member of the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum. She has served as Treasurer of the Hispanic Bar Association. In 2009, she was appointed to the Orange County Grievance Ethics Committee and served as its chairperson in 2011. She is also a frequent speaker on medical malpractice. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Florida Justice Association, and in 2011 was appointed to their Executive Committee. Board certification recognizes Ms. Tejedor as a specialist in personal injury trial work. Board certification is an achievement acquired by less than 3% of all lawyers in the state of Florida. She is also recognized as an AV rated lawyer, which means she has been recognized by her peers as having reached the highest levels of professional excellence, skill, and integrity a lawyer can achieve.

Lawrence J. Buckfire (Larry Buckfire) earned his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Michigan in 1986 and his juris doctor degree from Wayne State University School of Law in 1989. He has been in private practice since successfully completing the bar exam in 1989. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, State of Ohio, and in the United States District Court. Lawrence is the lead trial attorney and managing partner at Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. The law firm was founded in 1969 by his father David Buckfire with the principle of representing clients with the highest degree of integrity, compassion, and professionalism. Lawrence’s mother, Vicky Buckfire, joined David in the firm several years later. Lawrence and Daniel both joined their parents upon their completion of law school. Mr. Buckfire has devoted his legal career to helping the most vulnerable members of our society, children and the elderly. He specializes in child lead paint poisoning, wrongful death, nursing home neglect, medical malpractice, and other serious injury cases. “Successfully pursuing these cases is the best way to protect the members of our community from future harm,” said Larry.

Randall M. Blau earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Kalamazoo College in 1993 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1996. He is admitted to practice law in state and federal courts throughout Michigan and has handled cases in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Minnesota and Florida. He has obtained numerous settlements that have been listed in the Top Ten Settlements of the Year for the State of Michigan multiple times during the last decade. Randy has obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his injured clients. He specializes in medical malpractice, birth injuries, nursing home negligence, wrongful death, and automobile negligence cases. He is a member of the Michigan Association for Justice, the Oakland County Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan. Randy has been an invited speaker at a variety of legal seminars, an invited member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has been consistently listed in Who’s Who in Law throughout his career.

Nicolas A. Vesprini earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 2000 from Oakland University. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 2003 from the University of Detroit – Mercy School of Law where he served as the Executive Director of Moot Court Board, represented the law school in national moot court competition, and was an active member of the Student Bar Association Board of Governors, and a Book Award recipient. Nicolas is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Prior to joining Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., Nicolas served as a partner at a preeminent insurance defense law firm with a focus on defense litigation in catastrophic first-party automobile claims, third-party auto negligence, personal injury, premises liability and general negligence. He represented various national clients and several major insurance carriers throughout the state of Michigan. He has tried cases in both state and federal court and has argued before the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Robert Lantzy is a graduate of Central Michigan University and graduated cum laude from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University in 1997. Robert is an experienced trial attorney and concentrates his practice in many areas of civil litigation, including truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, motor vehicle accidents, dog attacks, lead paint exposure and child lead poisoning, mold exposure and cases involving other general environmental contamination. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Michigan Association for Justice, and the Macomb County Bar Association. Robert spent the first years of his legal career as a defense attorney handling cases for insurance companies and their insured. He was named a Partner at a preeminent insurance defense law firm before joining Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Lantzy has developed a successful track record of significant trial verdicts. He is well-received by juries due to his detailed trial preparation and his presentation which provides jurors with great insight into his integrity and his compassion for helping his injured clients. He has been named a “Super Lawyer” for his accomplishments. Clients consistently provide excellent feedback in the form of five-star reviews and thoughtful and compassionate praise of his file handling and resolution of claims on behalf of his clients. Robert has been a featured speaker for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, hospital case managers, city and county health departments and motorcycle advocate organizations.

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.

Chip Cossé is a highly accomplished personal injury attorney who founded the Cossé Law Firm in 2013, has tried numerous jury and bench trials across multiple states, maintains a national practice in tire defect litigation, and is passionate about advocating for his clients’ rights. A member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, only granted to a small percentage of attorneys that have been the lead attorney resolving one or more cases for at least $2,000,000 Chip Cossé graduated from the Paul M. Hebert School of Law at LSU in 1994 and thereafter was partners with his father for 19 years, gaining extensive jury trial experience across a wide range of practice areas. In 2013, he founded the Cossé Law Firm on the premise that he would create the best personal injury law firm possible; a firm that would make its clients proud to have them as their attorneys. For nearly 30 years, Chip has tried numerous jury and bench trials in multiple states, handling auto accident cases, as well as complex litigation involving products liability and traumatic brain injuries. He is licensed in Louisiana and has been admitted pro hac vice in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. He maintains a national practice in the area of tire defect litigation and has successfully handled cases against Continental, Michelin, BF Goodrich and Cooper tire companies. His passion and enthusiasm for the rights of his clients is unsurpassed and he will never be outworked. Chip graduated from Metairie Park Country Day School in 1987, having served as its class President for all four years of high school and attended Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas on an academic scholarship. He returned home after two years to finish his undergraduate degree at LSU, majoring in history and minoring in French. Chip is the proud father of two daughters, one of whom that plans to be the third generation Cossé lawyer. Chip is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Louisiana Association for Justice. He is admitted to practice in every state court in Louisiana, in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Louisiana, and in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.