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The Practice Of Law Is A Relationship Business

Michael A. Monteverde

Biography

Michael Monteverde joined Zinober, Diana & Monteverde, P.A. in 2018 as a partner, and he manages the firm’s South Florida office. Michael focuses his practice on the litigation of complex construction defect matters, first- party and third-party insurance disputes, as well as insurance coverage matters. He is both an experienced civil litigator and trial lawyer who has “first chair” civil jury trial experience. His litigation experience spans both state and federal court. Michael is also routinely asked to handle appellate matters for his clients, as well as referrals from other colleagues.

From an insurance perspective, Michael has litigated a variety of insurance related matters, including high exposure bad faith claims, coverage matters, construction defect claims, high exposure third-party injury claims, various and assorted first-party claims, as well as matters arising under jeweler’s block, fine art, and marine insurance policies. Michael can be counted upon to dive into, and navigate through, any type of complex issue involving insurance coverage, commercial litigation, and construction issues. By the same token, Michael is acutely aware of the need to limit exposure and conserve litigation costs on behalf of our clients. He is constantly focused upon the fact that an attorney’s role is not only to “win” a case, but also to use the most cost-effective method to resolve the matter. However, Michael also recognizes that, at the client’s option, there are simply those times when a line needs to be drawn. When this circumstance arises, Michael is well equipped to call upon his own resources, as well as those of the firm, to seek and obtain the most beneficial result for the client.

Although originally from New York, where he attended high school, college, and law school, Michael moved to South Florida immediately after law school, where he lives and loves spending time in the sunshine with his wife and daughter. Since moving to Florida, Michael has worked for large law firms, focusing on matters ranging from maritime, commercial, construction, and insurance-related litigation. Michael strongly subscribes to our core values at Zinober, Diana & Monteverde, P.A., which considers clients to be more than individuals or entities. Michael believes that, above all, the practice of law is a relationship business. Thus, Michael uniformly seeks to deepen his relationship with each client, as well as the legal community at large.


Education

  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, New York
    • Juris Doctor – 2007
  • Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York
    • B.A., Bachelor of Arts – 2003
    • Major: Biological Sciences

Languages

  • English

Classes & Seminars

  • Latest on Discoverability of Privileged Claims Information in a Bad Faith Case and Issues Surrounding Attorney-Client/Work Product Privilege: Scope of Discovery, Including Institutional Bad Faith Discovery, and a Focus on How Far the Privilege Extends, American Conference Institute, Bad Faith Claims and Litigation Conference, Miami, FL, November 19th and 20th 2015
  • Overcoming Latest Challenges With Institutional Bad Faith Claims, Including Bad Faith Discovery, American Conference Institute, Extra-Contractual & Bad Faith Liability Conference, New York, NY, June 3, 2016
  • Why It Is Important For Insurers to Avoid “Bad Faith” In U.S. Fine Art and Jewelry Claims, IFASIC (International Fine Art and Specie Insurance Conference), Athens, Greece, October 19-21, 2016

Published Works

  • “Does Discretion Depend on ‘Magic Words’? Demystifying an ERISA Conundrum”, DRI For the Defense Magazine, December 15, 2014

Current Employment Position

  • Partner

Practice Areas

  • Complex construction defect litigation
  • First- party and third-party insurance disputes
  • Insurance coverage matters

Honors

  • Best Lawyers in America, 2024
  • Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star 2017 and 2018

Representative Cases

  • Gozzo Development, Inc. v. Esker, 231 So.3d 4 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017)
  • Gozzo Development, Inc. v. Esker, 199 So.3d 940 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016)
  • Dehres, LLC v. Underwriters at Interest at Lloyds London, 826 F.Supp.2d 1338 (S.D. Fla. 2011)
  • Underwriters at Interest Under Bailee Insurance Policy No. 09RTAMIA1158 v. Seatruck, Inc., 858 F.Supp.2d 1334 (S.D. Fla. 2012)
AttorneyMichael A. Monteverde