Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense

Dale R. Hightower

Miami, FL

Admitted

• Florida, 1983
• U.S. District Court, District of Florida, 1984
• U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1989

Dale has been recognized as an expert litigator and has been invited to teach at various legal seminars on various topics ranging from discovery techniques to “door shutting” closing arguments. He has been named The Best Lawyers in America, “Top Lawyer” by the Florida Legal Guide, a Super Lawyers®, Litigation Council of America Senior Fellow, and has maintained an AV Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell® since 1993. His courtroom experience of over 200 jury trials all over Florida with an 80% success rate is unequaled among Florida lawyers.

Memberships:

• The Florida Bar
• Dade County Bar Association (Board of Directors, 1985-1988)
• South Florida Claim Association
• New York Claim Association
• American Trucking Association
• Defense Research Institute (Trucking Law Committee)
• Florida Trucking Association
• Florida Defense Lawyers Association
• Transportation Lawyers Association

Education:

• Florida Southern College, B.S., 1980
• Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, J.D., 1983

Christopher S. Stratton

West Palm Beach, FL

• Telephone: 561-833-2022

Admitted

• Florida, 2002
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 2003
• U.S. District Court, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Chris has been aggressively litigating cases throughout Florida for two decades and has been with the firm for over 18 of those years. From Jacksonville to Key West…from the Panhandle to Palm Beach, Chris was named to Florida Super Lawyer’s “Rising Stars” list six years in a row (2011-2016), became a Super Lawyer© (2024), named a Litigation Counsel of America fellow, recognized as a Top Lawyer by Palm Beach Illustrated (2020-2024) and named to the 2024 & 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Product Liability Litigation and Transportation Law.

Memberships:

• American Bar Association (Committee Member: Torts & Insurance Practice Section)
• The Florida Bar

Education:

• Florida State University, B.S., 1998
• University of Miami, J.D. (cum laude), 2002

Daniel M. Novigrod

Miami, FL

• Telephone: 305-539-0909

Admitted

• Florida, 2004
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Since joining the firm, Dan’s drive and determination distinguished him amongst his peers, earning him partnership in the firm.

As a Partner, and throughout his career with the firm, Dan has had the privilege of representing industry leaders and has established excellent relationships with their risk managers. He effectively defends major corporations and insured individuals in various types of civil cases including automobile negligence, construction defect, first-party property, insurance coverage issues libel/slander/defamation, negligent security, premises liability, products liability, property damage, restaurant liability, subrogation and windstorm. Florida Trend magazine awarded the prestigious Legal Elite® NOTABLE - Managing Partner honor to Dan in 2023 and 2024. 

Memberships:

• The Florida Bar
• Miami-Dade County Bar Association (Young Lawyers Division)

Education:

• California State University, Fullerton, B.A. (cum laude), 2001
• University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2004

Language:

• Spanish

Lee A. Kantor

West Palm Beach, FL

• Telephone: 561-833-2022

Admitted

• Florida, 2005
• U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida

Since joining the firm, Lee has become an experienced trial attorney.  Lee has garnered a reputation as an aggressive litigator not afraid to take a case to trial before a jury. He has obtained numerous defense verdicts as well as countless favorable settlements for his clients including the Champlain Towers South condominium collapse in Surfside. Lee is a member of the Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute. He has been named a Florida Super Lawyer©, Litigation Counsel of America Fellow for defense of his corporate clients in auto negligence, bodily injury, commercial property, construction defect, hospitality liability, public entities, state governments, trucking and transportation, windstorm, and workers compensation. Lee was named a Top Lawyer by Palm Beach Illustrated (2020-2023), Florida Trend Legal Elite NOTABLE - Managing Partner for 2023 & 2024 and named to the 2024 & 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation - Construction. Lee is the Managing Partner of the firm and is the chairman of the firm’s Business Development committee.

Memberships:

• The Florida Bar

Education:

• University of Massachusetts Amherst, B.A. Political Science (cum laude), 2001
• Loyola University New Orleans, J.D., 2005

Scott W. Plankey

Tampa, FL

• Telephone: 727-209-1373

Admitted

• Florida, 2011
• U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida

Scott is the Managing Partner for the firm’s Tampa Bay office. He concentrates his practice exclusively in Florida in the areas of civil litigation including automobile negligence, construction defect, first-party property, hotel & restaurant liability, insurance defense, negligent security, premises liability, windstorm and wrongful death.

Through the use of aggressive litigation and timely mediation, Scott has secured numerous favorable settlements for his clients in both simple and complex litigation matters. Scott has also successfully argued dispositive motions in a number of cases throughout the state of Florida that have allowed for their economical and expeditious conclusion.

Scott is a member in good standing with the Florida Bar. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. Additionally, Scott has been named a Super Lawyers© Rising Star (2019-2021) and Super Lawyer© for (2024) for his exceptional work in civil litigation and Insurance Coverage. Scott was named Florida Trend Legal Elite NOTABLE - Managing Partner for 2023 and has been named in the 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law.

Memberships:

• The Florida Bar

Education:

• The University of Georgia, B.A. International Relations, 1999
• University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2011

Michael Costello

Orlando, FL

• Telephone: 407-352-4240

Admitted

• Florida, 2011
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

Michael’s years of hard work and relentless dedication to his clients earned him the position of Managing Partner of the Orlando office. He practices in various areas including automobile negligence, general liability, premises liability, products liability, property damage, representation of public entities, subrogation insurance coverage Issues and transportation & trucking. Michael was awarded a Florida Trend Legal Elite NOTABLE - Managing Partner for 2023 & 2024 and has been named to the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in America® for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and named to the 2024 & 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in America® for Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants, and named a Super Lawyers© 2024, for his exceptional work in Insurance Coverage. 
 

Memberships:

• The Florida Bar
• Orange County Bar Association

Education:

• St. Leo College, B.A., History (with honors), 2008
• Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, J.D., 2011

Herb L. Uzzi

West Palm Beach, FL

• Telephone: 561-833-2022

Admitted

• Florida, 2014
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Herb has been a valued partner at Hightower, Stratton, Novigrod & Kantor for several years. Herb was named Top Lawyers by Palm Beach Illustrated for 2020-2024 and was named to the 2024 & 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants.

His practice areas include defending nationwide corporations in automobile negligence, breach of contract, insurance coverage, negligent entrustment, negligent hiring, negligent security, negligent training, PIP defense, premises liability, subrogation, traffic defense, trucking and transportation industries. Herb’s litigation prowess and outstanding communication with clients earned him a promotion to a firm Partner in the West Palm Beach office, where he continues to produce exemplary results. 

Memberships:

• The Florida Bar

Education:

• University of South Carolina, B.A. Communications, 2006
• Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, J.D., 2014

Michael J. Greene

Orlando, FL

Admitted

• Florida, 2013

As a partner in the Orlando office, Michael has continued to obtain great results for clients through research, preparation, and attention to detail. He practices in various areas including automobile negligence, insurance coverage issues, premises liability, property damage, and subrogation and windstorm. Michael was recognized as a 2023 & 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

Memberships:

• The Florida Bar

Education:

• State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A., 2009
• Barry University, Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law, J.D., 2013

Marc S. Buschman

Miami, FL

Admitted

• Florida, 1992
• U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida

Memberships:

• American Bar Association
• The Florida Bar
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Defense Research Institute
• Florida Defense Lawyers Association

Education:

• The George Washington University, B.A., 1979
• Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center, J.D. (magna cum laude), 1992

Charles S. Thompson

Miami, FL

Admitted

• Florida, 2018

Charles has invaluable experience in many crucial stages of insurance litigation, including, but not limited to, settlement negotiations, mediations, depositions, hearings, discovery, and motion practice. Charles was selected to the 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 SuperLawyers© Rising Stars list as well as 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 Best Lawyers: One’s To Watch® in America for Insurance Law.

Memberships:

• The Florida Bar

Education:

• Florida International University, B.A. (Dean's List), 2014
• Florida International University College of Law, J.D., 2018

Language:

• Spanish

Gabriele A. Bodanza

Tampa, FL

• Telephone: 727-209-1373

Admitted

• Florida, 2021

Memberships:

• The Florida Bar

Education:

• Florida Gulf Coast University, B.S. (magna cum laude), 2018
• Stetson University College of Law, J.D., 2021