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Hi, We’re Brandon Cathey and Stephanie Miles, the Co-founders and Lead Trial Attorneys
After succeeding together at a law firm in Tampa for three decades, Stephanie Miles and I started our own firm in 2022 in St. Petersburg where we live.
Our greatest strength is helping personal injury lawyers whose clients face litigation and liability insurance challenges (BI, UM, CGL, coverage investigations).
Having co-counseled on hundreds of personal injury cases over our combined 39 years, we have seen a wide array of roadblocks and have consistently found a successful path forward, even when it meant cutting a new one.
Whether we serve as your coverage, bad faith, trial, or appellate counsel, our results speak for themselves. We love talking to plaintiff’s lawyers, defense lawyers, and clients about their personal injury cases, so please contact us with your questions today!
First Name
Last Name
Role
Co-founder, CEO, and Lead Trial Lawyer
About
Brandon is known for achieving exceptional results in catastrophic injury cases. He lives for the moment when a client’s face lights up, realizing their life is about to take a remarkable turn for the better, thanks to a lawsuit’s outcome.
Notable recent results
Brandon’s results speak for themselves. Some of the more notable results of the last 5 years:
August 2023
$509,698.30
Client with herniated neck won jury verdict of
$509,698.30, plus attorneys’ fees and costs, after liability insurer offered referring
counsel $130,000 in highly disputed car wreck case against Florida Aquarium.
August 2023
$495,000
Satisfaction of $495,000 excess judgment after client
was sued by Esurance seeking a declaration that it acted in good faith when it failed to
settle for client’s $10,000 policy limit because of a lien.
May 2023
$4,250,000
Satisfaction of $4.25 million excess judgment after
client sued liability insurer for failing in good faith to settle a wrongful death case
within client’s $100,000 insurance policy.
December 2021
$2 million
Client recovered $2 million for the wrongful death of his wife in an Orlando head-on collision, where the defendant had only a $1 million policy with competing claims against it.
August 2021
$10 million
Client received a $10 million settlement after breaking his neck on a tackle at a summer football camp in Deland that required all participants to sign pre-activity liability releases.
Read article
June 2021
$4 million
Client received an opinion from the Second District affirming the denial of a $4 million set off.
May 2021
$7.1 million
Client received an opinion from the Second District reversing a directed verdict for the defendant, resulting in a $7.1 million judgment against the defendant.
April 2020
$2.99 million
Client settled a Jacksonville bad faith lawsuit for $2.99 million on a $100,000 policy.
March 2020
$2 million
Client won a $2 million settlement on a premise liability claim in Orlando with no indemnity coverage.
May 2019
$3.8 million
Clients’ won a $3.8 million jury verdict after breaking his foot in a motorcycle accident in Riverview.
March 2019
$0
Brandon’s arguments about when an insurer’s duty of
good faith arose did not persuade the Georgia Supreme Court to affirm the Court of
Appeals in a case over a $5.3 million judgment.
March 2019
$30.1 million
Clients won a $30.1 million jury verdict after suffering a TBI in a T-bone collision in Thonotosassa. The insurance company refused to agree to more than $148,000 in damages. Click to watch local tv news report.
Watch News Report
June 2018
$6.7 million
Clients won a $6.7 million verdict in a food poisoning case against a Tampa restaurant after its insurance company made its highest offer of $20,000. Click to watch local tv news report.
Watch News Report
March 2018
$1.7 million
Clients received a $1.5 million settlement for the wrongful death of their adult daughter in Atlanta where the defendant had a policy limit of only $25,000.
December 2017
$12.5 million
Clients received a $12.5 million settlement for a paralysis case in Port Charlotte where the insurance company’s highest prior offer had been its $300,000 policy limit.
August 2017
$10 million
Following a bad faith jury verdict in Atlanta, affirmed by the United States 11th Circuit, his clients recovered $10 million over a $100,000 policy limit
June 2017
$717,000 UM
Client won a $717,000 UM verdict in Orlando against State Farm after it made its highest offer of $100.
Reported Decisions
Brandon has been at the forefront of landmark legal issues, in both Florida and Georgia, establishing himself as an accomplished appellate advocate in the federal and state courts of appeal for Florida and Georgia.
Ellison v. Willoughby
No. 2D19-1961 (Fla. 2d DCA 2021)
Martinez v. Lobster Haven, LLC
320 So. 3d 873 (Fla. 2d DCA 2021)
Harmon Parker, P.A. v. Santek Mgmt., LLC
311 So. 3d 213 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020)
Hughes v. Mid-Continent Cas. Co.
264 So. 3d 1053 (Fla. 3d DCA 2019)
Gray v. AHCA
288 So. 3d 95 (Fla. 1st DCA 2019)
First Acceptance Co. of Ga., Inc. v. Hughes
826 S.E. 2d 71 (Ga. 2019)
Hughes v. First Acceptance Ins. Co. of Ga., Inc.
836 S.E. 2d 634 (Ga. App. 2019)
Moxley v. U-Haul Company of Florida
308 So. 3d 91 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019)
USAA v. Lynch
255 So. 3d 818 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018)
Moxley v. Infinity Indem. Inc. Co.
Case No. 2D16-3973 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018)
Ray v. Fowler White
Case No. 2D17-2697 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018)
Hughes v. First Acceptance Co. of Ga., Inc.
808 S.E. 2d 103 (Ga. App. 2017)
Willoughby v. AHCA
212 So. 3d 516 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017)
Allstate v. Schlichting
174 So. 3d 1000 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015)
Belizaire v. Gray
173 So. 3d 969 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015)
New Hampshire Indem. Co. v. Gray
177 So. 3d 56 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015)
Gray v. Belizaire
146 So. 3d 1175 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014)
Lydacker Lee et al v. Brown
156 So. 3d 1092 (Fla. 2d DCA 2014)
Camacho v. Nationwide Mut. Ins. Co.
13 F. Supp. 3d 1343 (N.D. Ga. 2014)
Moxley v. U-Haul Co. of Fla.
148 So. 3d 132 (Fla. 2d DCA 2014)
Markel Am. Ins. Co. v. Baker
152 So. 3d 86 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014)
Roman v. Bogle
113 So. 3d 1011 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013)
Leadership 
2018-2019
Served as the President of the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association, improving the quality of its educational seminars, social events, and judicial engagement.
2017-2018
Served as the President of the Florida State College of Law Alumni Association, initiating the creation of a national and statewide network of local FSU Law alumni associations.
since 2015
Advocated for Florida’s insured customers, testifying in legislative committees and meeting with elected officials in Tallahassee about insurance bad faith issues.
Since 2004
Brandon has been an Eagle member of the Florida Justice Association since graduating from law school.
Seminar
Presentations
Brandon has remained at the cutting edge of the law, having consulted with and given seminars to hundreds of lawyers throughout the United States on the challenges facing attorneys who represent catastrophically injured clients. Some of the more notable seminars:
”Closing Argument Demonstration”
FJA Al. J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute
August 2023
“Jury Selection: Civil Cases”
Hillsborough County Bar Association State Court Trial Seminar
June 2023
“Why Do I Need to File a Civil Remedy Notice: Violations by the UM Insurer”
FJA Civil Remedies Webinar
December 2022
“Jury Selection”
Hillsborough County Bar Association State Court Trial Seminar
June 2022
“The Mammal: Letting Love Lead the Way in Plaintiff’s Direct”
FJA Annual Convention Advanced Trial Skills
June 2022
Guest Lecturer in Insurance Law
Stetson Law
October 2022, 2021
Demonstration of Direct of a Lay Witness
FJA Al. J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute
October 2022
“Why Do I Need a Civil Remedy Notice?”
FJA Civil Remedies Webinar
December 2021
“Million Dollar Mistakes in Auto Cases”
FJA Masters of Justice: Auto
September 2021
“Multiple Claimant Cases”
FJA Masters of Justice: Insurance & Bad Faith.
September 2019
Guest Lecturer on Mediation at University of Tampa
Mediation University of Tampa’s Negotiation Class
2019, 2018, 2015
“Mediation Magic: Getting the Adjuster to Go All In”
FJA Annual Convention
June 2018
“How Do We Get There? The State of the Law on Coblentz Agreement”
FJA Masters of Justice: Bad Faith
October 2017
“Bad Faith Law in Florida”
Tampa Bay Inn of Court
October 2017
“Corporate Greed: How to Find It, How to Prove It in Bad Faith Cases”
FJA Annual Convention
June 2017
“Bad Faith 101”
FJA Personal Injury Bootcamp Webinar Series
April 2017
“The Traps that Kill Great UM Bad Faith”
FJA Workhorse Seminar
March 2016
“Don’t Let Slippery Insurance Issues Jackknife Your Case”
FJA Masters of Justice
September 2016
“Insurance Bad Faith Legislative Update”
FJA Annual Convention
June 2015
Professional
Recognition
Best Lawyers in America
2016 - Present
Florida Super Lawyer
2010 - Present
Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine
2018
National Trial Lawyers Top 100
2018
“Preeminent” AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
2012 - Present
Education
In 2004, Brandon graduated from the Florida State College of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Team, awarded Best Brief among first-year law students who competed to join the moot court team, and chosen to present his oral argument before the Florida Supreme Court as a member of the prestigious “Final Four.”
He was also a Co-Champion of the American Bar Association, FSU College of Law Negotiation Competition and was awarded the Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award for his efforts to assist the wrongly convicted through the Florida Innocence Project.
In 2000, he earned his bachelor’s degree, with double majors in English and History, from the University of South Florida.
First Name
Last Name
Role
Co-founder and Lead Trial Lawyer
About. Stephanie is known for
If a person was measured by how many units of their life they gave for the benefit of others, Stephanie would beat Mother Teresa. She just happens to be a world-class trial lawyer instead of a nun.
Stephanie is the absence of pretentiousness. She is an incredible listener, has an amazing memory, and is astoundingly resourceful. She doesn’t judge; she’s quick to understand and forgive; and those (family, friends, colleagues, clients) who share a bond with her know how her immense powers have improved their lives.
Who is She?
Stephanie has built great cases from scratch, turned brand new law grads into skilled trial lawyers,
and won repeatedly for her clients when she has been the only attorney facing dozens of defence
lawyers in cases against heavy industry, insurance companies, and hospitals. During trials,
she enjoys a reputation for being the last to bed and the first to rise, even if it means
sleeping on the couch in her office. If the job needs to be done, it will get
done because of Stephanie.
Stephanie has handled a wide variety of high-stakes cases arising from sports injuries,
defective products, car accidents, medical malpractice, and insurance bad faith. She has
tried bad faith and catastrophic personal injury cases in federal and state courts in Tampa,
Miami, Jacksonville, Naples, and Deland. Recently, recovered $10 million
for a young man who was paralyzed at a summer football camp. She was also part of the appellate
team that convinced Florida’s Supreme Court to hold insurance companies liable for attorney’s
fees that result from unaccepted proposals for settlement.
Reported Decisions
Some of Stephanie’s Reported Decisions:
Ortiz v. Regalado
113 So. 3d 57 (Fla. 2d DCA)
Milling v. Travelers Home & Marine Ins. Co.
311 So. 3d 289 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020)
Ellis v. Trevino
Case No. 2D20-458 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020)
Bove Grand, Inc. v. Diamond
Case No. 2D17-4955 (Fla. 2d DCA 2019)
Bove Grand, Inc. v. Diamond
243 So. 3d 350 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018)
USAA v. Lynch
255 So. 3d 818 (Fla. 2d DCA 2018)
GEICO v. Macedo
228 So. 3d 1111 (Fla. 2017)
Bottini v. GEICO
859 F. 3d 987 (11th Cir. 2017)
Belizaire v. Gray
173 So. 3d 969 (Fla. 3d DCA 2015)
New Hampshire Indem. Co. v. Gray
177 So. 3d 56 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015)
Gray v. Belizaire
146 So. 3d 1175 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014)
Claudio v. Regalado
116 So. 3d 451 (Fla. 3d DCA 2013)
New Hampshire Indem. Co. v. Scott
910 F. Supp. 2d 1341 (M.D. Fla. Dec. 13, 2012)
Kearney v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co.
Case No. 8:06-cv-595-T-24 TGW (M.D. Fla. Apr. 21, 2011)
Leadership
She serves on the Standard Jury Instruction Committee (Civil), having been appointed by Florida’s Supreme
Court in 2019. Stephanie’s passion and determination also extend beyond trial lawyering.
For more than a decade, Stephanie contributed 100+ pro bono hours annually, advocating
for neglected children in Hillsborough County as an attorney ad litem and guardian ad litem.
Stephanie is also the repeat female Champion of the American Lung Association’s Tampa Climb for Air,
beating hundreds of competitors, and still holds the record for the fastest female to climb the 42
floors of Tampa’s Bank of America building with a time of 6 minutes, 5 seconds. She also volunteers
as a Co-Troop Leader for the Girl Scouts.
Professional
Recognition
Stephanie has been recognized by Martindale with an AV Preeminent Rating, the highest available.
Many of the exceptional peer reviews she received came from courtroom
opponents she has faced over the years.
Back in 2013, one adversary wrote:
“Our defence team estimated Ms. Miles trial experience well beyond her actual experience. She is an excellent trial attorney, always prepared and quick on her feet.”
Presentations
Stephanie has guest lectured law students in upper-level insurance law at Stetson College of Law for the last 7 years.
Education
Stephanie served as the Research Editor for the Stetson Law Review and graduated cum laude from Stetson Law in 2005.
She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 2002 where she was a University Scholar. Stephanie grew up in Wampum, Pennsylvania, where she was a salutatorian in her high school class of more than 200.
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