Kelley H. Armitage **** Corsica Place, Vero Beach, Fla. 32967-7677

ad2k8o@r.postjobfree.com • 772-***-****

Summary

Attorney with broad expertise with a record of excellence in litigation and contract negotiations. Expert analytical, negotiation and problem-solving skills. Member of the Southern District of Florida, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Eleventh Circuit, United States Supreme Court and The Florida Bar.

Experience

Security First Insurance Company, Ormond Beach, Fla. (2022 to Present).

Managing Attorney

Supervised and managed a team of attorneys and paraprofessionals. Provided mentoring and counseling to members of team regarding litigation strategy and tactics. Advised clients regarding the specific laws that govern first-party homeowner’s insurance claims. Protected clients’ rights regarding homeowner’s policy. Review and prepare legal pleadings, motions, discovery. Initiated and defended civil cases handling pleadings, discovery, motions, trial, and negotiations.

• Lead counsel for assignment-of-benefits issues and cases.

Rooney & Rooney, P.A., Vero Beach, Fla. (2018 to 2022).

Attorney

Advised clients regarding the specific laws that govern the establishment and operation of businesses. Provided mentoring and counseling services to new clients that wish to create and operate a new small business in the state of Florida. Protected clients’ rights regarding intellectual property infringement and warded off false charges of infringement. Advised Clients concerning the rights and obligations of employer and employee relationships. Review and prepare legal pleadings, motions, discovery. Initiated and defended civil cases handling pleadings, discovery, motions, trial, and negotiations.

• Lead counsel for business & government issues.

City of Sebastian, Sebastian, Fla. (2014 to Present)

City Magistrate

Managed litigation and general services for large government entity, including contract negotiations and review, lease agreements, telecommunications law, public finance, and inter-local agreements. Handled administrative hearings. Presided over administrative hearings involving violations of the City’s ordinances. Took evidence, evaluated witness testimony and reviewed documents. Rendered decisions to which the parties are bound.

• Oversaw an extensive litigation docket and decided the outcome of civil cases and administrative disputes.

Argosy University Online, Fullerton, Cal. (2014 to 2019)

Legal Studies Professor

Taught law to graduate and undergraduate students with emphasis in legal research, criminal law, constitutional law, civil law, torts, employment law, property law, judicial process, legal writing, civil procedure, and administrative law.

• Identified cutting-edge issues in various areas of criminal and civil law and implemented them.

Arbitration Resolution Services, Inc., Coral Springs, Fla. (2011 to Present)

Arbitrator

Presided over alternative dispute resolution hearings, using binding arbitration. Took evidence, evaluated witness testimony and reviewed documents. Rendered a decision to which the parties to the arbitration agree to be bound.

• Oversaw an extensive litigation docket and decided the outcome of civil cases and administrative disputes.

University of Phoenix, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (2001 to 2017)

Legal Studies Chairman, Graduate School of Business

Taught law to graduate and undergraduate students with emphasis in contracts, criminal law, constitutional law, torts, employment law, property, judicial process, and environmental law. Supervised and evaluated a staff of professionals.

Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, Fla. (2005 to 2009)

Hearing Officer

Presided over civil hearings, entertained pre-trial motions and issued orders detailing judicial reasoning. Presided over trials as judicial officer, finding facts and applying law. Adjudicated guilt or innocence and determined sentence.

• Oversaw civil courtroom and arbitrated compliance and regulatory issues and cases.

State of Florida, West Palm Beach, Fla. (2002 to 2005)

Lead Assistant Attorney General

Supervised investigations of medical providers regarding HIPAA, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, fraud and abuse, and anti-kickback issues. Supervised investigations of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals concerning patient abuse, neglect and exploitation. Drafted administration policy papers and proposed legislation. Inspected assisted living facilities and nursing homes relating to corporate governance and regulatory compliance.

• Lead counsel for False Claims Act cases and civil forfeiture actions brought in both state and federal courts.

South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, Fla. (1996 to 2001)

Senior Attorney

Managed litigation and general services for large government entity, including contract negotiations and review, lease agreements, telecommunications law, public finance, and inter-local agreements. Handled administrative hearings. Drafted legislation and lobbied legislature to pass bill. Drafted administrative rules and policies and enforced them.

• Lead public finance and business counsel for Everglades and telecommunications projects.

Paxton Crow, et al., West Palm Beach, Fla. (1993 to 1996).

Associate

Initiated and defended civil cases handling pleadings, discovery, motions, trial, and negotiations. Supervised insurance fraud investigations (including property, PIP and bodily injury claims). Drafted & argued motions for summary judgment.

• Lead counsel for insurance fraud claims and coverage actions brought in either state and/or federal courts.

Education

Juris Doctor, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.

Articles Editor, University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy

Published Articles

• Denial Ain't Just a River in Egypt: A Thorough Review of Judicial Elections, Merit Selection and the Role of State Judges in Society, 29 Capital University Law Review 625 (2002). A summary of the deliberative ebb and flow in the judicial appointments versus judicial elections debate. This article has been cited in 30 legal journals.

• It's Good to be King (At Least it Used to be and Could be Again): A Textualist View of Sovereign Immunity, 29 Stetson Law Review 599 (2000). Examination of court decisions that address progressive social causes and public contracting. Investigation and deconstruction of textualist tendencies of modern courts concerning public contracting. This article has been cited by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and seven legal journals.

• Constitution Revision Commissions Prevent Log-rolling, Don't They? 72 Florida Bar Journal 62 (Nov. 1998). Analysis of the role constitution revision commissions play in Florida. Determined that log-rolling prohibitions applied to ballot initiatives proposed by the Revision Commission. This article has been cited by five legal journals.

Civic & Professional Organizations

Palm Beach County Zoning Commission, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Amnesty International, New York, NY

Town of Jupiter Art Committee, Jupiter, Fla.

The Federalist Society, Washington, D.C.

Habitat for Humanity, West Palm Beach, Fla.

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