Attorney Profiles

Dave began practicing law as a trial lawyer in Southeast Florida in 1978 and his trial skills have received the highest recognition by his peers: He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, a Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a Diplomate of Litigation Counsel of America and listed in Leading Florida Attorneys, Who’s Who in American Law, and Florida Super Lawyers.

Dave represents and defends several national and international corporations including Ryder Truck Rental, Target Corporation, Costco Wholesale Corporation, and The Hertz Corporation.

Dave has tried in excess of 150 cases to verdict, successfully defending clients in major lawsuits involving wrongful death, catastrophic brain injury, paralysis, loss of limbs, and rape/sexual assault.

Bruce Trybus grew up in Zimbabwe, then obtained his undergraduate and first law degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, before being admitted to practice in South Africa in 1987. Bruce joined the the firm after obtaining his second law degree (cum laude) from Nova Southeastern University in 1992.

Bruce has tried serious cases (some of them months-long) including death, brain-damage, and amputation lawsuits in state and federal courts in south Florida and elsewhere. He represents corporations, third party administrators and insurers (and their insureds) and has a particular interest in cases involving complex or unusual injuries and medical issues and trucking and other complex accidents. Bruce is AV-rated by Martindale Hubbell.

Originally from Canada, Warren obtained his Bachelor’s degree (with Great Distinction) from McGill University in 1993, before graduating with his law degree (magna cum laude) from Nova Southeastern University in 1996. Warren then clerked with the Fourth District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach before entering private practice. He has handled over 150 appeals and over 70 oral arguments in Florida’s appellate courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Warren is the firm’s appellate partner and focuses on appeals and insurance coverage. He also teaches appellate practice at Nova Southeastern University.

Al obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida. He earned his law degree from Nova Southeastern University where he won the school’s Moot Court Competition. He developed an interest in medical malpractice defense while attending Nova and working for Emergency Medical Services Associates, which later became known as Inphynet Medical Management. Upon graduation he specialized in medical malpractice defense, defending various hospitals, nursing homes, physician groups and healthcare providers.

Al also specialized in drug and medical device litigation while defending American Home Products and Wyeth/Ayerst during the Phen-Fen mass tort litigation claims. Like the other founding partners, he is a member of the Florida Defense Lawyers’ Association and the Defense Research Institute, and also belongs to the Florida Medical Malpractice Claims Counsel.

Benjamin ("Benny") Kashi, a partner at the firm, began the first six years of his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney in Orlando, during which time he tried eighty five criminal jury trials, eighty of which involved felony charges. Since then, and for the majority of his career, he has focused his practice on tort and insurance defense litigation. Over the years, Benny has handled many serious cases, including ones involving serious personal injuries, death and major property damage. He also has significant trial experience and has been published and given seminars in defense work.

Kelly was born and raised in Florida. As an undergraduate, Kelly earned a B.A. in Political Science and History and was an Anderson Scholar Highest Distinction.

After graduating from law school, Kelly served as a law clerk for an appellate judge at the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Kelly recently co-authored an article with Matthew Wendler that was published in the Trial Advocate Quarterly Spring 2017 issue titled “Call Me Maybe: Punitive Damages in Cases Arising from Motor Vehicle Accidents Caused by Cell Phone Use”.

Caroline A. Lewis was born and raised in South Florida. She graduated cum laude from the University of Florida and later attended the Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center where she earned her Juris Doctorate and graduated magna cum laude in 2013.

Caroline began her legal career at a mid-size bankruptcy firm where she handled matters arising under Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. Caroline then went on to practice at an insurance defense firm in 2014 where she focused on first-party property damage and coverage claims as well as third-party claims in the areas of property damage, automobile negligence, wrongful death actions, and premises liability.

During law school, Caroline was a Senior Staff Member of the Nova Law Review and actively involved in the Hispanic Law Student Association.

She also published her article, “Cyber Bullying: A Scourge that Needs to End,” in the Broward County Justice Association newsletter in May of 2013. Caroline’s article, “LMM: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” was also published in the Southern District of Florida, Bankruptcy Bar Association Journal in 2014.

Lourdes was born and raised in Florida. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from Florida Atlantic University, her Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern, and her LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Miami. Upon graduating from the University of Miami, Lourdes became in-house counsel for a yacht management firm and her practice dealt with insurance, contracts, tax and immigration. She later joined the State of Florida Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation where her practice consisted primarily of the legal tasks involved when taking over the business of insolvent insurers. For the majority of her career, Lourdes’ practice has been focused on insurance related litigation as well as the transactional aspects of it.

Russell has tried approximately 120 jury trial, many involving serious injuries. He represents corporations, insurance companies and their insureds. He is particularly experienced at cross-examining medical experts in personal injury cases.

Antonia (“Tania”) was born and raised in South Florida and graduated magna cum laude from NSU Law following a 14-year career as a civil litigation paralegal and disability appeals specialist. She began her career as an attorney with the State Attorney’s Office of the 17th Judicial Circuit as an Assistant State Attorney, where she tried numerous jury trials, both felony and misdemeanor. She then went into solo practice where she specialized in business, real estate, and contract disputes.

Billie was born and raised in South Florida. She received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida in Orlando in 2015. She spent several years working for the State Attorney’s Office in Orange County, Florida before deciding to attend Barry University School of Law, where she received an academic scholarship.

During law school, Billie worked at a personal injury and criminal defense firm in Orlando. She was a Senior Editor of the Barry Law Review, and served as Vice Justice of the Barry Law Moot Court Team, competing at statewide and national appellate argument competitions, and earning several awards, including a National Championship. Billie earned her J.D. from Barry University in 2020, graduating summa cum laude.

Prior to joining the firm, Billie was an Assistant Public Defender for the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orlando, where she spent nearly every day in the courtroom representing hundreds of clients.

Toni was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Florida in 1993, and Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law, in 1996.

During law school, Toni worked at a personal injury firm in Gainesville, FL. After graduating from law school, Toni worked with the 15th Judicial Circuit Office of the Public Defender in Palm Beach County, Florida for approximately five years. Toni then went on to practice at an insurance defense firm where she focused on automobile negligence case.

Toni has tired in excess of 50 cases to verdict, successfully defending clients in major lawsuits involving criminal defense and serious injuries. She represents corporations, insurance companies and their insured.

Born and raised in the south Florida area and having lived in each of the major counties in the tri-county area, attorney Juan Medolla is honored to practice law as a civil litigator in the community he has called home for the majority of his life. After graduating from Monsignor Edward Pace High School in 2003, Mr. Medolla earned his Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida in 2007 before attending Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law where he received his Juris Doctorate in 2010. From an early age, Juan pursued his passion for spirited debate, the law, and trial work by competing in mock trial tournaments in elementary school, high school, college, and eventually, law school.

Juan began his career serving the public interest as an attorney for nonprofit Legal Aid services in both Broward and Palm Beach County. As a public interest attorney, he expanded his legal knowledge and enhanced his litigation skills by serving the most under privileged members of our community facing a wide range of legal issues. Practicing in the areas of foreclosure defense, social security disability, immigration, landlord/tenant, and health law, among others, guided by an unwavering commitment to client representation and protection. Prior to joining Cooney Trybus Kwavnick Peets, Juan litigated on behalf of Plaintiffs in their claims for personal injury for several years.

In his personal time, Mr. Medolla is an avid bowler, softball player, pool player, and poker player. Juan is licensed to practice law in Florida and is fully fluent in Spanish.