Michael A. Cassel

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Mr. Cassel is the managing partner and co-founder of Cassel & Cassel, P.A.  He began his career defending insurance carriers in both State and Federal Court where he concentrated on first and third-party commercial and residential insurance claims with a focus on coverage, liability, and bad faith issues.  While representing carriers, he instructed courses on claims adjustment practices as well as deposition skills for insurance adjusters, corporate representatives, and expert witnesses.  Mr. Cassel has since taken the knowledge and experience obtained in defending and instructing insurance companies and utilized it in the representation of policyholders throughout the State of Florida.

​admission to practice

• Florida
• U.S District Court, Southern District of Florida
• U.S District Court, Middle District of Florida
• U.S District Court, Northern District of Florida
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit 
• Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation

​Education

• LL.M Candidate (Insurance Law), University of Connecticut
• J.D., Florida International University College of Law
• B.A., Muhlenberg College

Membership

• Windstorm Insurance Network
  • Member - Board of Directors (2021 to present)
  • Member - Conference Committee (2019)
• Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
  • Member - Board of Directors (2019 - 2021)
  • Alumnus - Leadership Hollywood 43
• ​Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters
  • Associate Member

​licenses and certifications

• Approved Instructor – Adjuster Law, Policy, and Ethics

awards and recognition

• 2017-2022 Rising Star - Florida Super Lawyers Magazine
• 2022 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 40 Under 40 Outstanding Young Professionals of South Florida
• 2020 South Florida Business Journal's 40 Under 40
• 2020 Rising Star, Young Leader Award - Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
• 2020-2021 Top Lawyer: Insurance Law - Fort Lauderdale Illustrated 
• AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell 

​Speaking engagements

• 2022 Florida Bar RPPTL Construction Law and Insurance & Surety Committee - A First Look at New Legislation Impacting Property Insurance (Co-Presenter)
• 2022 WIND Conference - Case Law Webinar Series​​ (Lead Presenter)
• 2022 WIND Conference - Tech Panel​​ (Moderator)
• 2021 Florida Justice Association Civil Remedies Webinar - Civil Remedy Notices for Property Insurance (Panelist)
• FAPIA Fall 2021 Conference - The 2021 Legislative Session & Its Effects on Property Insurance Claims (Co-Presenter with Hillary Cassel)
• 2021 WIND Conference - Case Law and Legislative Update​​ (Lead Presenter)
• 2020 FAPIA Conference - CRNs and DFS Complaints: How, When, & Why (Sole Presenter)
• 2020 Florida Justice Association Civil Remedies Webinar - Civil Remedy Notices for Property Insurance (Panelist)
• 2020 WIND Conference - Case Law and Legislative Update​​ (Lead Presenter)
• 2019 FAPIA Conference - Building Code Compliance and Ordinance & Law​ (Sole Presenter)
• 2019 WIND Conference - Building Code Compliance in Emergencies​ (Lead Presenter)

​Blogs and publications

• An Exploration on the Application of Actual Cash Value versus Replacement Cost Value in Florida Property Insurance Claims - May 2022
• Godfrey v. People's Trust: The Burden of Proving Prejudice regarding a Failure to Comply with Conditions Precedent - April 2022
• Anchor v. Trif: Intent as an Element to Void Coverage based on False Statements or Material Misrepresentations - September 2021
• A study on Sebo and its effect on Florida's Multiple Peril Loss Analysis - July 2021
• Mezadieu v. Safepoint: Material Misrepresentations and the Voiding of Coverage - April 2021
• Security First v. Czelusniak: Analysis of the Anti-Concurrent Causation Doctrine - May 2020
• Vazquez v. Citizens & Tio v. Citizens: Replacement Cost Value, Actual Cash Value, and Matching - March 2020
• Revisiting Alvarez v. State Farm: What does it really mean? - March 2020
• State Farm v. Sanders: Public Adjusters as "Disinterested" Appraisers - August 2019
• Bryant v. GeoVera: Confession of Judgment, Waiver of the Sworn Proof of Loss Requirement, and Ripening Bad Faith - May 2019
• Alvarez v. State Farm: Intentional Misrepresentations and the Voiding of Coverage - April 2019
• SafePoint v. Sousa: Compliance with Post-Loss Conditions and Appraisal - April 2019
• Tracey v. People's Trust: The Scope of Appraisal in Partially Denied Claims - July 2018
• De La Rosa v. Florida Peninsula: Overcoming the Presumption of Prejudice caused by Failure to Provide Prompt Notice - May 2018
• Hicks v. American Integrity: Ambiguities in the Constant Repeated Seepage Exclusion - February 2018

All blog posts from my prior position can be accessed by clicking here.