Attorney Chris Ballentine

Fisher, Rushmer, Werrenrath, Dickson, Talley & Dunlap, P.A. - Orlando, FL

Primary Practice Areas
Insurance coverage disputes and litigation, general liability, and commercial litigation

Educational Background
University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida
J.D. degree, with high honors, 1984
Senior research editor, University of Florida Law Review, 1983-84
Order of the Coif

Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
B.S. degree in government, Summa Cum Laude, 1981

Professional Activities/Honors
Member, Florida Bar
Member, Orange County Bar Association
Admitted to the Middle District of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Awarded Martindale Hubbell’s AV rating

Recipient of various Legal Aid Awards, including:
Legal Aid Society of Orange County New Attorney Award of Merit, 1989 Legal Aid Society of Orange County Award of Excellence, 1993
Judge J. C. “Jake” Stone Award for Distinguished Service, 2003
The Florida Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award, 2004

Publications
Presentation on Bad Faith Issues given at Insurance Bad Faith Claims Seminar in Florida, July 15, 2003, Lorman Education Services
Presentation on Interpretation of General Liability Policies given December 6, 2000 presented by Lorman Education Services
Author of the Chapter on Legal Malpractice Insurance in the publication Professional Liability of Lawyers in Florida, 3d Edition, published by the Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Association

Attorney Lee W. Marcus

Marcus & Myers, P.A. - Orlando, FL

Lee W. Marcus is a founding member of Marcus & Myers, P.A. He has been practicing in Florida since 1992, concentrating in first-party and third-party insurance coverage litigation, ERISA litigation, insurer bad-faith litigation, insurance fraud litigation and SIU support, and appellate practice. He received his Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, from the State University of New York at Albany, and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida.

Mr. Marcus is a former Senior Executive Editor of the Florida Law Review, and served as a teaching fellow for Legal Research and Writing at the University of Florida College of Law. He served as an adjunct professor at Webster University, teaching Employment Law in the Human Resource Management Masters program. Mr. Marcus also speaks throughout Florida and the United States on Insurance Coverage, Insurer Bad Faith, and ERISA, and regularly teaches continuing education courses to attorneys and insurance personnel on these and other insurance-related topics. In addition, he conducts claims-personnel training seminars for several major insurance companies on the subjects of claims administration and insurer bad faith.

Mr. Marcus is a member of the Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention, and has served as a director and officer of Anthony House for the Homeless. He currently serves on the Federation Council for the Talwa Federation of the YMCA Guides Program and The Board of Directors for Windermere Little League.

Mr. Marcus is a member of the Florida Bar and the Orange County Bar Association, and practices in all Florida trial and appellate courts, the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and each of the three Federal District Courts in Florida. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. The Florida Supreme Court has certified Mr. Marcus as a Circuit Civil Mediator.

Attorney Ernest J. Myers

Marcus & Myers, P.A. - Orlando, FL

Ernest J. Myers is an attorney committed to the defense of individuals and organizations from civil liability. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 8, 1967. In 1985, he graduated in the top 1% of nearly 1,000 students at Northeast High School. He was graduated magna cum laude from Temple University in 1989, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in the dual majors of business law and real estate. While an undergraduate, Mr. Myers was an active brother in the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity. He served as President, Senior Vice President and Chancellor of the Omega Chapter.

In the fall of 1989, Mr. Myers moved to Florida and became a permanent resident of the state. Mr. Myers attended the University Of Florida College Of Law, where he was awarded his Juris Doctor degree in 1992. While in law school, Mr. Myers was a member of Phi Alpha Delta and received the J. Hills Miller Award for outstanding leadership and service. During his second and third years of law school, Mr. Myers worked as a law clerk at a Gainesville law firm while continuing his studies.

Mr. Myers is a founding member of the law firm of Marcus & Myers, P.A., and currently serves as Managing Partner. He practices law in the areas of first-party and third-party insurance litigation, ERISA claim litigation, individual disability and life insurance claim litigation, insurer bad faith litigation, liability insurance defense, property insurance defense, and insurance coverage litigation. Additionally, as an appellate practitioner, Mr. Myers has represented clients in the Florida District Courts of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court.

Mr. Myers is a member of The Florida Bar (Charter Member of the Appellate Practice and Advocacy Section), the Orange County Bar Association, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and Defense Research Institute (DRI). He is admitted to practice before all Florida State Courts, all Florida Federal Courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

From 2004 through 2007, Mr. Myers served on a Florida Bar Grievance Committee. He became chairman of that committee during his tenure. He is available to represent attorneys in grievance committee matters before the Florida Bar.

Mr. Myers is a supporter of Second Amendment Rights, and represents several firearms shops, ranges and clubs in the Central Florida area. He is an NRA Certified Firearms Instructor and enjoys teaching people the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for owning and using firearms safely. Additionally he serves as an officer of the Central Florida Rifle & Pistol Club, and is the former President of the Florida Sport Shooting Association.

Mr. Myers lives in Orlando with his wife, Theresa, and their daughters, Laura and Sarah. His interests include racquetball, reading, fencing, and marksmanship.

Areas of Practice
Disability Insurance Defense
Life Insurance Defense
Premises Liability Defense
Automobile Negligence Defense
Insurance Coverage
Insurance Defense
Insurer Bad Faith
Insurance Fraud
Special Investigations Unit (SIU) Support Appellate Practice

Bar Admissions
Florida, 1992
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1993 U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1993 U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida, 2000 U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 2000 U.S. Supreme Court, 2001

Education
University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, 1992, J.D.
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA, 1989, B.B.A.
Honors: Magna Cum Laude
Double Major in Business Law and Real Estate

Professional Associations and Memberships
The Florida Bar
Orange County Bar Association
Florida Defense Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute (DRI)
Anthony House, 1997 - 1999, Director