Jan 05 2018
Jody Benard

Jody C. Benard

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Jody C. Benard, Partner and New York Team Leader, Insurance Defense Practice Group, is a seasoned litigator and trial lawyer with a proven record of achieving excellent results in all types of cases. With extensive experience in litigation and trial, Jody has prosecuted and defended significant matters from both sides of the courtroom.

Before joining the Dodd DelCollo team, Jody was the founding and managing partner of a successful defense litigation firm. During this time, in addition to her handling all aspects of litigation, including trial, Jody directed the business operations of the firm and successfully managed a multitude of matters.

Jody has actively practiced in state and federal courts in both New York and New Jersey. With her diverse background, Jody brings a wide range of expertise to the firm including property damage, labor law, premises liability, personal injury, commercial litigation, products liability and insurance coverage. Additionally, Jody has experience in setting and maintaining policy for No Fault claims and litigation.

Jody also serves as Vice President of the Board of Trustees for the New York School for the Deaf.

ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS

• New York School for the Deaf – Board of Trustees Vice President

Jan 19 2024
Russel Bolin Hickey Smith Dodd

Russell L. Bolin

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Russell L. Bolin has been practicing law in both the State and Federal Courts for more than twenty years. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants through litigation and jury trials. His civil experience includes defending large grocery stores in premises liability claims, defense of construction defect claims, products liability claims, dog bite cases, general negligence, automobile and property liability cases.

Prior to joining Dodd DelCollo, Russell worked as In-House counsel for a large automobile insurance company in Los Angeles, handling the defense of auto accident and personal injury cases through litigation, including jury trials. Russell has also previously practiced in the Federal Courts, including Bankruptcy and Federal criminal matters.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Successfully took first chair in defense of many jury trials in Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, Orange and San Diego Counties with multiple defense verdicts and a directed verdict.
  • Successfully argued an appeal before the Fourth District Court of Appeals in San Diego.
  • Successfully handled bench trials for Plaintiffs in dozens of property, contract and business related actions in San Diego.
  • Successfully argued multiple summary judgment motions and motions for judgment on the pleadings.
  • Successfully argued a motion to strike a punitive damages cause of action in an automobile accident case.

ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • California State Bar
May 23 2017
Ann DelCollo - Hickey Smith Dodd

Ann M. DelCollo

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Ann DelCollo is the Legal Operations Partner of Dodd DelCollo. In her role as Legal Operations Partner, Ann is responsible for hiring, assigning cases and monitoring caseloads, and monitoring the individual performance of each attorney. Ann also sets strategic performance goals for the Insurance Defense Practice Group that are designed to promote professional growth and job satisfaction for the attorneys while at the same time contributing to the growth and success of Dodd DelCollo.

Ann is an insurance defense industry veteran. She has devoted her career to defending personal injury lawsuits in Philadelphia, and its surrounding counties. For the better part of the last 25 years, Ann has defended insurers as either an in-house counsel for two of the largest carriers in the county or in the law firm setting. Having worked in the industry as both an in-house counsel and law firm litigator, she brings a grounded and well-balanced understanding to the practice.

Ann has appeared in more than 500 trials or arbitrations on behalf of her insurance industry clients. She has extensive experience defending personal injury lawsuits involving both personal and commercial lines. Ann also has significant experience in the areas of business litigation, employee theft, class-action asbestos litigation and criminal defense.

Ann began her career in Philadelphia as an insurance defense attorney, defending medical malpractice, personal injury and asbestos lawsuits. From there she served as trial counsel for Allstate Insurance Company, and later, she served as senior trial counsel for Nationwide Insurance Company.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

As trial counsel for several major insurance companies, as well as many smaller carriers, Ann has represented a wide range of business entities, including commercial property owners, property management groups, general contractors in the construction industry, hospitals, manufacturers, restaurants and bars, and landscaping companies, as well as individual property owners and drivers.

  • Represented a general contractor in the construction industry in a multi-million-dollar construction injury case.
  • Represented a manufacturer of industrial brakes in class-action asbestos litigation.
  • Represented an employer in an employee theft case that resulted in the return of more than $300,000 to the employer. Facilitated the criminal prosecution of the employee.
  • Represented a business owner in a dispute over real estate and property management business located on the island of St. Maarten. The case went to trial, resulting in a favorable verdict for client.

PUBLISHED WORKS AND LECTURES

  • Philadelphia Bar Institute, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Speaker, “Arbitration Practice in Philadelphia County.”
  • Allstate Insurance Company, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Presenter, “The Art of Cross-Examining the Expert Witness.”

ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIP

Ann was recently elected to serve as Board Chair for The Northeast Health Group, Inc. As Board Chair, Ann is responsible for overseeing the Board of Directors serving four nursing home facilities located in Massachusetts. Ann also sits on the Board of Directors for Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has worked as a volunteer for that organization since 2015. An avid runner, Ann has completed two marathons and enjoys competing in trail racing near her hometown of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.

Aug 31 2026
Dodd DelCollo Photo Coming Soon

Jacqueline D. DeWarr

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Ms. DeWarr has been a civil litigation attorney for more than twenty-five years. She has experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury, premises liability, products liability, civil rights, contract disputes, estate litigation, airline litigation and school district litigation.

Prior to joining Dodd DelCollo, Ms. DeWarr served as a senior trial attorney for a national insurance company handling the civil litigation defense of primarily motor vehicle accident and premises liability cases. She handled all aspects of cases from inception through mediation, settlement and trial. Ms. DeWarr has also handled multiple appellate cases throughout her career.

Additionally, Ms. DeWarr has completed Mastering the Fundamentals of Mediation 40-Hour Certificate Training through the Center for Negotiation & Dispute Resolution located at UC Law, San Francisco. This additional training provides Ms. DeWarr with crucial skills to assist moving cases towards settlement.

REPRESENTATIVE APPELLATE CASES:

  • Ahmadi v. United Cont’l Holdings, Inc., No. 1:14-CV-00264-LJO-JLT, 2014 WL 1281056 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 31, 2014)
  • Louis Corales, et al. v. Gene Bennett, Ontario-Montclair School District, No. 0755892, 567 F. 3rd 554 (C.A. 9th (Cal.) June 1, 2009)
  • Louis Corales, et al. v. Gene Bennett, Ontario-Montclair School District, 488 F.Supp.2d 975 (C.D. Cal. 2007)
  • Estate of Strader (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 996
  • Kare Young League v. Madsen (2002) Cal.App. Unpub. LEXIS 11759
  • Conservatorship of Ayala (2003) Cal.App. Unpub. LEXIS 3840
Jul 17 2015

Christian E. Dodd

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Christian Dodd is a business and commercial lawyer and litigator whose practice covers a broad range of legal areas. As a legal counselor and advisor, Christian has assisted companies with formation, start up and corporate governance issues, as well as contracting, website terms of use and privacy policies, intellectual property counseling, and other similar issues. His litigation practice is focused on complex commercial and business litigation, business and consumer torts, intellectual property matters, and electronic discovery and information governance issues. Christian’s litigation experience covers a broad spectrum ranging from simple contract and B2B disputes to consolidated multi-district litigation and bet-the-company litigation. He has extensive experience managing the electronic discovery lifecycle in the context of both small- and large-scale litigation and government investigations. Christian draws on this experience to devise strategies and legal workflow processes to improve efficiencies and reduce the costs of litigation for clients and carriers.

As Dodd DelCollo’s Managing Partner, Christian Dodd is ultimately responsible for oversight of all aspects of the firm. On the operational side, he oversees the design, development, implementation and execution of the firm’s unique legal services delivery model. This includes oversight of the development, testing and maintenance of the firm’s proprietary legal workflows, checklists, and automated document assembly templates, as well as the identification, collection and analysis of matter-specific data collected throughout the lifecycle of each firm matter. This data is utilized for continuous process improvement and to provide actionable business insight to clients and insurance carriers.

Prior to joining Dodd DelCollo, Christian practiced law in the large law firm environment, most recently as a Partner with Akerman LLP, and prior to that with the international law firm of Winston & Strawn.

REPRESENTATIVE COUNSELING AND ADVICE MATTERS

  • Has assisted with the formation of numerous and start-up activities of numerous companies, including drafting bylaws, operating and shareholders’ agreements, application for 501(c)(3) non-profit status, legal content for company websites, customer, vendor, employment and independent contractor agreements, advising on intellectual property and proprietary information protections and procedures, document retention policies, employee handbooks, and numerous other business and commercial legal issues.
  • Acts as outside corporate counsel to a successful company in the insurance and financial services industry.
  • Acts as outside counsel to Florida not for profit corporation that distributes food, clothing and other necessities to underprivileged children.

REPRESENTATIVE LITIGATION MATTERS

  • Representation of a medical transcription provider involving investigations by the DOJ and SEC, and defending a number of nationwide class actions against the provider that alleged, among other things, violations of RICO and securities fraud.
  • Representation of a manufacturer of infant formula products in a nationwide consumer class action asserting fraud, consumer protection, and warranty claims.
  • Representation of a national franchisor of automotive products in a consumer class action brought against the franchisor for the acts of the franchisee under a theory of ostensible agency.
  • Representation of a broker and issuer of travel insurance in a consumer class action asserting consumer protection claims.
  • Representation of a military defense contractor in False Claims Act litigation concerning military aircraft.
  • Counseling of municipality in class action litigation challenging imposition of business license tax.
  • Representation of medical device manufacturers in patent licensing and infringement actions.
  • Representation of a debt acquisition and collections agency in class action litigation alleging violation of the FDCPA.
  • Representation of state Attorney General’s Office in litigation involving charitable trust with assets valued at several billion dollars.
  • Representation of technology solution provider in dispute concerning rights and obligations of provider and programmer under software development agreement.
  • Representation of domain name registrar in trademark and anti-cybersquatting dispute.
  • Representation of overseas power plant developer in dispute concerning the proposed development of a $1.2 billion coal-fired power plant.
  • Representation of a therapy and rehabilitation services provider in a dispute concerning the alleged breach of a non-disclosure agreement and unlawful interference with contractual relations.

PUBLISHED WORKS AND LECTURES

  • Masters Conference, Moderator, “Cybersecurity, eDiscovery, and Your Outside Counsel: What you don’t know CAN hurt you,” October 2016

  • Strafford Publications, Speaker, “Leveraging Metadata as Evidence and Avoiding Inadvertent ESI Disclosure in Litigation,” June 2016

  • Ing3nious Southeast eDiscovery & Information Governance Retreat, Moderator, “Overcoming Objections to Utilizing TAR,” May 2016

  • Florida State Bar Annual Convention, Speaker “Ethics, e-Discovery and Emerging Technologies,” June 2015

  • Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists, Jacksonville Chapter, Speaker, “Electronic Discovery In Your Courtroom,” Continuing Judicial Education Seminar, May 2015

  • Jacksonville Bar Association, Commercial Litigation Committee, Co-Moderator, “Emerging Trends in E-Discovery,” November 2014

  • Jacksonville Bar Association, Commercial Litigation and Construction Law Committees, Speaker, “e-Discovery Practice Pointers: Tips From The Trenches,” March 2014

  • Jacksonville Bar Association, Annual Raymond Ehrlich Trial Advocacy Seminar, Speaker, “E-Discovery Practice Pointers,” November 2013

  • Florida Bar Annual Convention, President’s Showcase, Speaker, “New E-Discovery Amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure: E-Discovery Practice Tips and Pointers,” June 2013

  • Association of Corporate Counsel, North Florida Chapter Newsletter, “Technology-Assisted Review: Coming Age of Cost-Effective Document Review,” December 2012

  • Jacksonville Bar Association, Commercial Litigation Section Committee, Speaker, “Florida’s New E-Discovery Rules,” November 2012

  • GCI Magazine, Co-Author, “The ‘Reasonable Consumer’s’ View of Green Labels—Lessons From Two Greenwashing Cases,” March 2012

  • Executive Counsel, Co-Author, “Out-of-Court Settlement Programs Can Avert a Class Action,” October/November 2011

  • HAPPI, Co-Author, “Courts Give Guidance on Greenwashing Claims,” October 2011

  • Winston & Strawn LLP, eLunch Briefings, Speaker, “Effective but Often Overlooked Strategies for Defeating Class Certification,” September 2011

  • California Lawyer, Co-Author, “Class Actions After Tobacco II,” August 2011

  • Bloomberg Law Reports, Co-Author, “Defeating Class Certification through Superior Out-of-Court Settlement Programs,” July 2011

  • Executive Counsel, Co-Author, “Communicating with the Putative Class,” October/November 2010

  • The Recorder, Co-Author, “Up in Smoke,” July 2009

  • Los Angeles Daily Journal, Co-Author, “Standing Straight,” June 2009

ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS

Christian is the past Chair of the Electronic Discovery and Digital Evidence Committee and a member of the Computer and Technology Law Committee of the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Jacksonville Chapter of the Association of Certified E-Discovery Specialists.

Aug 07 2023
HSD - Barry A. Dubinsky

Barry A. Dubinsky

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Barry A. Dubinsky is a seasoned litigator and trial lawyer with more than three decades of experience in a variety of areas including construction liability, negligent security, premises liability, trucking, and general liability matters.  Over the course of his career, Barry has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in matters involving extensive personal injuries and wrongful death.  He has acted as first-chair trial counsel in approximately forty jury trials, which include both state and federal cases. Through this experience, Barry has honed his skills of successfully navigating cases and developed the knowledge necessary to reach favorable resolutions.

Barry is a certified instructor of insurance education in the State of Florida and has provided instruction to thousands of claims professionals on a variety of topics. In addition, Barry is a mentor with the Taking Stock of Children program in Florida, which is a non-profit organization helping low-income youth escape the cycle of poverty through education.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Successfully negotiated a nominal settlement in a complex negligent security action where the demand exceeded one million dollars.
  • Obtained a defense verdict in a premises liability lawsuit in which plaintiff sustained injuries to the neck and back that required surgery.
Jun 18 2026
Steve Gorog - Dodd DelCollo

Stephen J. Gorog

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Mr. Gorog has been a civil trial attorney for more than twenty-five years. His practice has been primarily litigating personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability, and product liability cases. Mr. Gorog has tried over 30 cases throughout California. He is results oriented and enters each case with the mentality that the case will go to trial and, therefore, begins thorough preparation immediately, which often results in a fair settlement sooner than later. Mr. Gorog has handled hundreds of cases, and he treats each case with the utmost importance and respect for his clients.

Prior to joining Dodd DelCollo, Mr. Gorog operated his own plaintiff personal injury law practice, Law Office of Stephen J. Gorog, in San Francisco, from 2004 until 2025. Having litigated cases from the plaintiff side for 21 years, Mr. Gorog brings this unique experience to Dodd DelCollo. He understands how plaintiff attorneys think, which provides a distinct defense advantage.

Additionally, before opening his own office, Mr. Gorog worked for several defense law firms from 2000 until 2004. Also, before and during law school, Mr. Gorog was a liability insurance claim adjuster.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS:

  • Numerous jury verdicts and settlements in automobile accident cases.
  • Several favorable premises liability jury verdicts.
  • Multiple favorable results in disputed liability motorcycle and scooter accident cases.
  • Successful jury verdict and settlements in highly contentious Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) cases.
May 20 2025
Dodd DelCollo - David B. Goulfine

David B. Goulfine

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David B. Goulfine has been practicing law in Florida for twenty years. As a civil litigator, Mr. Goulfine has defended hundreds of individuals, corporations, state agencies, and insurers throughout Florida, both in state and federal courts of law. His experience includes automobile and trucking litigation, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims, premises liability, property damage, employment discrimination and retaliation, civil rights, and construction defect litigation. Prior to joining Dodd DelCollo, Mr. Goulfine worked for other insurance defense law firms where he successfully negotiated hundreds of favorable settlements for his clients and obtained many favorable jury verdicts throughout Florida state and federal courts.

Mr. Goulfine was born in upstate New York and raised in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He attended college at Florida State University, where he had the privilege of being a four-year member of the FSU Marching Chiefs. Mr. Goulfine obtained his Juris Doctorate from Quinnipiac University School of Law in 2005, graduating with the honor of cum laude.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS:

  • Obtained a defense verdict in a motorcycle vs. truck accident case involving a significant foot crush injury that required surgery.
  • Successful representation of a state agency in a federal employment discrimination and retaliation case, resulting in a favorable, low jury verdict.
  • Successful representation of an insured contractor in a premises liability case involving bilateral hip avulsion fractures that required surgery, resulting in a favorable jury verdict where the demand exceeded six million dollars.
  • Successfully negotiated a favorable settlement on behalf of an insured restaurant involving a food poisoning incident that allegedly resulted in significant permanent complications.
  • Obtained a nuisance value jury verdict in a damages only motor vehicle accident trial resulting in Plaintiff owing attorney’s fees.
Aug 12 2025
Seth Harris - Dodd DelCollo

Seth E. Harris

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Seth Harris has been practicing law in Florida for over fifteen years in multiple areas including insurance defense, maritime litigation, bankruptcy and criminal defense. He has been directly responsible for all aspects of litigation from inception through resolution, including pre-suit investigation, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, trial and appeals. His trial experience spans both state and federal courts including writing briefs and providing oral arguments before appellate courts.

Prior to joining Dodd DelCollo, Seth handled property damage claims, personal injury claims, wrongful death claims and insurance coverage claims. In addition to representing defendants under commercial liability insurance policies, he was responsible for building a maritime litigation practice including training attorneys on issues and procedures.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Successfully represented a marine insurer in a coverage case related to GPS tracking systems aboard a private yacht.
  • Successfully represented a delivery driver and employer in a motor vehicle accident, obtaining a summary judgment on liability.
  • Successfully defended a yacht owner in a salvage claim made against the vessel.
  • Successfully defended a shopping center owner in a claim for negligence related to the condition of crosswalks on the property.
Aug 11 2025
Stephanie Hibbert - Dodd DelCollo

Stephanie Hibbert

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Stephanie Hibbert has been practicing law in New York for almost ten years with a focus on insurance defense and coverage issues. During her career, Stephanie has managed cases from inception through trial and appeal. Her experience includes premises liability, commercial motor vehicle, labor law, high exposure products liability, wrongful death actions and breach of contract claims. Stephanie is well versed in strategizing defenses to facilitate favorable and fair outcomes. Stephanie was selected as one of Super Lawyers’ New York Metro Rising Stars for 2025. Rising Stars is an exclusive list of top-rated attorneys who are chosen after thorough evaluation.

Stephanie has extensive knowledge in drafting dispositive motions, including motions for summary judgment, motions for default judgment and motions in limine, as well as discovery motions. Stephanie has successfully obtained three summary judgment wins along with a successful decision in the Second Appellate Department granting summary judgment and reversing the lower court’s decision. Additionally, Stephanie is skilled at achieving equitable settlements for clients.

In addition to her litigation work, Stephanie actively participates in business development, mentorship, and diversity & inclusion efforts. In her free time, she enjoys writing mentorship books and attending networking events.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Successfully opposed a post-jury verdict motion leading to a denial of Plaintiff’s motion.
  • Successfully argued for summary judgment in a premises liability actions in Bronx, Suffolk and Nassau Counties.
  • Successfully appealed to the Second Appellate Department leading to a reversal of the lower court’s denial of defendant’s motion for summary judgment.
  • Successfully represented clients at special permit hearings concerning physical culture establishment permits at the NYC Board of Standards and Appeals ensuring compliance with the relevant regulatory agencies.