O'Brien Riemenschneider Wattwood & Cantwell PA

Civil Trials and Appeals

O'Brien Riemenschneider Wattwood & Cantwell PA has an active and successful civil trial litigation practice. The Firm's lead civil trial attorney, Michael R. Riemenschneider, is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and is Board Certified in Business Litigation. Mr. Riemenschneider has served as lead counsel in numerous lawsuits involving commercial and contractual disputes; construction law; negligence; fraud; discrimination/employer/employee relations, as well as probate and trust challenges. Thorough research and preparation methods have led to advantageous settlements as well as the successful prosecution and defense of cases brought to trial.

The Firms civil litigators have represented Plaintiffs and Defendants in jury and non-jury trials, as well as post-judgment and appellate proceedings and have extensive backgrounds in state and federal courts, as well as arbitration and administrative hearings. The Firm's litigation attorneys have represented physicians, "high-tech" companies, corporations, contractors, developers, sole proprietors, partners and partnerships, government entities, corporate shareholders and individuals.

Business Litigation is the practice of law dealing with the legal problems arising from commercial and business relationships including litigation of controversies arising from those relationships. "Business litigation law" includes evaluating, handling and resolving such controversies before state courts, federal courts, administrative agencies, mediators, and arbitrators. Matters not qualifying for business litigation include areas of practice dealing with personal injury, routine collection matters, marital and family law, or workers' compensation.

Highlights:

Commercial and Contractual Disputes - The Firm's civil litigators are experienced in trials involving government authorities as well as corporations regarding breach of contract; Uniform Commercial Code disputes including sales and secured transactions; fraudulent transactions and antitrust disputes.

Construction Law - The Firm represents developers, general contractors, sub-contractors, homeowners and various other construction-related entities. The Firm's litigators have extensive knowledge of the Construction Lien Law, an essential element of construction law. The Firm's construction law attorneys are experienced in the areas of negotiating and producing construction contracts; protection of lien rights; construction financing; qualification as a minority/disadvantaged business enterprise and contractual disputes.

Discrimination - The Firm's litigators have considerable experience involving a number of discrimination issues including; sexual harassment/discrimination; racial discrimination; age-related cases and Title VII actions. The experience of the Firm's litigators includes prosecution of discrimination cases against employers and defense of discrimination cases brought by employees.

Arbitration - The Firm's litigators have engaged in a number of arbitrations ranging from contractual disputes involving in excess of three (3) months of hearing time to securities arbitration hearings. As many contracts provide for and parties opt for alternative dispute resolution methods, the Firm has the experience to provide representation in this forum.

Appellate Proceedings - Our attorneys have participated in a number of appellate proceedings, several of which have been published, including: Northstar Investments & Development, Inc. v. Pobaco, Inc., 22 FLW D936, 1; Camelot Residences Association v. Abbott, 665 So. 2d, 1162; Via v. Putnam, 656 So. 2d, 460; Putnam v. Via, 638 So. 2d 981, City of Melbourne v. Puma, 635 So. 2d, 159; City of Melbourne v. Puma, 630 So. 2d, 1097; City of Melbourne v. Puma, 616 So. 2d, 190; City of Melbourne v. Hess Realty Corp, 575 So. 2d, 774.

Attorneys: Michael R. Riemenschneider, William H. Cantwell, II