Brandt A. Carlson - Vernis & Bowling

Brandt A. Carlson, Esq.
Attorney
Vernis & Bowling of St. Petersburg, P.A. 696 1st Avenue N., 1st Floor St Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 443-3377
Email: BCarlson@Florida-Law.com
Fax: (727) 443-6828
Website: www.national-law.com
V-Card Email

Verdicts and Dispositions

Rainone v. Organ
Kenneth Amos and Brandt Carlson (St. Petersburg, FL) (Automobile Liability) had a defense positive result at a jury trial held September 2023 in Hillsborough County Florida, against the largest plaintiff’s firm in the country. The Plaintiff was a 22-year-old female (and sympathetically 9 months pregnant at the time of trial), who complained of injuries to her neck and back stemming from a rear-end automobile accident on November 12, 2019. At trial, Plaintiff requested more than $6,000,000.00 in damages for past and future medical care, as well as for pain and suffering. Multiple treating providers and experts testified live at trial. After deliberations, the jury found the Plaintiff comparatively at fault for the subject accident and only awarded Plaintiff a total of $86,938.74 in damages (which was only 1.45% of their requested damages). The jury specifically found that the Plaintiff had not sustained a permanent injury, and did not award Plaintiff any amounts for future medical care or past or future pain and suffering.
Motion for Summary Judgment Win Confirmed by Florida Second District Court of Appeal: Rondell, Ronnie v. Daniel Romano, Cuong Vi Diep and Tai Chi Diep
Brandt Carlson (St. Petersburg, FL) (Appeal) This case concerned a motor vehicle accident between Ronnie Rondell and the son of Cuong Vi Diep. Daniel Romano, our client, was considering purchasing a 2002 Honda Accord for his daughter from Mr. Cuong Vi Diep, the vehicle’s registered owner. In anticipation of the purchase, Mr. Romano acquired insurance on the vehicle. In the interim, the accident happened.

On February 3, 2017, Rondell filed suit naming Romano and the Dieps alleging negligence. On August 24, 2020, we obtained a Summary Judgment dismissing Mr. Romano from the case due to the fact that he never actually purchased the vehicle.

On September 23, 2020, opposing counsel filed an appeal with the Second District Court of Appeal alleging the concept of beneficial ownership under Florida’s Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine. On October 5, 2021, Vernis & Bowling argued that the Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine did not apply because the purchase of the vehicle was never completed.

On January 5, 2022, the Second District Court of Appeal affirmed the Summary Judgment in favor of Mr. Romano via written opinion. The Judges affirmed in two parts: (1) the Beneficial Ownership under Florida’s Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine did not apply because “Mr. Romano was only preparing, by obtaining insurance, to acquire the Honda—a future event that would never occur due to the accident.” And (2) “Because Beneficial Ownership under the Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine applies when the owner of the vehicle denies ownership, the doctrine does not extend so far as to permit the accident victim to initiate its application.”

Areas Of Practice

Business & Commercial Law
Condominium and Homeowners' Association Litigation
Construction and Construction Defect Litigation
Employment Law/Employment Litigation

Bar & Court Admission

Florida Bar
Florida State Courts
United States District Court, Northern Middle and Southern District of Florida

Education

Graduate:
University of Florida, JD, cum laude
Undergraduate:
University of Florida, BA
Honors: summa cum laude

Brandt Carlson joined Vernis & Bowling in March 2020, when he relocated his legal practice from Sarasota to St. Petersburg. Brandt’s prior litigation experience includes a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from commercial, construction, and complex civil defense to judgment collection and employment law. His primary exposure has been in handling insurance defense, major commercial disputes, and construction litigation in state and federal courts throughout Florida, where he has practiced since August 2015.

Brandt received his J.D. from the University of Florida, cum laude, in May 2015. During his time at the University of Florida, Brandt served as an editor for the Florida Journal of International Law and as an advocate on the prestigious Florida Moot Court Team, where he received the American College of Trial Lawyers Medal for Excellence in Advocacy. As a law student, Brandt spent his summers clerking for the Honorable Steven D. Merryday in the Middle District of Florida and interning for small firms specializing in first-party insurance litigation, employment law, and personal injury matters.

Brandt also pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Florida, where he majored in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Philosophy. He graduated summa cum laude in May 2011 after publishing his senior thesis on election turnout in the United States.

Brandt was raised in Riverview, Florida, and has lived and worked in multiple locations throughout the Sunshine State. In his free time, Brandt enjoys traveling, movies, and the great outdoors.

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