ATTORNEY CAROL AVARD handles Personal Injury, Social Security and other Disability cases, as well as Employment Discrimination cases. She received her B.A. degree from Harvard University in l97l and attended Radcliffe Institute from l967 to l970. She received her Juris Doctorate degree from University of N.H. in l980. She is licensed to practice law in Florida and Massachusetts, and is a member of the American Association for Justice, The Florida Association for Justice and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives. She is also admitted to the Court of Veterans Appeals, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and for the District of Massachusetts.
In addition, Attorney Avard was a participating faculty speaker for the American Association for Justice (AAJ's Social Security Success! Seminar, Las Vegas, NV, August l9-20, 20l0, on the topic of "Using Jobs Software Tools and Internet Resources: O*NET, Job Browser Pro, and PAQ/ERI with Vocational Witnesses Before, During, and After ALJ Hearings; and Attorney Avard was a lecturer for the National Organization of Social Security Disability Claimants' Representatives, September 22-25, 20l0, Chicago, Il, speaking about using Software Tools and Internet Resources with Vocational Experts at hearings before Administrative Law Judges. Attorney Avard also was a participating lecturer for the Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Courses in Tampa and Miami at a seminar on Effective Advocacy Before The Appeals Council and Beyond, 2000.
She has been a member of the Medical Malpractice, Social Security, Federal Torts, and Motor Vehicle Collision sections of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. She has also been a member of the Bad Faith, Disability Law, Employment Law, ERISA Litigation, Insurance Law, Medical Negligence, Nursing Home, PI/Wrongful Death, Products Liability, Professional Negligence, and Social Security Disability Law sections of The Florida Association for Justice.
She is a Board Certified Social Security Disability Attorney and one of six Board Certified Social Security Disability Attorneys in the state of Florida. The Board certification is provided by the National Board of Legal Specialty, accredited by the American Bar Association.
The certification process was an arduous one, requiring an examination, evaluation of writing samples and personal recommendations by other attorneys, Federal Court Judges, and Administrative Law Judges who hear Social Security Disability claims.
October 2011: National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR) Presentation/Topic: "The Social Security Ruling", San Antonio, TX
In her spare time she enjoys playing classical music on the piano and studies under Maestro William Noll. She also enjoys hiking.
ATTORNEY DOUGLAS D. MOHNEY has handled Personal Injury, Social Security, Long Term Disability, and Employment Discrimination cases since l992. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University in l992. He also received his B.A. degree from Western Michigan University in l989. He is admitted to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the Eastern and Western District Court of Michigan, as well as the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Before coming to Avard Law Offices, he worked for the 20th Judicial Circuit Court assisting with sentencing and criminal appeals in Fort Myers. In l987, he graduated from the Kalamazoo Valley Regional Police Academy. He is a member of The Florida Association for Justice, the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He is a very active member of the Harley Davidson Owners Group. He is also a member of The Florida Bar Consumer Protection Law Committee and member of the Southwest Florida Trial Lawyers Association.
He is a Board Certified Social Security Disability Attorney and one of six Board Certified Social Security Disability Attorneys in the state of Florida. The Board certification is provided by the National Board of Legal Specialty, accredited by the American Bar Association.
Member of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
October 2011: American Association of Justice (AAJ), Presentation Topic: Social Security Rulings Las Vegas, NV
December 2011: Florida Justice Association (FJA). Presentation Topic: “Trial: Points for Success”
In his spare time he enjoys riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and hunting.
ATTORNEY A. PORTER WINSTON attended Sarah Lawrence College, received her Bachelor's degree from Boston University and her Juris Doctorate degree from University of N.H. J.D in 1980. She was Senior Legal Counsel for the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families from 1990 to 2006. She has handled hundreds of disability hearings before Social Security Administrative Law Judges. She also has experience working with the injured and disabled from 1980-1989 while in private practice in the State of Maine and Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
In her spare time she is writing a mystery novel.
ATTORNEY MARK ZAKHVATAYEV received his Juris Doctorate from Ave Maria School of Law, where he was senior editor of the law review, graduating in 2010. He works primarily on Social Security Disability and Personal Injury appeals, trials, and other court litigation. He is licensed in Florida and admitted to the United States District Court for Middle District of Florida. Mark has Bachelor's degree in Business Administration cum laude with concentration in finance from University of Washington at Seattle, and Master of Business Administration degree from Gonzaga University. He speaks French, Spanish, Russian, and Ukrainian.
He was a Volunteer Translator at Ave Maria Immigration Law Clinic. And, he worked for the Michigan Attorney General's Office in 2008, handling Criminal Appellate work. He also worked as a Law Clerk, in 2009 at the Ypsilanti, MI City Attorney's Office.
In his spare time he enjoys studying languages.
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