Burton, Beytin & McLaughlin - Attorneys at Law

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WENDY B. ACCARDI was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, and graduated with her law degree from the Oklahoma City University School of Law, where she graduated, cum laude. She was a noted Merit Scholar and a member of both the William Holloway, Jr., American Inn of Court, as well as Phi Alpha Delta. She is a member of the Florida Bar and the American Bar Association, practicing in the areas of medical malpractice defense and commercial litigation.

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KENNETH A. BEYTIN was born in Washington, D.C. He received his undergraduate degree, with honors, from Princeton University and his law degree, cum laude, from Stetson University College of Law. He has focused his practice on the representation of physicians, hospitals and health care professionals in medical malpractice litigation and in state licensure/disciplinary, and administrative proceedings. He also has significant experience in the defense of products liability and personal injury litigation, and with risk management and other medical-legal issues.

Mr. Beytin is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida. He is a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association (past Chairman of the Medical-Legal Committee), the Florida Bar (Trial Lawyers Section and Health Law Section, past Chairman of the Risk Management Division), and the American Bar Association (Litigation Section, Professional Liability and Product Liability Committees).

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MINDY MCLAUGHLIN was born in New York, raised in Florida, and educated at the University of Florida where she received both her undergraduate and law degrees. Ms. McLaughlin graduated with her Bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, and was the Collegiate Champion of the McGraw-Hill Public Speaking Competition. She was also the recipient of the R.J. Donald Memorial Scholarship Award for academic excellence achieved through the College of Business Administration. Ms. McLaughlin was elected to Phi Kappa Phi, Beta Gamma Sigma (business equivalent to Phi Beta Kappa) and Golden Key. While at the College of Law where she graduated with honors, Ms. McLaughlin received Book Award Recognition for outstanding scholastic achievement in Trial Practice and Legal Counseling.

Ms. McLaughlin practices in the areas of professional liability litigation, where she defends physicians, nurse practitioners, hospitals and other health care providers in both negligence and wrongful death actions, commercial litigation, and general civil trial practice. She is admitted to the Florida Bar and also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida and the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit. Ms. McLaughlin is a member of the Trial Lawyers Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, the Florida Bar and the American Bar Association. She is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association and the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers. Ms. McLaughlin has been recognized and appointed a barrister in the Tampa Bay Inn of Court where she has given lectures and presentations on various aspects of civil trial practice to lawyers and judges in the Tampa Bay Community.

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ANDREW WILLERS was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University. He earned his law degree from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Willers is a member of the Florida Bar and the American Bar Association, the Hillsborough County Bar Association, and the Association Trial Lawyers of America. He practices in the areas of medical malpractice litigation, wrongful death, and personal injury.

Associate Attorneys

GABRIELLE S. OSBORNE was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She attended Florida State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. While at Florida State, Ms. Osborne became a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Societies. She also interned with the Florida Medical Association in Tallahassee dealing directly with issues affecting Florida physicians and Florida Health Care. After attending Florida State University, she went on to complete her law degree at Stetson University graduating with honors. While at Stetson University, she was active in Stetson’s moot court program and lead Stetson’s trial team to multiple national and state competitions and was recognized for her achievements with the Ralph Harris Ferrell Competition award. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar Association and the Hillsborough County Bar Association and she is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Selen N. Demirpolat was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Vanderbilt University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree with Majors in Biology and Political Science. Upon returning to Florida, she obtained an All-Lines Adjuster License and began working as a Claims Adjuster for AIG Domestic Claims, Inc. While working at AIG, she began to pursue her law degree at Stetson University College of Law. At Stetson, she was a member of the Client Skills Advocacy Board where she competed on the Client Counseling Team and ABA Law Student Tax Challenge Team. She was also a member of Phi Delta Phi Honors Fraternity and selected for the In-house Counsel Internship. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Florida Bar Association and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. She currently practices in the area of Civil Litigation Defense.

David e. weber was born in Durham, North Carolina. He graduated from Elon University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a Minor in Political Science. David then earned his law degree from Stetson University College of Law. While at Stetson he worked as a Certified Legal Intern for the Sixth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and he participated in Stetson’s In-house Counsel Internship Program. He was also the recipient of the Attorney’s Title Insurance Fund Award and a member of the Maritime Law Society and the Business Law Society. He is a member of the Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, the Hillsborough County Bar Association and the St. Petersburg Bar Association. He currently practices in the areas of civil and corporate litigation, insurance defense, wrongful death, and medical malpractice defense.

Jonathan F. Carr grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Brigham Young University where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. While at BYU, Jonathan worked as a physiology teaching assistant and research assistant for various professors. He also volunteered with Project Read, an adult literacy tutoring program. Jonathan attended Florida State University College of Law, graduating in May of 2009. While at Florida State, Jonathan served as an executive editor of the FSU Business Law Review and was a member of various student organizations, including the Dispute Resolution Society and the Intellectual Property Law Society. In recognition of his academic achievements, Jonathan was on the Dean’s List and received the Patent Prosecution Book Award. In addition, he authored an article regarding international intellectual property treaty reform, which was published in the Florida State University Journal of Transnational Law and Policy. During his first summer of law school, Jonathan worked as a judicial law clerk intern at the First District Court of Appeal of Florida for both Chief Judge Edwin B. Browning, Jr. and Judge Charles J. Kahn, Jr.

Having lived for two full years in Spain after graduating from high school, Jonathan is proficient in Spanish. Jonathan is a member of both the United States Patent Bar and the Florida Bar.

CROSBY CRANE was born in Tampa, Florida. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. While enrolled in Gainesville, Crosby worked within the University Athletic Associate as a video technician for the Florida Gator football team. Crosby also was a member of the Phi Sigma Theta National Honor Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega. Upon graduation, Crosby returned to the Tampa Bay area to obtain his Juris Doctor at the Stetson University College of Law. During his time at Stetson, Crosby excelled both in and out of the classroom, earning the Professional Responsibility Book Award and recognition as a semifinalist in the AJJ Yerrid Trial Competition. Additionally, Crosby supplemented his academic experience with internships under the Honorable K. Rodney May of The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida and the General Counsel of a Tampa based International Corporation. Prior to joining Burton, Beytin & McLaughlin, Crosby served as a clerk for two prominent Tampa civil litigation firms. He is a firm supporter of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Academy Prep Foundation. Finally, he is a member of the Florida Bar and currently practices in the areas of insurance defense, medical malpractice, and commercial litigation.

Of Counsel Attorneys

JUDITH W. SIMMONS graduated with honors from the University of South Florida in 1973 with a B.A. in history and received her J.D. with honors from Stetson University in 1978. Judy is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeal, Eleventh Circuit. Judy authored Common Law Writ of Certiorari in Florida, Civil Appellate Law Practice Manual, Lorman, 1993; Under What Circumstances is There Insurance Coverage For Intended or Expected Injuries?, Florida Liability Claims Conference Manual, 1998; and co-authored Extraordinary Writs, Florida Appellate Practice, 2003.