Legal Services & Lawyers

The Law Office of Ama N. Appiah represents those seeking assistance in immigration, representation in domestic or international adoption cases, child advocacy, and state or immigration appeals.

Ms. Appiah earned her Bachelor of Science degree at the State University of New York College at Buffalo, cum laude. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Appiah worked as a legal assistant and paralegal for the U.S. Small Business Administration - Disaster Assistance Office in Niagara Falls, NY. The Disaster Assistance Office provided federal loans and grants to those who suffered physical damage to their homes and physical and/or economic injury to their businesses as a result of a natural disaster.

Attorney Appiah earned her law degree from Albany Law School in Albany, NY, in 2003. It was there that she gained extensive appellate experience. She interned for a substantial amount of time for the Albany County District Attorney's Office Criminal Appeals Division. Ms. Appiah also interned for the Hon. Thomas J. McAvoy in the U.S. Northern District Court of New York, as well as the Corporations Division of the New York State Department of State.

Upon moving to Florida in 2003, Ms. Appiah worked for a solo practitioner whose practice focused on criminal and civil litigation. Since 2005, Ms. Appiah has contracted with the Tenth Judicial Public Defender's Office as a Special Assistant Public Defender on felony criminal appellate cases.

In 2005, Ms. Appiah also became a Program Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program. The Guardian ad Litem Program represents the best interests of children in cases alleging abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect. Ms. Appiah represented the Program in the juvenile dependency division of the circuit court in cases resulting in reunification, permanent guardianship, termination of parental rights, and adoption. Ms. Appiah worked as an Appellate Senior Program Attorney for the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program from 2007 to 2009. She represented the Guardian ad Litem Program in District Courts of Appeal throughout the state of Florida.

Ms. Appiah has participated in several pro bono services throughout central Florida for those who are indigent and low income. She has participated in a number of family law clinics at Florida Legal Rural Services in Polk County. She has participated in a number of "Community Day" law clinics, as well as a "Citizenship Day" immigration law clinic in Pinellas County. Additionally, Ms. Appiah has been trained in human trafficking representation by the Orange County Bar Association in Orange County.

The focus of the Law Office of Ama N. Appiah is immigration cases, family law cases involving dependency and/or adoption, and international law cases involving child advocacy or adoption-related issues. However, we also represent parties in state and immigration appellate cases. The Law Office of Ama N. Appiah is particularly equipped to accommodate the representation of non-English speaking clients that speak Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Twi, and Vietnamese, through the use of interpreters.

Ms. Wasylik's practice focuses on Intellectual property law, and she has been certified as an expert in intellectual property law by the Florida Bar. Within intellectual property law, Ms. Wasylik maintains a particular focus on internet, technology and photography copyright issues, and trademark and trade dress negotiation, counseling, and litigation. She also represents clients in civil appeals in both Federal and Florida state courts.

Mr. Callison earned his J.D. at Columbia University School of Law in 1988 where he was a member of the Columbia Human Rights Law Review. He earned his B.A., with highest honors, from the University of Tennessee in 1985. Mr. Callison is a life member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and the Federal Trial Bar. Mr. Callison is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating awarded by that organization.

Mike Underwood was a key official at the predecessor of the Florida Department of Financial Services and authored many provisions of Florida securities and banking laws. Since leaving government, he has become recognized as a national leader in financial services regulation, especially in Florida. He represents securities broker-dealers, investment advisers, mortgage brokers, financial institutions and affiliated individuals in civil litigation, arbitration, regulatory investigations and enforcement actions. His experience includes defense of class actions, multi-district litigation and regular appearances before self-regulatory organizations as well as state and federal financial regulators.

Mr. Lindbaek has exclusively practiced Plaintiff's law since he started his career. During Law School at the University of Florida, Mr. Lindbaek worked at a prestigious Plaintiff's law firm where he gained valuable experience and insight that one can't get in law books. If you or your loved ones have been injured or treated unfairly by an insurance company, call or email Mr. Lindbaek for a free consultation.

Steve Fahlgren is a general practioner in Hilliard, Florida. He handles most types of civil litigation but does not take cases against consumers and does not practice criminal law. For a listing of practice areas, please see them below.

Mr. Fahlgren also practices debt collection defense and credit litigation throughout Florida. He is AV rates (the highest) by Martindale-Hubbell, the oldest and most widely used lawyer rating service. Mr. Fahlgren recognizes that credit reputation is becoming even more important every day. For over four years, Mr. Fahlgren has represented consumers exclusively in consumer litigation matters. During his more than eleven years of experience, Mr. Fahlgren has represented consumers in litigation relating to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Florida's Consumer Collection Practices Act, Florida's Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Consumer Leasing Act, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, Florida's Motor Vehicle Retail Sales Finance Act, Florida's Motor Vehicle Repair Act, Florida's Title Loan Act, Florida's Motor Vehicle Lease Disclosure Act, Florida's False Advertising law, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Housing Act, and has also handled claims involving fraud, negligent misrepresentation, conversion, civil theft, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, assault, battery, false imprisonment, and restitution. Mr. Fahlgren has litigated credit report errors and is very experienced in all facets of Fair Credit Report Litigation from the credit dispute letters to the requirement that credit bureaus maintain reasonable procedures to ensure maximum possible accuracy.

Mr. Fahlgren handles cases in the following Florida counties and occasionally handles cases outside of those counties when the circumstances merit: Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Hamilton, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, Union, Citrus, Lake, Marion, Sumter, Brevard, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry and Lee. Mr. Fahlgren handles cases in the following Florida cities, among others: Jacksonville, Bryceville, Hilliard, Orlando, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Ocala, Daytona Beach, Deland, Haines City, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Bartow, Casselberry, Cocoa, Edgewood, Fort Meade, Atlantic Beach, Celebration, Deltona, Eustis, Eagle Lake, Fort Myers, Hawthorne, Holly Hill, Lady Lake, Lake Wales, Maitland, Neptune Beach, Palm Bay, Lake alfred, Lake Mary, Melbourne Beach, Mount Dora, Ocoee, Orange Park, Keystone Heights, Oviedo, Ponce Inlet, Indialantic, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Leesburg, Longwood, Minneola, Clermont, New Smyrna, Palatka, Port Orange, Brevard, St. Cloud, Tavares, Winter Garden, Winter Springs, Sanford, Tampa, Winter Haven, and Winter Park. Many of Mr. Fahlgren's clients cannot afford to pay on an hourly basis, so Mr. Fahlgren often takes cases on a contingency fee basis if the client's expectations are reasonable.

After graduating with Honors from the University of Florida College of Law, Mr. Fahlgren began his legal career practicing commercial litigation and collection law at Foster & Kelly, P.A. He then joined Fisher, Rushmer, et al and expanded his practice to the areas of consumer litigation and employment litigation. Mr. Fahlgren left Fisher, Rushmer et al. to form his own firm, Law Offices of Steven M. Fahlgren, P.A., to focus on consumer litigation. Mr. Fahlgren, who formerly served as a Counterintelligence Agent in the U.S. Army, is a member of the Florida Bar, the State Bar of Georgia, all state and federal courts in Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Fahlgren is a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers, and is a graduate of Leadership Orlando Class 48.

Mr. Fahlgren has published various articles on Consumer Law. Over the years, Mr. Fahlgren has lectured on computer law and internet related issues and has provided information in in numerous stories for television, radio and newspapers. For over a year, Mr. Fahlgren hosted a popular radio show entitled "For the Consumer" on AM 950 WTLN in Orlando.

Mr. Fahlgren also handles a very select few cases involving employment law matters. He has filed claims for age discrimination, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation, unpaid wages, Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act. Mr. Fahlgren's jury trial experience includes a patent infringement trial lasting in excess of five weeks and a ground breaking same-sex sexual harassment trial in which Mr. Fahlgren's client obtained a jury verdict for an amount in excess of one million dollars.

In November 2007, Mr. Fahlgren and his co-counsel obtained a record $2.9 million dollar verdict against Equifax for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Mr. Fahlgren is also a Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and has fulfilled the arbitrator training required by the Supreme Court of Florida for court appointed arbitrators. Having represented both sides in his career, Mr. Fahlgren is a successful mediator.

For more information, please feel free to contact Mr. Fahlgren's office by contacting me at (904) 845-2255 or my cell (407) 852-1711. My email for potential clients is stevefahlgren@gmail.com

Steve Cody was born in Massachusetts, but has has lived in Florida almost all of his life. He received his Bachelor's degree from Florida State University and then went on to receive his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida College of Law.

Steve concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation and appellate work. He is a member of the Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before all of the Florida courts, as well as the United States Supreme Court, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida.

After graduating law school, Steve served as a legislative aide to Representative William E. Sadowski. Sadowski was a member of the Florida House. While with the Legislature, Steve helped to author the Florida Voting Rights Act and the Florida Limited Liability Company Act, among other pieces of legislation. He worked on the sunset review of various parts of the Florida Statutes, including the Florida Insurance Code and the Regulated Industries (Gaming) Code. He was also extensively involved in the reapportionment of the Florida House, Florida Senate, and United States Congressional districts for Florida.

Since entering private practice he has represented the Florida House of Representatives during the period 2001-2004, the Gore/Lieberman campaign in 2000, and the City of Miami. Past and present representative clients include the Royal Bank of Canada, Refco Group, Paine Webber, Banco de Balboa, Banco de Santander, Banco Exterior de Espana, AIG, former Congresswoman Carrie Meek, Rhode Island Hospital Trust, Cessna Finance Corporation, Sears, Dun & Bradstreet, and AT&T. Steve has also represented numerous persons with disabilities and organizations concerned with the rights of the disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Martindale-Hubbell has rated Steve as an "A-V" attorney recognizing him as a lawyer with pre-eminent legal abilities, reflecting his overall expertise, experience, integrity, and professionalism.
Significant reported cases include: In re Constitutionality of House Joint Resolution 25E, 863 So.2d 1176 (Fla. 2003); Martinez v. Bush, 234 F.Supp.2d 1275 (S.D. Fla. 2002); Florida Senate v. Forman, 826 So.2d 279 (Fla. 2002); In re: Constitutionality of House Joint Resolution 1987, 817 So.2d 819 (Fla. 2002); Brown v. Butterworth, 831 So.2d 683 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002); Shotz v. City of Plantation, 248 F.3d 1180 (11th Cir. 2001); Meek v. Metropolitan Dade County, 985 F.2d 1471 (11th Cir. 1993); Meek v. Metropolitan Dade County, 805 F.Supp 967 (S.D. Fla. 1992); 1401 Brickell Associates, Ltd. v. Stinson, Lyons & Schuette, P.A, 522 So.2d 459 (Fla. 3d DCA 1988); Lowy v Roberts, 453 So.2d 886 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984).
Because of Steve's unswerving efforts to bring fairness to the way in which members of the Miami-Dade County Commissioners were elected, the very Commission that Steve forced to reform, proclaimed May 18, 1993 as "Stephen Cody Day" in Miami-Dade County.
Representative news articles that have focused on cases Steve has been involved in include:
"Battle Over Political Maps Pricey", The Miami Herald, April 23, 2002, page 3B.

"Trip to Polls can be so Difficult Disabled Often Do Not Vote", Orlando Sentinel, March 28, 2001.

Obstacles at Polls Spur Disabled Voters to Consider Lawsuit", Orlando Sentinel, Mar 28, 2001, page A1.

"PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: Disabled Say Florida Makes Voting Difficult", The National Law Journal, December 11, 2000.

"Rare Hospitality?", The Miami Herald, February 27, 2000, page 1B.

"Deals and The Ballot: Miami Vote Could Help Carollo Foes Living Outside City", The Miami Herald, October 31, 1999, page 1A.

"Disabled Rally Against Eviction of Party Boat from Miamarina", The Miami Herald, August 19, 1999, page 3B.

"Suarez Launches His Comeback Bid: Lawyers Seek Review Of Court Decision Naming Carollo Mayor", March 18, 1998, page 1B.
"When is House not a Home?", Miami New Times, June 19, 1997.

"Experts Predict Lots of Challenges to Minority Voting Districts in View of the Ruling Against Race-Based Districts, Fights are Likely at All Levels of Government", Orlando Sentinel, July 1, 1995, page A14.

"Historic Shift in Store for School Board", The Miami Herald, November 22, 1994, page 1A.
"He fought for right and changed the state of politics", The Miami Herald, April 26, 1993, page 13A.

"Judge Orders Single Member Districts In Dade: The Federal Order Will Give Hispanics the Most Commissioners with Whites and Blacks Dividing the Rest", (Associated Press) Orlando Sentinel. Dec. 24, 1992, page. B.5.

Maternity Creates Pregnant Pause: Expectant Employees Face Volitile Workplace Face Workplace Bias, Studies Says", Chicago Tribune, July 28, 1991, page 1.

"Reform Now or ...", The Miami Herald, December 19, 1990, page 20A.
EDUCATION:

Florida State University, Bachelor of Science
(with dual majors in Government and English)

University of Florida, Juris Doctor
PROFESSIONAL:
The Florida Bar
The American Bar Association
United States Supreme Court
United States Circuit Court, Fifth Judicial Circuit
United States Circuit Court, Eleventh Judicial Circuit
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida

Hallandale Personal Injury Lawyer, including car accidents, Slip and fall, Dog Bites, Medical Malpractice, Faulty Products, All Serious Injuries, Spinal Cord Injuries, Wrongful death, birth injury. Board certified with 27 years of experience.

Mr. Sackrin's practice serves the cities of Hallandale, Hollywood Florida, Aventura, Pembroke Pines and all of South Florida.

After 23 years with the U.S. Department of Justice, Charles Truncale practices criminal defense in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. He represents clients facing a wide range of criminal charges in state and federal courts. He also has an extensive practice in appellate and post conviction remedies and ligates wrongful death and complex civil fraud cases.

As an experienced trial lawyer, Kevin has handled more than 100 jury trials in the last 23 years. Although he has represented many clients charged with serious felony and capital offenses, a vast majority of his work involves defending citizens accused of DUI. Mr. Mawn is the recipient of the 2000 Brevard County Bar Association Professionalism Award and is an active member of the Vassar B. Carlton Inn of Court. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Bar Association and as chairman of the 18th Judicial Circuit Florida Bar Grievance Committee.

Robert Stickney's career is one devoted to serving justice and country. He has held key positions on both sides of the court room as a State Attorney and Assistant United States Attorney and as criminal defense attorney handling serious crimes in both state and federal court. In addition to his impressive record as an effective litigator, both in and out of court, Mr. Stickney also has a distinguished career in the United States Navy as a naval officer where he has risen to his current command level rank of Captain.

Mr. Stickney is a South Florida native. He graduated from the University of Michigan acquiring a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science. He also completed the Naval Reserve Office Training Commission program and left Michigan as a commissioned officer in the Navy. After five years on active duty Mr. Stickney commenced law school at the University of Florida.

Upon graduation he worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the juvenile, misdemeanor and felony sections of the State Attorney's Office in Fort Meyers, Florida. Mr. Stickney handled all aspects of pre-trial motions, trial preparations, plea negotiations, and litigation for docket averaging 100 cases per quarter. He prosecuted in excess of 50 bench trials and 35 jury trials to verdict. Mr. Stickney completed four appeals to Circuit Court. He was also responsible for extradition of fugitives.

Mr. Stickney then transitioned to federal prosecution as an Assistant United States Attorney in Tampa, FL. As a federal prosecutor in the Criminal Division he was responsible for all aspects of investigating and prosecuting violations of the United States Code. He conducted federal grand jury investigations working closely with local, state, and federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs, Fla. Dept. of Law Enforcement, and local Sheriff's Offices. Mr. Stickney prosecuted international counterfeiting conspiracies, international and interstate narcotics trafficking, credit card fraud, bankruptcy fraud, mail fraud, bank robbery, illegal alien smuggling, and corruption cases.

As an AUSA, Mr. Stickney successfully completed 28 jury trials and five U.S. Circuit Court appeals. His most notable cases involved threats against the President's life; wire and mail fraud charges based on a lawyer's scheme to sell Presidential Pardons to federal prisoners; international counterfeiting conspiracies; international narcotics trafficking; armed bank robberies, violations of the U.S. Trade Embargo on Cuba, and illegal alien smuggling.

Due to his competent legal advisement and effective leadership, Mr. Stickney has been recalled to active military duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as part of the global war on terrorism -twice. During these periods his service included critical billets such as the Deputy Chief of International Law for United States Forces, Japan. He advised the Commander, US Forces, Japan on current military operations, international issues, rules of engagement, personnel issues, maritime law, the Mutual Cooperation Treaty and Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Japan.

In private practice Mr. Stickney's primary focus is on federal and state criminal defense litigation with secondary emphasis on general civil litigation with cases throughout the United States. He maintains on office in downtown Fort Lauderdale in the Regions Bank building steps from both the Fort Lauderdale Florida Southern District Federal Courthouse and Broward County's 17th Judicial Circuit. He is centrally located between Miami and West Palm Beach as to best serve his clients with cases in either federal or state jurisdictions of either county.

Peter A. Sartes is a shareholder of the Law Offices of Tragos & Sartes. Mr. Sartes is one of Tampa Bay's most resourceful, up-and-coming attorneys. His vast formal education includes a finance degree and an MBA along with his law degree. His extensive education coupled with his years of training in tactic and strategy gained during his tour of duty as a United States Army Cavalry Officer provided the foundation necessary for his development into an effective trial strategist.

Since joining the Law Offices of George E. Tragos in 2001, Mr. Sartes has represented clients in both criminal and personal injury cases. His diverse background makes him a coveted asset in the firm's arsenal. His ability to scrutinize details, assess case strengths and recommend courses of action have proven to be essential in defending all types of criminal prosecutions, as well as preparing for complicated civil litigations. Mr. Sartes' expansive financial background makes him particularly capable of deciphering complex financial documents to identify issues necessary to successfully defend tax, fraud, and financial cases.

Throughout his legal career Mr. Sartes has represented a broad spectrum of clients including the first international arms dealer to be indicted during Operation Iraqi Freedom, a client involved in the fifth largest drug seizure in US history, and everyday people fighting to protect their rights in local courts.Mr. Sartes attended both the University of Toledo and Stetson College of Law and is admitted to practice in both Florida State and Federal courts. He was an associate at CB Richard Ellis, the worlds leading commercial real-estate brokerage firm, before deciding to fulfill his dream and pursue a career in law.

His legal career began at the Public Defender's Office in his home town of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Sartes is the former Chairman of the Traffic Court Rules Committee of the Florida Bar, and currently serves as the liaison to the Rules of Judicial Administration Comittee of the Florida Bar, and as the Sixth Judicial Circuit representative on the Florida Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors.

He has served as the Past- President of the Young Lawyers Division of the Clearwater Bar Association, and he has also served as the Chairman of the Clearwater Bar Association Technology Committee. Mr. Sartes holds a BV rating from Martindale-Hubble which is the maximum rating a lawyer can receive who has been admitted to the bar for less than 10 years. He has also been published in The Journal, of the Appellate Section of the Florida Bar, the Florida Bar Journal , The Florida Defender, the journal of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and Res Ipsa, the publication of the Clearwater Bar Association.