Melissa Vaughan Email & Phone Number

Lake Mary, Florida, United States

Defense of bodily injury, subrogation, and uninsured motorist cases, with highest office closure rate in 2023. Additional duties include training and mentoring, and administrative projects.

Handled all lines of insurance defense, including PIP, glass, property damage, bodily injury, subrogation, and uninsured motorist cases. Trained junior attorneys, conducted global settlement conferences, and worked on administrative projects.

Florida, United States

Helped parents of children struggling in public schools obtain special education services and accommodations under IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Accompanied parents to school meetings involving district-level staff in Orange and Seminole Counties to discuss eligibility, review evaluations, and create or revise IEP and 504 plans.

Broward County, Florida, United States

Prosecuted major crimes, repeat felony offenders, and high-profile cases in the Career Criminal and Sexual Battery Units. Served as lead prosecutor in a four-person felony trial unit, responsible for first-degree felonies and managing the division caseload.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Represented the prosecution on direct appeal though written and oral advocacy in the Third and Fourth District Courts of Appeal.

New York, New York, United States

Supported the Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) Department in the enforcement of animal cruelty laws by reviewing animal cruelty complaints and evidence, conducting in-house training of HLE agents and veterinary staff on criminal law and procedure relevant to animal cruelty investigations and prosecutions, drafting search warrant affidavits, and litigating security bond and forfeiture motions in animal seizure cases. Also assisted with general litigation matters and attended executive board meetings.

Mineola, New York, United States

Represented insurance companies in litigation involving first-party insurance claims, by conducting examinations under oath, drafting pleadings and motions, taking depositions, handling pre-trial motion practice, and trying jury cases to verdict.

Queens, New York, United States

Prosecuted cases in the Narcotics Division and Felony Trial Bureaus, and second-chaired high-profile trials involving the kidnap and murder of a witness. Handled homicides and incidents involving the use of police force from investigation through indictment in the Homicide Investigations Bureau, by responding to crime scenes, drafting and securing search warrants, taking sworn statements from witnesses and suspects, and presenting charges to grand juries. Handled direct appeals and post-conviction motions.

Doctor Of Law - Jd, Law

Activities and Societies: Environmental Law Review, Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award

B.A., Political Science, Cum Laude, Departmental Honors