Rocco Cafaro - Shareholder
Rocco is a Shareholder and Board Certified Construction Lawyer in the firm’s Construction & Design Group. Generally, his practice involves litigation, arbitration, and transactional work. More specifically, these areas of practice include construction defect, property damage, personal injury claims, lien foreclosure actions, payment and performance bond claims, design negligence and construction defects. His practice also involves the preparation and negotiation of various contract documents related to the construction industry.
Before joining the firm Rocco played professional baseball for the Baltimore Orioles organization and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization. Rocco and his wife, Katie, stay busy keeping up with their four children. Rocco coaches multiple youth baseball teams and claims to be staying in shape for a future comeback. The firm is supportive, but skeptical.
Rocco and his family are active in their church and in various community organizations.
Representative matters that Rocco has handled include:
• Lead trial counsel in successful representation of construction design professionals in a two-week jury trial that concluded with a favorable verdict.
• Lead trial counsel successfully representing national restaurant chain in federal court against personal injury allegations.
• Lead trial counsel representing national homebuilder in dozens of lawsuits and arbitration claims, including multiple matters that were successfully defended in arbitration through Final Hearing and Award.
• Lead counsel advising several local auto dealerships in negotiating and drafting contract documents for construction improvements to showroom and dealership facilities.
• Lead counsel advising local technology company on construction of new offices and testing facility.
• Lead counsel advising local restaurant owner on construction contracting for improvements to restaurant.
Representative speaking and continuing education endeavors:
• 2010: American Bar Association (Speaker and Author -- “Chinese Drywall Multi-District Litigation”)
• 2012: National Business Institute (Speaker and Author – Construction Insurance)
• 2012: National Business Institute (Speaker and Author – Litigation Ethics)
• 2015: National Association of Credit Managers (Speaker)
• 2016: National Association of Credit Managers (Speaker)
• 2018: Visiting Lecturer at Florida State University College of Law (Florida Civil Procedure)
• 2019: National Association of Credit Managers (Speaker)
Court Admissions
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All Florida State Courts
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U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
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U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
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U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
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U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
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All Florida Federal Courts
Professional Recognition
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Board Certified in Construction Law
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Florida Trend Legal Elite (2010-2011, 2013-2016)
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Florida Trend’s Legal Elite - Up and Comers (2007-2008)
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Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star (2010-2012)
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Best Lawyers in America (2018-2020)
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Florida Super Lawyers (2018-2019)
Published Decisions
Show All
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JC Money Center v. Norris Systems, LLC,
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Acciard v. Whitney,
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Gottlieb v. Hansen Homes of South Florida, Inc.,
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Acciard v. Whitney,
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Mackillop v. Parliament Coach Corp.,
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Acciard v. Whitney,
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Acciard v. Whitney,
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Acciard v. Whitney,
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Acciard v. Whitney,
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Acciard v. Whitney,
Professional Associations
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Florida Independent Concrete & Associated Products, Inc. (FICAP)
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Hillsborough County Bar Association
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Florida Transportation Builders Association
Publications & Presentations
- "From Chinese Ports to American Courts, and Beyond: An Overview of Chinese Drywall in the United States." (Emily Whelchel, Lara Tibbals, co-presenters). ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Annual Spring CLE and Leadership Forum, May, 2011.