Independent lawyer rankingsEvery fact traceable to a sourcePayment never changes a ranking

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked insurance lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida are Richard J Fidei “Rich Fidei” (LexRank 78.60), George Edward Harris (78.60) and Shelly Ann McKay (76.20).

This ranking lists 17 insurance lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 4 to 51 years in practice. 1 of the 17 lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
17
Fully verified
17 of 17

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Richard J Fidei “Rich Fidei”

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 29 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.0)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  2. No change

    George Edward Harris

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 51 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.0)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  3. No change

    Shelly Ann McKay

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 23 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 76.20: strongest in Experience (27.6/30) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20). 2.40 points behind #2, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 27.6/30 (ranking avg 20.0)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.1)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    2.40 points behind #2 (George Edward Harris): Experience −2.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  4. No change

    Richard Alan Jarolem

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 30 years experience
    • Environmental · Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.20 points behind #3, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.0)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    1.20 points behind #3 (Shelly Ann McKay): Practice-area relevance −5.

  5. No change

    Michael Anthony Motto Jr.

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Insurance · Product Liability
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 73.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.40 points behind #4, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    1.40 points behind #4 (Richard Alan Jarolem): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  6. No change

    George Demetrios Lagos

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 19 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 72.80: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Experience (22.8/30); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.80 points behind #5, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.1)
    • Experience 22.8/30 (ranking avg 20.0)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    0.80 points behind #5 (Michael Anthony Motto Jr.): Experience −7.2.

  7. No change

    Douglas A Kahle

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Insurance · Probate Litigation
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 71.93: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Practice-area relevance (13.3/20). 0.87 points behind #6, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 20.0)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Practice-area relevance 13.3/20 (ranking avg 17.1)

    0.87 points behind #6 (George Demetrios Lagos): Practice-area relevance −6.7, Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  8. No change

    Tara Lynn Kopp

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 17 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 70.40: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (20.4/30). 1.53 points behind #7, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 20.4/30 (ranking avg 20.0)

    1.53 points behind #7 (Douglas A Kahle): Experience −9.6.

  9. No change

    Elizabeth E. Zimmaro

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 15 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 68.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (18/30). 2.40 points behind #8, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 20.0)

    2.40 points behind #8 (Tara Lynn Kopp): Experience −2.4.

  10. No change

    Matthew Frank Hall

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 15 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 68.00: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (18/30).

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.1)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 20.0)
  11. No change

    Geoffrey S Stahl “Geoff”

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 15 years experience
    • Insurance · Product Liability
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 67.00: strongest in Reputation (4/20) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Experience (18/30). 1.00 points behind #10, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)

    Held back by

    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 20.0)

    1.00 points behind #10 (Matthew Frank Hall): Practice-area relevance −5.

  12. No change

    Michael Charles Peckham

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 16 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 64.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (19.2/30). 2.80 points behind #11, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 19.2/30 (ranking avg 20.0)

    2.80 points behind #11 (Geoffrey S Stahl “Geoff”): Reputation −4.

  13. No change

    Ben J Whitman

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Insurance · Product Liability
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 60.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 3.60 points behind #12, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 20.0)

    3.60 points behind #12 (Michael Charles Peckham): Experience −3.6.

  14. No change

    Christian Charles Romaguera

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 7 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 51.73: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (8.4/30). 8.87 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 8.4/30 (ranking avg 20.0)

    8.87 points behind #13 (Ben J Whitman): Experience −7.2, Practice-area relevance −1.7.

  15. No change

    Matthew Paul Mazzola “Matthew Mazzola”

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 5 years experience
    • Insurance
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 50.85: strongest in Practice-area relevance (20/20) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (6/30). 0.88 points behind #14, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 17.1)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 6/30 (ranking avg 20.0)

    0.88 points behind #14 (Christian Charles Romaguera): Professional credentials −3.8, Experience −2.4, Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  16. No change

    Shane Adam Chernoff

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 9 years experience
    • Insurance · Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 50.38: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (10.8/30). 0.47 points behind #15, mostly practice-area relevance.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.4)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 10.8/30 (ranking avg 20.0)

    0.47 points behind #15 (Matthew Paul Mazzola “Matthew Mazzola”): Practice-area relevance −6.7.

  17. No change

    Kyle Zachary Rowars

    Independent practice · Palm Beach Gardens, FL

    Verified
    • 4 years experience
    • Insurance · Product Liability
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 48.40: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (4.8/30). 1.98 points behind #16, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.6)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 4.8/30 (ranking avg 20.0)

    1.98 points behind #16 (Shane Adam Chernoff): Experience −6, Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 17 profile pages168 facts for 17 lawyers

Insurance market in Palm Beach Gardens

LexRanked tracks 17 lawyers in insurance law in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. 17 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
17
Law firms
0
Verified professional data
17 of 17
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
16 years17 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens

What sets these Palm Beach Gardens lawyers apart

Every lawyer in this ranking has a The Florida Bar license verified as eligible to practice, and every fact shown links to its source. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 17 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 4 to 51 (median 16)
Languages besides English French (1), Greek (1), Spanish (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad College of Law (3 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Palm Beach Gardens office address and insurance as a practice area on record. It compares 17 insurance lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in insurance, so the practice area is the one each lawyer lists on their Florida Bar profile, which The Florida Bar does not review. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

A Florida homeowner must give the insurer notice of a property insurance claim within 1 year after the date of loss, and a lawsuit for breach of the policy must be filed within 5 years of the loss.

Rule What it means
Notice of a property claim A new or reopened claim is barred unless notice reaches the insurer within 1 year after the date of loss; a supplemental claim within 18 months (Fla. Stat. § 627.70132(2))
Hurricane date of loss For hurricanes and other weather events, the date of loss is the landfall date or the date NOAA verifies the event (§ 627.70132(3))
Insurer response The insurer must acknowledge a claim communication within 7 days and pay or deny a property claim within 60 days after notice (§ 627.70131(1) and (7))
Lawsuit deadline 5 years from the date of loss for breach of a property insurance contract (§ 95.11(2)(e))
Bad faith An insured may sue an insurer that did not attempt in good faith to settle a claim, after 60 days written notice to the Department of Financial Services and the insurer (§ 624.155)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Palm Beach County is in Florida's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to report a property insurance claim in Florida?

1 year after the date of loss for a new or reopened claim, and 18 months for a supplemental claim (section 627.70132). For a hurricane, the date of loss is the date it made landfall.

How long does my insurer have to pay or deny a claim?

60 days after it receives notice of the claim, unless factors beyond its control prevent it (section 627.70131(7)).

What is a civil remedy notice?

A written notice on a Department of Financial Services form that must be filed 60 days before a bad-faith lawsuit under section 624.155. No suit lies if the insurer pays or corrects the problem within those 60 days.

How long do I have to sue my insurance company?

5 years from the date of loss for breach of a property insurance contract (section 95.11(2)(e)), but the claim itself must first be reported within 1 year.

Which court handles cases in Palm Beach Gardens?

State court cases in Palm Beach County are heard in Florida's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking insurance lawyers in Palm Beach Gardens?

Yes. 1 of the 17 ranked lawyers lists Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

17 of the 17 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Richard J Fidei “Rich Fidei”, George Edward Harris, Shelly Ann McKay, Richard Alan Jarolem and Michael Anthony Motto Jr. and others.

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.