EXPERIENCE
The Belcher Law Firm, P.A. Fort Myers, FL
Shareholder, February 2020 – Present
Belcher & Epstein, P.A.
Managing Shareholder, 2015 – January 2020
Practice concentrated in commercial trial and appellate matters. I represent individuals and businesses, as both plaintiffs and defendants, in all types of commercial disputes, including business torts; construction defect claims; restrictive covenants; contract disputes; real estate;
collections; debtor/creditor; deceptive and unfair trade practices; and contested probate, guardianship, and trust litigation. Since 1987, I have represented both appellants and appellees in more than 50 cases in the Second District Court of Appeal and the Florida Supreme Court.
I am primarily responsible for all aspects of these cases from initial filing of the complaint or answer through, in some cases, appeal. In cases involving an appeal, I am solely responsible for writing all required briefs, preparing appropriate motions, and attending oral argument.
I am also primarily responsible for managing the firm’s administrative matters.
Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Civil Traffic Court Magistrate, 2008 – 2015
In 2008, the Chief Judge of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit asked me to be sworn in as a Magistrate to conduct civil traffic court hearings. My docket included cases involving the Florida Highway Patrol, Fort Myers Police Department, Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Lee County Port Authority Police, Sanibel Police Department, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Lee County Toll Authority. I conducted weekly evidentiary hearings on both moving and non-moving violations of the Florida Statutes, including toll violations. I was also responsible for ruling and preparing orders on written motions from attorneys and pro se defendants.
Nuckolls, Johnson, & Belcher, P.A.
Shareholder, 2012 – 2015
Shareholder, 1994 – 2005
I represented individuals and businesses in a variety of commercial trial disputes and appeals.
I also represented insureds of The Cincinnati Insurance Company in commercial disputes at both the trial and appellate levels.
Nuckolls, Johnson, Belcher, & Ferrante, P.A.
Shareholder, 2005 – 2012
I represented individuals and businesses in a variety of commercial trial disputes and appeals.
I also represented insureds of The Cincinnati Insurance Company in commercial disputes at both the trial and appellate levels.
Nuckolls & Johnson, P.A.
Associate, 1989 – 1994
I represented individuals and businesses in a variety of commercial disputes at both the trial and appellate levels.
Nuckolls, Johnson, & Porter, P.A.
Associate, 1987 – 1989
I provided legal research on projects in commercial, immigration, family law, criminal, probate, and real estate matters. I conducted depositions in cases selected by the shareholders. I represented plaintiffs and defendants in various civil matters, primarily in county and small claims courts. As assigned by the shareholders, I was responsible for portions of discovery and motion practice in circuit court civil cases.
EDUCATION
University of Florida (J.D. 1987)
Stetson University (B.A. 1984)
Edison Community College (A.A. 1981)
Cypress Lake High School (1979)
LICENSES
Admitted to Bar, Florida, 1987
Admitted to Bar, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1988
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Barrister, 1988 – 2001; Master, 2019 – 2020, The Calusa American Inn of Court
Member, Board of Directors, Cypress Lake Country Club, 1997 – 2007
Chairperson/Member, Lee County Nuisance Abatement Board, 2000 – 2006
Counsel, Cape Coral Soccer Association, 2000 – Present
Elder, Saint Michael Lutheran Church, 2010 – 2015
CONFERENCES
Associate Member, Southwest Florida Chapter of the
American Subcontractors Association
(Florida Mechanic’s Lien Law), 1998 – 1999
AWARDS
Boss of the Year Award, Lee County Alliance of Legal Professionals, 2002
Super Lawyer, 2020
REPORTED CASES
Zaleznik v. Gulf Coast Roofing Co., Inc., 576 So.2d 776 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1991)
Evans v. Evans, 599 So.2d 205 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1992)
Johnson v. Aqua Pool Co., Inc., 725 So.2d 458 (Fla. 2nd DCA 1999)
Morroni v. Peeples, 868 So.2d 630 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2004)
Morroni v. Peeples, 872 So.2d 366 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2004)
DuPont Builders, Inc. v. Baker, 987 So.2d 146 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2008)
Land Management of Florida, Inc. v. Hilton Pine Island, Ltd., 974 So.2d 532
(Fla. 2nd DCA 2008)
Compass Construction, Inc. v. First Baptist Church of Cape Coral, Florida, Inc.,
61 So.3d 497 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2011)
Compass Construction, Inc. v. First Baptist Church of Cape Coral, Florida, Inc.,
61 So.3d 1273 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2011)
First Baptist Church of Cape Coral, Florida, Inc. v. Compass Construction, Inc.,
115 So.3d 978 (Fla. 2013)
Trafalgar Woods Homeowners Association, Inc. v. City of Cape Coral,
248 So.3d 282 (Fla. 2nd DCA 2018)