As a board certified appellate specialist, Hala A. Sandridge practices in all facets of commercial appeals and has directly handled hundreds of appeals in both state and federal appeals courts.  

Pro Bono Committee Member
Diversity Committee Member
USLFG Recruiting Committee Member
Recruiting Committee Member, Tampa Office 

Past Experience

• Florida Supreme Court, Honorable Leander Shaw, Judicial Internship

Significant Published Decisions  

• City of Venice v. Gwynn, 76 So. 3d 401 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011). Granted petition for writ of certiorari because city ordinance regulating short-term vacation rentals not unconstitutional as-applied.
• Stop the Beach Renourishment, Inc. v. Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, 130 S.Ct. 2592 (2010). Affirmed Florida Supreme Court, finding that Florida did not unconstitutionally take property rights through enforcement of the State's Beach and Shore Preservation Act.
• National Financial Services, LLC v. Mahan, 19 So. 3d 1134 (Fla. 3d DCA 2009).  Reversed order denying motion to compel arbitration.   
• Republic Credit Corp. v. Upshaw, 10 So. 3d 1103 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009).  Overturned order determining proceeds from sale of home not subject to attachment by creditor. 
• Jackson National Life Insurance Company v. Lovallo, 8 So. 3d 1242 (Fla. 5th DCA 2009). Reversed summary judgment by successfully arguing Florida law does not require insurance company to give owner of life insurance policy additional notice of the right to renew the policy before it expired.
• Walton County v. STBR, 998 So. 2d1102 (Fla. 2008). Overturned decision finding portion of Florida Beach and Shore Preservation Act unconstitutional. 
• Clement v. Lipson, 999 So. 2d 1072 (Fla. 5th DCA 2008).  Reversed order denying motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction because defendants’ activities protected by corporate shield doctrine.
• Estate of Johnson v. Badger Acquisition, 983 So. 2d 1175 (Fla. 2d DCA 2008).  Kept summary judgment on appeal of order determining consultant pharmacist owed no duty to nursing home resident to ensure nursing home complied with its duty of care.
• Progressive Express Ins. Co. v. Reaume, 937 So. 2d 1120 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006).  Obtained writ of certiorari ordering trial court to dismiss lawsuit because insured had not sought administrative relief before pursuing a civil cause of action.
• Variable Annuity Life Ins. Co. v. Hausinger, 927 So. 2d 243 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006). Overturned order denying VALIC motion for preliminary injunction against former employee because trial court erred when it rejected statutory presumption of irreparable harm. 
• Wood v. Green, 323 F.3d 1309 (11th Cir. 2003). Reversed an ADA jury verdict on the basis that employee's request for an indefinite leave of absence indicated employee was requesting an unreasonable accommodation.
• Humana, Inc. v. Castillo, 728 So. 2d 261 (Fla. 2d DCA 1999). Reversed order certifying a class action of policy holders alleging they were fraudulently induced to enroll in HMO policy.
  

Presentations

• Oral Argument, Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. v. Horowitch, Florida Supreme Court, March 7, 2012
• “Arbitration: Examining the Benefits Before Including in Your Contracts,” Presenter, ACC West Central Chapter, February 2012
• "Practice in the Second District Court of Appeal: An In-Depth Look Litigating Against Pro Se Litigants in the Second District," Panel Member, May 2011
• "A Contract Drafter's Nightmare: Ambiguities that Lead to Litigation," ACC West Central Chapter, Co-Presenter, March 2011
• “Preservation of Error in Employment Appeals:  What You do In The Trial Court May Limit Your Options on Appeal,”  AFMA Conference, Orlando, FL, October 2008
• “Hot Topics and Tips in Post-Trial Motion,”  Tampa Bay Inns of Court, Tampa, Florida, May 2008
• “Select Post-Trial Issues In State And Federal Court,” Hillsborough County Bar Association, Tampa, FL, April 2008
• "Preserving Your Case for Appeal," Nationwide Trial Division, Florida Annual Attorney Meeting, June 2004, 2005 
• "Federal Appeals: Jurisdiction," Florida Bar Appellate Practice Certification Exam Review Course, Orlando, FL, February 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 
• "Federal Appeals," Stetson Law School, St. Petersburg, FL, January 1996
• "Writs," Hillsborough County Bar Association Seminar, Tampa, FL, March 1995
• "Pro Bono Work From the Large Firm Perspective," Stetson Law School, St. Petersburg, FL, March 1995
• "Writs," Florida Bar Appellate Practice Certification Exam Review Course, Orlando, FL, February 1995

Publications

• Employment Litigation Handbook, Second Edition, Appeals, Chapter 12, Editor, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, April 2010 
• "Decisions, Decisions: How the Initial Choice of a State or Federal Forum May Limit Appellate Remedies," Author, Stetson Law Review, Vol. 33, 125
• "The State Action Doctrine In State and Federal Courts," Author, Comment, 11 Fla.St.L.Rev. 893
• "Appellate Relief From Interlocutory Bankruptcy Court Abstentio and Remand Orders: A Reason For Change?" Author, Vol. LXXII, Fla. Bar., p. 92
• "Recovering Attorney Fees in Arbitration: The Unworkable Two-Tiered System," Author, Vol. LXVIII, Fla. Bar., p. 80
• "Structuring Federal Litigation to Preserve Appellate Remedies," Author, THE RECORD, Vol. IV, No. 2