Skip to main content
2024 Windstorm Insurance Conference Main banner
Blood Drive Ad
PIB Ad
Headshots Ad
Cam Claims Ad
elev8 ad
older lundy ad
Claimvoyance Ad
Back

Evelyn M. Merchant, JD (she/her/hers)

Attorney - Founding Member
Berk, Merchant & Sims, PLC

Ms. Merchant is a founding member/partner of Berk, Merchant and Sims, PLC and has been an AV rated attorney since 1997. Her practice focuses on civil litigation of first and third party insurance coverage including commercial and residential insurance claims and bad faith/extra-contractual claims. Ms. Merchant has an emphasis in special investigations of claims involving fraud, misrepresentation or concealment, including arson and other intentional acts. Ms. Merchant also handles third party liability defense of premises liability, wrongful death, professional liability, construction defect, product liability, nursing home defense, medical malpractice and complex commercial contract disputes. Additionally, she handles matters in subrogation, appraisal and arbitration and has extensive experience in pre-suit property claims investigation. Ms. Merchant also serves as an expert in legal malpractice, claims handling and attorney fee disputes.
A vigorous litigator, she has successfully tried more than seventy first party cases to verdict. Since Hurricane Wilma she has tried seventeen windstorm cases (both commercial and residential) with thirteen defense verdicts, two verdicts in favor of the plaintiff for less than the insurer’s offer and two settled during trial for less than the pre-trial offer. Ms. Merchants professional accomplishments throughout her career have been recognized by her peers, awarding her an AV Preeminent Peer Review rating from Martindale-Hubble, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability.
Ms. Merchant earned her law degree from Nova Law School in 1985. She is a frequent speaker and has presented at the annual Windstorm conference and FACAP as well as the Miami Dade Bar association, the National Business Institute, The Broward County Young Lawyers’ Assoc., Federal Court Legends and numerous in-house presentations for various insurance companies. She is also a certified speaker for the Department of Financial Services.

Disclosure information not submitted.

Presentation(s):