J. Derek Kantaskas

First Admitted: 2007, Florida Professional Webpage: https://kantaskaslaw.com/derek-kantaskas/ Bar / Professional Activity: Florida Bar Member in Good Standing American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law, Division 9 Steering Committee (2012-2019) Hillsborough County Bar Association Construction Law Section, Co-Chair (2018-2019) United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida All state courts of Florida Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results): Defeated Class Certification related to Hillsborough County Sales Tax dispute; obtained favorable dismissal of lawsuit., 2021 Represented homeowner in non-jury trial awarding homeowner full damages against contractor for construction defects., 2022 Represented contractor in non-jury trial awarding full damages and construction lien foreclosure., 2022 Representative Clients: Successfully defended Contractor regarding numerous licensure complaints pending before the Department of Business and Professional Regulation., 2019 Successfully defended Professional Engineer in licensure complaint pending before the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design Division of Regulation., 2019 Pro bono / Community Service: Leadership Tampa (Class of 2017), 2017 Created non-profit organization for the purpose of rendering adoption services to children in foster care., 2021 Successfully overturned Life Sentence for improper sentence in the Middle District of Florida., 2016 U. S. Soccer Federation Professional Referee (1994-2005) American Heart Association, Team Captain, Heart Walk (2010-2011) Board of Adjustment, City of Pinellas Park Vice Chairman (2010-2011) and Board Member (2008-2010) Honors: Awarded Most Pro Bono Hours Pledged, 15th Annual Judicial Pig Roast/Food Festival, Hillsborough County Bar Association Ferguson-White American Inn of Court Best Program Award, 2010-2011 Recipient of 2011 One Pro-Bono Award, Florida Bar Foundation and the Hillsborough County Bar Association Up-and-Comer, Florida Trends 2011 Legal Elite Florida Super Lawyers - Rising Stars, 2011-2012 Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers, 2013-2018 Educational Background: University of South Florida Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, 2003 Stetson University College of Law Stetson Law Review, Articles & Symposia Editor, 2007 Stetson University College of Law Juris Doctor, Summa Cum Laude, 2007 Scholarly Lectures / Writings: Lecturer, Getting to CGL Coverage for Rip and Tear Damages in Construction Defect Claims, ABA Forum on Construction Law, Division 7 Luncheon, Annual Meeting, Washington D. C. (April 2017) Co-Author, Rights and Liabilities of the Owner, Architect and General Contractor, Chapter 2 & 3 in Florida Construction Law and Practice, The Florida Bar Journal, 5th Edition (2006) Author, Retroactive Change to Construction Licensing Requirements, Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (September 2009) Co-Author, A Snapshot of Chinese Drywall Litigation, Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (July 2010) Co-Author, Successfully Serving Two Masters: The Ethics of Joint Representation of Bond Sureties and Principals, The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section, Construction Law Seminar (2012) Co-Author, The High Hurdle to a Spoliation Claim: Is the Evidence Crucial?, Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (October 2012) Contributing Author, Special Considerations for Federal Construction Contracts, Florida Construction Law and Practice, 7th Ed. (2013) Co-Author, Relation Back ... is Back, Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (May 2014) Author, Arbitration Jurisdiction and Unlicensed Contractors, Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (September 2014) Co-Author, The Rippin and the Tearin, Lawyer Magazine, Hillsborough County Bar Association (February 2016) Co-Author, Injury is Nearly a Fact, While Rip and Tear is No Longer a Wild Card Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section - Action Line Vol. XXXVII, No. 3 (Spring 2016) Co-Author, Triggering Rip and Tear Coverage Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Insurance Matters! Vol. 4, Issue 3 (Winter 2016)