Matthew R Danahy

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Trial Lawyers

Danahy & Murray exclusively represent individuals, partnerships and corporations in disputes with their insurance company throughout Florida. Our Firm represents individuals, partnerships and corporations who are denied or underpaid insurance benefits by their insurance carrier in connection with an insurance claim. The Firm handles such first party claims throughout Florida. These include claims resulting from property damage to homes and condominiums, health, life and disability claims, denials of coverage and resulting bad faith. The representation of our clients extends to such dispute resolution methods as appraisal, mediation and litigation, in both state and federal courts.

Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer - National Board of Legal Specialty Certification

Matthew R Danahy
Danahy & Murray PA
901 W Swann Ave
Tampa FL 33606
Tel: 813 258-3600
Fax: 813 258-3321
E-mail: matt@danahyandmurray.com

Matthew R. Danahy is a native of Tampa, Florida. He attended the University of Florida where he majored in Criminal Justice and from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1983. He subsequently attended Florida’s oldest law school, Stetson University College of Law, and earned his Juris Doctor from Stetson in 1986.

In 1986, following his admission to the Florida Bar Association, Matt began practicing in the field of insurance defense litigation. He defended insurance companies and their insureds for the first 14 years of his practice. During this time, Matt litigated and tried cases in such diverse areas as medical malpractice, maritime law, product liability, premises liability, automobile negligence, cases involving serious personal injury and wrongful death, personal injury protection claims (P.I.P.), uninsured motorist claims (U.M.), property insurance claims, and improper claims handling ("bad faith").

In 2001 Matt changed the direction of his practice. Since that time he has exclusively represented insured individuals, partnerships and corporations who are wrongfully denied or underpaid insurance benefits, or otherwise mistreated, by their insurance carrier in connection with an insurance claim.

In 2004, the firm of Danahy & Murray was formed. The firm limits its practice to representing insured’s throughout Florida in first party insurance claims against their insurers. These include property damage claims, health, life and disability claims and other types of insurance coverage claims and disputes. The firm also handles resulting claims for unfair claims handling practices ("bad faith").

Matt is rated “AV” by the Martindale-Hubbell legal rating service – signifying the highest level of professional excellence. He is Board Certified by two separate organizations: He is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar (a distinction enjoyed by less than 7% of lawyers admitted to the Florida Bar) and he is Board Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.

His achievements include membership in The Million Dollar Advocates Forum - www.MillionDollarAdvocates.com (membership in which is limited to attorneys who have won cases in excess of a million dollars). Matt has also been honored in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 editions of Florida Super Lawyer - www.superlawyers.com/florida (an independent publication featuring the top 5% of attorney's in the state as selected by their peers).

Matt's practice includes extensive appellate experience. He has handled in excess of sixty (60) appeals and has appeared in all five (5) Florida Appellate Districts, the Florida Supreme Court, and the Federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeal. He has dozens of reported appellate decisions (a representative sample is listed below).

Matt also believes in exploring and using alternative dispute resolution methods if it is in the best interest of his client to do so. The Florida Supreme Court has certified Matt as a Circuit and County Court Mediator, and he has served in that capacity in cases throughout Florida. He has served as both an umpire and an appraiser in the appraisal process outlined in many policies of property insurance. He is certified as an Umpire by the Windstorm Insurance Network.

In order to promote better understanding of insurance issues, Matt is a frequent lecturer at conferences and educational programs, and he makes media appearances to discuss claims handling, coverage and other insurance related issues. The Florida Department of Financial Services has approved Matt to teach adjusters Continuing Education courses in Law & Policy and Ethics.

Matt lives in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Tampa with his wife Lori and their two children, Conor and Lauren.