Susan C. Odess
Susan C. Odess leads the firm’s insurance and construction litigation practice. Susie’s team exclusively focuses on high-stakes insurance coverage disputes and claims, representing homeowners, commercial property owners, community associations, and businesses against large insurance and construction companies.
Some of Susie’s significant settlements and jury verdicts for her clients include:
- $72 million for a condo association as a result of robotic garage failure
- $13 million for a condo association impacted by hurricane damage
- $4.2 million for a condo association impacted by hurricane damage
- $4 million for an apartment complex impacted by hurricane damage
- $2.5 million for a hotel impacted by hurricane damage
- $1.3 million for homeowners impacted by a pipe break
- $3.6 million jury verdict following a six-day trial for a condo association impacted by hurricane damage
- Obtained a jury verdict in favor of homeowners and against their property insurer following a three-day trial
- Obtained a jury verdict in favor of a homeowner against its property insurer following a three-day trial
- Obtained a jury verdict in favor of a homeowner against its property insurer following a two-day trial
Susie received her bachelor’s degree from Catholic University of America, and then went on to receive her juris doctor from the University of Miami School of Law, where she graduated cum laude. While in law school, Susie served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Adalberto Jordan, a respected United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Since entering private practice, Susie has established herself as a go-to resource for clients dealing with a wide range of property damage claims. Whether it’s water damage, wind damage, fire damage, concrete overspray, hurricane damage, or any other form of property damage, Susie is a leader in her field and is known to take on big cases.
Susie began her career in the insurance industry and has over 15 years of experience handling first-party property insurance claims stemming from water losses, flooding, fires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. Susie represents her clients in Florida’s state and federal courts, and has significant experience in trial, appraisals and arbitration proceedings. In addition to handling legal claims, Susie provides invaluable guidance to clients during the coverage-analysis and decision-making process. From negotiating coverage disputes to navigating complex litigation, appraisals and arbitrations, she is committed to ensuring that her clients receive the maximum insurance coverage to which they are entitled.
Susie is well respected as a go-to source in the insurance industry. She is routinely published on matters regarding insurance coverage disputes, and she is an annual contributor to Florida Construction Law, a comprehensive textbook used to teach construction law at the University of Miami School of Law. Susie was recognized in the 2023-2024 Best Lawyers in America listing under the insurance law and insurance litigation practice areas. She was also recognized in the 2022-2023 Florida Super Lawyers listing.
Susie is active in her community, serving as a mentor with Women of Tomorrow. Susie has also received a judicial appointment as an Attorney Ad Litem and volunteers her time advocating for juvenile and animal rights. Previously, Susie served on the Board of Directors of Margaux’s Miracle Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to publishing the results of research seeking to test and improve upon treatment for cancer patients.
Q+A with Susan Odess – Joining Freidin Brown and Fighting for Policyholders
Why did you join the team at Freidin Brown?
“Over the last 48 years, Freidin Brown has built a reputation as a highly respected and compassionate firm backed by stellar results for its clients. In joining Freidin Brown, I saw an opportunity to extend its incredible work to clients facing a different set of challenges than those who the firm was already working so hard for. Beyond that, I knew from experience and my relationships with the Freidin Brown team that the firm has a strong culture aligned with my vision and a great work environment.”
What is it about Insurance Law that you love?
“I love that my practice area gives me the opportunity to help right wrongs for clients who do all the right things and are still left without recourse. These are people who purchase insurance and pay their premiums in case of the worst happening. Through my practice, I help to make sure that my clients aren’t taken advantage of and that insurance companies hold up their end of the bargain.”
What kind of benefits do your clients get from joining you at Freidin Brown?
“I have spent my entire career in this space, and my clients get the benefit of years of earned expertise and tenacity. But just as importantly, my clients are backed by a team that cares about clients as people and will champion and fight for their rights.”
What have the last five years in the industry taught you?
“More than ever, Florida policyholders need effective representation. Insurance companies have the force of the Florida legislature behind them, and the legal landscape has only become friendlier to anti-policyholder practices. The largest insurers in the state are not paying claims at the rates that they should be, and recent changes to the law in Florida have only emboldened the insurance companies while pushing effective lawyers out of the insurance law space. We have entered a period where policyholders need to be extremely vigilant and ensure that they have the right team to protect their rights when the time comes.”
What is there to come in the insurance industry?
“New challenges. Florida law is very friendly to insurance companies at this time, and civil cases in Florida are about to start moving forward at unprecedented speeds due to new rule changes. But with new challenges come the need for new solutions and innovation. We expect to be at the forefront and will keep fighting for our clients as the law develops.”