With 29 years of litigation experience, Darla handles general liability defense and commercial litigation throughout all stages of civil litigation. Her experience includes automobile and premises liability, catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims, medical malpractice defense, commercial disputes, and other complex civil matters. She manages cases from the initial investigation through discovery, mediation, and trial. Darla has worked on significant exposure matters involving complex medical causation and damages, and has represented insurers, insureds, healthcare professionals, and businesses in disputes requiring careful risk analysis and decisive advocacy.
Darla works closely with claims professionals and clients to identify the facts that will drive resolution, assess exposure, and develop a defense strategy aligned with the client’s business objectives. She has worked with accident reconstruction, biomechanical, and medical experts, analyzed extensive medical records, taken expert and fact witness depositions, and evaluated causation, damages, and trial risk. She has also participated in numerous trials involving wrongful death and significant injuries. Her approach has helped clients narrow disputed issues and make informed decisions about early resolution, mediation, or trial.
Before joining GRSM, Darla built and managed her own law practice and earlier served as an Assistant State Attorney in both Florida and Illinois. She is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil Mediator and has participated in more than 400 mediations as counsel or mediator. These experiences shape a practice grounded in preparation, practical judgment, candid communication, and an understanding of the litigation risks and business considerations that influence outcomes.
