Carter Bess

Associate

Tampa Office

cbess@balljanik.com

T: 813.337.7576

Overview

Carter Bess is an Associate in Ball Janik LLP’s Tampa office and a member of the firm’s Construction Defect Practice Group. Prior to joining Ball Janik, Mr. Bess practiced first-party property insurance litigation, representing policyholders in disputes arising from property damage and insurance claims. He brings experience across all stages of litigation, including discovery, depositions, hearings, motion practice, and trial preparation.

Mr. Bess earned his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law in 2020. While at Stetson, he served as a member of the Stetson Law Review and founded the Insurance Law Association, an organization focused on providing students with opportunities to learn about and engage with the insurance law field.

When away from the office, Mr. Bess enjoys spending time with his family, and any excuse to get outdoors including hunting, fishing, golfing, and going to the beach.

Education

J.D., 2020, Stetson University College of Law
B.A., 2017, Summa Cum Laude, History and Spanish, University of Alabama

Admissions

Florida

Kelly Corcoran is an insurance coverage attorney focused on resolving complex insurance coverage disputes on behalf of individual and corporate policyholders in their pursuit to recover claims. He has significant experience in handling construction defect coverage issues involving commercial and residential buildings including apartment complexes, condominiums, and single-family homes, as well as other coverage issues involving personal injury and property damage claims. Mr. Corcoran was selected to the Florida Rising Stars list, published in Super Lawyers Magazine, 2016-2018. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

Before joining Ball Janik LLP, Mr. Corcoran served as coverage counsel for several national insurers, in which he gained invaluable experience in understanding how insurance companies defend themselves in legal battles with claimants and policyholders. His experience includes litigating disputes arising under commercial, homeowners, automobile and general liability policies.

Mr. Corcoran has been involved with coverage issues ranging from improperly installed roofs, fire sprinkler systems, curtain wall systems, and post-tension cables to large multi-district litigation involving Chinese drywall and FEMA Formaldehyde Travel Trailers. Mr. Corcoran is well-versed in primary and excess insurance policies, policy interpretations, as well as insurance policies covering subcontractors and additional insureds. He has numerous published opinions in the areas of tort and insurance law, including Claudio v. Regaldo, 116 So.3d 451 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013).

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Corcoran was a partner in the second oldest law firm in Florida, Walton Lantaff Schroeder & Carson LLP. On a personal note, Mr. Corcoran enjoys spending his free time with his wife, daughter, son, and two dogs.