MEET THE TEAM

Monica is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Civil Mediator and a Qualified Arbitrator, and she dedicates her practice to alternative dispute resolution and real estate transactions. She has a background as a litigator in both the defense and plaintiff side of personal injury, negligence, premises liability, auto accidents, property damage, and third party and first party insurance claims. Before law school, Monica taught English at both Miami Dade County Public Schools and Miami Dade College until she relocated to Indiana to attend law school at the University of Notre Dame. While in law school, she worked at the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic helping clients in cases involving mortgage foreclosure and real estate fraud issues. After law school, Monica clerked for Judge Kathleen Lang in LaPorte County Superior Court and later joined the Office of the Indiana Attorney General as a Deputy Attorney General in the Licensing Enforcement and Homeowner Protection Unit. She then began practicing insurance defense litigation until relocating to Southwest Florida, where she continued as a litigator on both the defense and plaintiff side before deciding to focus on alternative dispute resolution and real estate transactions. Monica also serves as the Special Magistrate for the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Monica is originally from Miami, Florida, and is fluent in Spanish. When not working, Monica enjoys canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and reading a good book on the beach with her husband, son, and daughter.  

MONICA'S PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

Monica devotes countless hours to the Fort Myers Beach community, including serving as Past President and current board member of the Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club. She is a proud member of the Notre Dame Club of SWFL, served as Chair of the Fort Myers Beach Nuisance Abatement Board, and is also past-treasurer and advisor for the board for Friends of Lovers Key (“FOLKS”). Monica is also a member of the Calusa Inn of Court. In 2020, Authority Magazine featured Monica in the article: “How Attorney Monica Schmucker Tackles The Extreme Work Life Balance Of Being A Woman Business Leader During Covid-19.” In years 2021-2024, Monica was recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. After Hurricane Ian devastated Fort Myers Beach, Monica served as a member of the ad hoc committee working with the Lee County School District to come up with a plan for rebuilding Fort Myers Beach Elementary School and worked tirelessly in the efforts to save their school. 

Terry is a closer. He mediates and arbitrates matters assigned by the Courts, Department of Financial Services and by private appointment. Much of his time is spent assisting clients on real estate transactional matters. Finally, he continues his long experience in litigation related to property including insurance disputes and construction litigation. Beginning his career in NJ and PA in 1993, Terry was an Assistant City Attorney for Camden, NJ taking on construction financing, employment, discrimination, contract, personal injury and constitutional issues. His work included representation at the Supreme Court: Alston v. Camden, 773 A.2d 693 (N.J. 2001) and Morales v. Camden, 791 A.2d 220 (N.J. 2002). He later became in-house counsel to the Philadelphia Contributionship Insurance Company, addressing coverage and personal injury actions. He moved to Fort Myers in 2005, just in time for Hurricane Wilma. Terry worked with a multi-state litigation firm, where he became bar board-certified as a specialist in construction law in 2015 and managed the firm’s first-party and construction department in Southwest Florida. This also included appellate advocacy on matters related to arbitration, construction financing, wrongful death and bodily injury. Terry is justly proud of his 3 children, all graduates of FGCU. Raised in Syracuse, NY, Terry obtained his bachelor’s from Buffalo State College in 1989 and his juris doctor from Rutgers School of Law, Camden in 1993 with International Law Honors.  

TERRY'S PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

Terry has presented continuing legal education programs for the National Business Institute (NBI) and the national conference of Claims and Litigation Management (CLM). https://legaltalknetwork.com/guests/terrence-lavy/ He is a member of the Lee County Bar Association. Outside the courts, Terry can be found on stage in Southwest Florida. At the challenge of a friend, he auditioned for A Christmas Carol in 2020 and was bitten by the acting bug. Next up, he will portray Elle's Dad in Legally Blond the Musical at the Fort Myers Theatre July 13-21. https://ftmyerstheatre.com/ He also enjoys roller coasters, won his fantasy football league in 2023/24. He is an unfortunate golfer. Terry has long been an avid fan of the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Tom has been practicing law in Southwest Florida for over 15 years, with the past 10 years dedicated to the fields of personal injury and property damage claims. Tom’s background as a litigator includes representing both Plaintiffs and Defendants in personal injury, negligence, premise liability, auto accidents, property damage, as well as first and third-party liability claims. Tom relocated from Cleveland, Ohio to Fort Myers after graduating law school. He began his practice as an Assistant Public Defender in Florida’s twentieth judicial circuit which includes Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Counties. After practicing exclusively in criminal defense, Tom switched gears and began to work in the field of personal injury. He expanded his practice to include representing home owner’s in first party insurance claims after Hurricane Irma. Tom currently focuses his current practice on handling litigation matters. 

Tom spends time away from work primarily watching history documentaries. He is passionate about studying ancient civilizations and post-industrial American history. Tom’s wife and daughter are less enthusiastic about history but encourage his hobby. He also plays mandolin.