King, Courtney M.

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Courtney King focuses her practice on products and premises liability litigation, primarily representing automobile and medical device manufacturers, as well as theme parks. With a strong interest in her clients’ concerns and objectives, she calls on her trial experience, as well as her observations of strengths and weaknesses in individual cases, to skillfully and efficiently represent her clients.

Select Experience

Examples of Ms. King’s representative experience include the following:

  •  Co-Represented an automobile manufacturer to defense verdict at trial in Hillsborough County, Florida in a case involving a plaintiff who sustained burns to over seventy-five percent of his body in a vehicle fire;
  •  Represented an automobile manufacturer in personal injury and wrongful death cases involving rollover events, ejected occupants and/or vehicle fires;
  • Obtained summary judgment for an automobile manufacturer in a rollover case venued in Pinellas County, Florida;
  • Represented multiple medical device manufacturers as local and national counsel in cases venued in Florida and Pennsylvania;
  • Represented medical device manufacturers in multidistrict litigation in Alachua County;
  • Represented a major theme park in multiple cases venued in Orange County involving negligence, failure to warn, and negligent mode of operation claims.

About Me

What do you enjoy most about the practice of law?

The most rewarding aspect of my job is the creativity involved at every stage of litigation, whether it is determining the most cost-efficient way to defend a case or strategizing as to the most advantageous manner of proceeding with discovery.

What are your favorite activities in your leisure time?

I enjoy family time, which consists mostly of keeping up with my daughter’s latest activities and interests. I also enjoy traveling and reading.

LaPonzina, Dean G.

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Dean LaPonzina focuses his practice on representing manufacturers and other businesses in complex civil litigation matters in state and federal courts across the United States, including products liability, personal injury, and commercial litigation.

Prior to joining the firm, Dean clerked for the Honorable Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe on the Florida Second District Court of Appeal in Tampa. Dean began his legal career in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was born and raised, before relocating to Florida in 2025.

Dean received his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law, cum laude, and his undergraduate degree from Florida Atlantic University, magna cum laude. During law school, Dean was selected as a SLIP Intern at the U.S. Department of Justice, served as the Assistant Managing Editor of the University of Baltimore’s Law Forum, and was inducted as a Scholar into the Royal Graham Shannonhouse III Honor Society.

Outside of work, Dean enjoys spending time with his fiancée, Anna, and their two dogs, Winnie and Mochi. Dean also enjoys staying active, going to the beach, golfing, skiing, and cheering on his Baltimore Ravens.

*Dean is not admitted to practice law in Florida. He is admitted to practice law in Maryland.

Leiva, Flor M.

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Flor Leiva focuses her practice in the areas of products liability, premise liability, and general liability.

Flor began her legal career working at an insurance defense firm representing insurance carriers in first-party property suits. She then had the honor and pleasure of serving four years as a judicial law clerk at the Fifth District Court of Appeal, clerking for Judge F. Rand Wallis and Chief Judge James A. Edwards. Upon leaving the Fifth DCA, Flor came to work with us here at McDonald Toole Wiggins, where both Judge Wallis and Judge Edwards previously worked.

Flor received her undergraduate degree from Florida State University, and then went on to earn her law degree from Barry University School of Law. During law school, Flor competed in national Moot Court competitions and served on the Executive Board of Barry’s Moot Court program. She also worked as a legal assistant and law clerk while completing her studies.

In her free time, Flor enjoys yoga, outdoor activities, traveling, and exploring local farmer’s markets with her dog.

Liston, Bianca Graziela

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Bianca Graziela Liston handles all aspects of litigation, as well as coordination of discovery. She defends cases from soft tissue injuries to catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims in Florida state and federal courts.  She has first and second chair trial experience.  Her practice area includes products liability, personal injury, premise liability, amusement park, DRAM shop, food/supplement, toxic tort, commercial and transportation litigation, as well as administrative actions.

Prior to admission to the Florida Bar in 2002, Ms. Liston worked in a law firm as a legal assistant and paralegal.  Because of her passion for the law, she obtained her Bachelor and Juris Doctorate Degrees from Nova Southeastern University during its night program while continuing full-time employment.   It is this commitment and determination that she brings to her clients.   Ms. Liston is committed to handling each file as if it is her only file.  Likewise, she is determined to search for and discover every fact about the Plaintiff and his/her/its claim to achieve a beneficial resolution for her client whether through dismissal, settlement or verdict.  She also understands that with many clients, especially corporate clients, there is a business aspect to each claim and that winning at trial may not be the best approach to prevailing on a claim.

Long, Sarah A.

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Sarah Long concentrates her practice in the area of products liability defense in both Florida state courts and federal court.  Sarah has been involved in the defense of automotive, heavy truck and equipment manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device manufactures, as well as other makers of consumer products in complex tort litigation, in addition to traditional tort actions.  Sarah blends her solid analytical and research skills with her strong writing capabilities, and calls upon her experience as a trial attorney to offer clients knowledgeable, reliable and consistent services in the areas of discovery, motion practice and trial support.

Mcdonald, Jr., Francis M.

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Frank McDonald is a Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, the highest recognition of competency, professionalism and expertise awarded by the Bar. Throughout his entire career as a trial lawyer in private practice, he has defended product manufacturers and other business entities in complex tort litigation in state and federal courts throughout the southeastern United States.

This practice has included the defense of motor vehicle companies in crashworthiness litigation as well as medical device companies, equipment manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, oil and gas companies and other makers of consumer products in products liability and toxic tort matters.

In 2008, he was invited to become a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

He has tried over 65 lengthy cases to verdict in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. Mr. McDonald started his legal career in Orlando after a clerkship at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals with the Honorable Joseph W. Hatchett.

He has received numerous awards and honors for his legal accomplishments and has spoken at various seminars on topics that pertain to trial practice.