Edward J. O'Sheehan
National experience and a strong commitment to service are just two of the many qualities Edward O’Sheehan offers his clients. An attorney with more than ten years in litigation, he focuses on creditors' rights (including bankruptcy), insurance matters, contested foreclosures, consumer finance litigation matters, and tax appeals. He is a partner in Shutts & Bowen's Fort Lauderdale office Litigation Department.
Creditors’ Rights
Mr. O’Sheehan’s work in creditors' rights is the primary focus of his practice. In this area, he represents national and local companies dealing with distressed businesses and individuals. This work entails obtaining money judgments against companies and individuals and in rem judgments against property pledged as collateral and assisting clients in collecting on those judgments in post-judgment proceedings. His work also often involves matters in the bankruptcy context, either based on an original filing in bankruptcy or a defendant/borrower declaring bankruptcy to seek further delay or restructuring.
Insurance Matters
Mr. O'Sheehan represents insurance companies in first-party and third-party litigation in state and federal court related to coverage issues, uninsured motorists, bad faith, and hospital lien issues. Mr. O'Sheehan has also advised insurance companies with regard to federal and state requirements relating to use of electronic signatures and electronic transactions and has represented insurance companies with regard to claims handling, examination under oath, and litigation concerning electronic signature issues.
Contested Foreclosure Litigation and Consumer Finance Litigation
During the waive of foreclosures brought about by the recession, Mr. O'Sheehan has represented numerous mortgage loan originators, loan servicers, and investors in individual lawsuits, bankruptcy adversary cases, and contested foreclosures. He has also represented banks and other finance businesses in both state and federal court in law suits concerning the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act.
Tax Appeals
For real estate companies and property owners, Mr. O’Sheehan helps protest appraised properties values that significantly raise taxes. One recent case involves a large South Florida hotel in an Ad Valorem tax protest. His work helped reduce the appraisal value from $800 million to $200 million, resulting in significantly reduced taxes. Religious organizations also use his services to handle the tax consequences of gifts, as well as church governance and church law issues. Bad faith insurance, breach of contract, lease and title insurance matters are also areas in which he counsels clients.
Background
Mr. O’Sheehan is the former in-house counsel for a large, national corporation. In this position, he was in charge of managing litigation nationwide and gained experience in handling the legal concerns of a large institution.
He received his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law, where he served as the Articles and Comments Editor of the Inter-American Law Review and was a member of the Moot Court Board.
A former U.S. Marine, Mr. O'Sheehan continues to serve as a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Officer with the 50th Area Support Group. Beginning in 2005, he served 15 months in Afghanistan with the 53rd Infantry Brigade of the Florida Army National Guard and handled court martials and other military legal cases. He also volunteers in his local community as a Den Leader in Cub Scout Pack 786 in Hollywood.
Education
- University of Miami School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1995
- Ohio University, B.A., summa cum laude, Economics, 1992
Bar Admissions
- The Florida Bar
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Courts, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida
- U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- Court of Appeals, Armed Forces
Affiliations
- U.S. Marine Corps
- Florida Army National Guard