Sophia is a member of the Professional Liability Department where she focuses her practice on representing businesses, directors and officers, design professionals, contractors and homeowners' associations in commercial, professional liability, construct defect, architectural, engineering, and employment disputes
Prior to joining Marshall Dennehey, Sophia practiced first-party property defense. In 2024, she was selected to the Super Lawyers© Rising Stars list for her exceptional work in civil litigation defense and was named a Top Lawyer by Palm Beach Illustrated.
Sophia received her juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law. During law school, Sophia participated in several student organizations. She served as the Social Media and Marketing Director for the Black Law Student Association. She also gained valuable experience and knowledge as an intern with Legal-Aid Coast to Coast Family law division, where she provided legal information and guidance to Pro Se litigants and a law clerk at an Immigration firm. Further, Sophia also participated in legal clinics including the Dispute Resolution Clinic, where she co-mediated and arbitrated cases and eventually became a Florida Supreme Court County Mediator and a Qualified Arbitrator, as well as the Sharon and Mitchell W. Berger Entrepreneur Law Clinic, where she offered transactional representation and legal advice to entry level entrepreneurs, innovators and start-up businesses under the supervision of the clinic director.
Sophia currently lives in Broward and enjoys spending her spare time at the beach, with family, and working with her non-profit providing support to Haiti.
Thought Leadership
Case Law Alerts
Florida Court Addresses Association Liability for Damage to Common Elements
November 3, 2026
A Florida Appellate Court from the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled that a condominium association may be responsible for repairing damaged common elements even when the damage originates within another owner's unit. This case involved a condominium owner whose unit sustained repeated water leaks, sewage intrusion, and mold damage, including a leak caused by a bathtub in the unit above. The trial court granted summary judgment for the association, finding that the association had no duty to repair because the leak originated within another unit. On appeal however, the Court reversed. The Appellate Court held that the association’s duty to maintain and repair common elements does not depend on who caused the damage. Under the condominium declaration and Florida’s Condominium Act, the association remains responsible for repairing damaged common elements. The court also noted that an association may be able to seek reimbursement from an individual unit owner if the governing documents permit it. However, the potential responsibility of the unit owner does not necessarily eliminate the association’s duty to make the required repairs. The decision serves as a reminder that condominium claims require careful consideration of the source of the loss, the location and classification of the damaged property, the association’s governing documents, and the association’s response to the damage. This case was remanded for further proceedings to determine whether the damaged areas were common elements and whether the association’s failure to repair contributed to additional damages.
Case Law Alerts
Florida Appellate Court Clarifies the Limits of Condominium Director Immunity
July 21, 2026
A Florida appellate court ruled that a trial court erred in its decision to dismiss a condominium association's lawsuit with prejudice. The King David of Sunny Isles Condominium Association brought a lawsuit against two former board directors. The association alleged that the directors breached their fiduciary duties, violated the condominium's governing documents and the Florida Condominium Act, and engaged in improper financial and governance practices, including failing to maintain financial records, improperly suspending a unit owner's voting rights, and allowing the use of an association-issued debit card. The trial court dismissed the complaint, finding that the association failed to allege compliance with a bylaw requiring approval from 75% of the membership before filing suit and concluding that any amendment would be futile. Under Florida law, directors and officers of non-profit organizations are generally protected from personal liability for monetary damages regarding organizational management, policy, decisions, or omissions. However, this immunity is not absolute. On appeal, the court held that dismissal with prejudice was improper because defects related to pleading a condition precedent are generally curable through amendment. More significantly, the court emphasized that while condominium directors are typically protected from personal liability, allegations involving the improper use of an association-issued debit card could fall within statutory exceptions to that immunity if properly pleaded. Florida courts generally allow plaintiffs an opportunity to amend defective complaints unless it is clear that no amendment could state a valid cause of action and this decision serves as a reminder of that. The case was ultimately remanded to allow the association to amend its complaint and proceed with the litigation.
