Atty. Sophia E.D. Philor
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 .
Profile Summary
About Sophia E.D. Philor at a glance
Sophia E.D. Philor is an Associate based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, practicing at Marshall Dennehey. They have 5+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2021. Their practice focuses on employment, business, real estate, construction, and litigation. Admitted to practice in Florida (2021), U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida (2025), and U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida (2025). Educated at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law (J.D., 2021) and Nova Southeastern University (M.B.A. Florida, 2014). Active member of Associations & memberships Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator. Serands clients in Fort Lauderdale, FL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- 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
- Honors & Awards •Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Stars (2024-2025) •Palm Beach Illustrated, Top Lawyer (2024) Thought Leadership Case Law Alerts Appellate Court Applies Business Judgment Rule and Reverses Summary Judgment in Condominium Assessment Dispute April 1, 2026 An appeals court ruled that the trial court erred in judgement for condo owners in a dispute over association fees
- While the court agreed that the association must turn over its financial audits, it was determined that the rest of the case should be reconsidered because courts should generally not interfere in board decisions without clear wrongdoing.The case involved a master condo association that provides shared services (like maintenance and cable) to several smaller associations
- The board’s budget included about $248,000 for cable costs, although it had settled a dispute with the cable company for $100,000
- One of the smaller associations, Fifth Horizons, argued this was unfair and that they overpaid their share
- The trial court ruled in their favor, saying the board acted outside its authority and awarded damages.The appeals court disagreed, explaining that under the Business Judgment Rule, courts usually defer to decisions made by boards as long as they act in good faith
- The court also clarified that in Florida, the business judgment rule has been codified by statute for corporations, limited liability companies, and not-for-profit corporations, See 607.0831(1), Fla
- Stat. (2021)
- This protection applies automatically, even if not specifically raised as a defense
- Importantly, the appeals court stated that it was within the board’s authority to create budgets and charge assessments, so although this was a disputed act, it wasn’t illegal
- Defense Digest Court Affirms Strong Liability Protections for Rideshare Companies Under Florida Law March 1, 2026 Key Points:Florida law treats rideshare drivers as independent contractors when statutory conditions are met.The law in effect on the date of the accident controls liability analysis
- Isolated complaints and traffic citations are generally insufficient to prove negligent hiring
- A Florida appellate court recently affirmed summary judgment in favor of Lyft, highlighting the liability protections available to rideshare companies under Florida’s Transportation Network Company statute
- In Abner v
- Lyft Florida, Inc., 422 So.3d 1226 (Fla. 3d DCA 2025), the District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District, held that Lyft could not be held liable for injuries caused by one of its drivers, rejecting claims for both vicarious liability and negligent hiring and retention.The case arose from an accident on July 5, 2017, where a Lyft driver collided with a motorcyclist, causing serious injuries
- At the time, the driver was providing a prearranged ride through Lyft’s digital platform
- The injured motorcyclist’s guardian sued both the driver and Lyft
- While claims against the driver were settled, the claims against Lyft continued.The plaintiff argued Lyft was responsible in two ways: the driver was acting as Lyft’s employee or agent at the time of the accident, and that it was negligent in hiring and retaining the driver
- Lyft moved for summary judgment, relying on Florida’s Transportation Network Company statute, section 627.748, Florida Statutes (2017), which had taken effect just days before the crash.The plaintiff argued the statute should not apply because the driver had been approved to drive for Lyft before it went into effect
- The court rejected that argument, explaining that Florida law applies the statute in effect when the cause of action accrues
- In negligence cases, that is the date of the accident
- R.J
- Reynolds Tobacco Co. v
- Sheffield, 266 So. 3d 1230, 1233 (Fla. 5th DCA 2019)
- Since the accident occurred after the statute became effective, the statute governed the claims against Lyft.Under section 627.748(9), a rideshare driver is considered an independent contractor, not an employee, if certain conditions are met
- These conditions include allowing drivers to set their own hours, permitting work on competing rideshare platforms, not restricting other business or employment, and confirming independent contractor status in writing
- Lyft presented evidence that these conditions were satisfied, including the driver agreement and testimony from its corporate representative.The plaintiff argued that the driver did not qualify as an independent contractor because the agreement allegedly limited other work
- The court disagreed, finding that the agreement only limited the driver’s activities while actively providing rides through the Lyft platform
- Outside of those times, the driver remained free to pursue other employment or business activities
- The agreement explicitly confirmed the driver’s discretion to work or not work
- The court noted this is consistent with prior Florida cases recognizing rideshare drivers as independent contractors
- McGillis v
- Department of Economic Opportunity, 210 So. 3d 220, 225-226 (Fla. 3d DCA 2017).Since the driver qualified as an independent contractor, Lyft could not be held vicariously liable for the driver’s alleged negligence
- Florida law generally holds that companies are not responsible for the negligent acts of independent contractors when they do not control how the work is performed
- Stander v
- Dispoz-O-Prods., Inc., 973 So. 2d 603, 604 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008).The plaintiff also claimed Lyft was directly liable for negligent hiring and retention, citing a speeding citation, a reckless driving citation, and two negative passenger complaints
- The court found this evidence insufficient
- Under the statute, disqualification is triggered by certain criminal convictions, and not merely by citations
- The driver’s reckless driving incident was only a citation, and a single moving violation did not meet the statutory threshold for disqualification
- The passenger complaints were similarly inadequate: one was a vague two-star review with no explanation, and the other involved a single passenger reporting unsafe driving
- Given the hundreds of rides the driver had safely completed, the court considered this evidence isolated and minimal.The limited evidence led the court declining to broadly define negligent hiring claims against transportation network companies
- Instead, it resolved the case narrowly, emphasizing judicial restraint
- The court explained that if evidence is insufficient to survive a directed verdict at trial, it cannot survive summary judgment
- CG Tides LLC v
- SHEDDF3 VNB, LLC, 388 So. 3d 1081, 1084 (Fla. 3d DCA 2024)
- In re Amendments to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.510, 317 So. 3d 72, 75 (Fla. 2021).For insurance professionals, Abner v
- Lyft Florida, Inc. reinforces the protections Florida law provides to transportation network companies
- It highlights the importance of applying the law in effect on the date of loss, confirming independent contractor status, and assessing the sufficiency of evidence for negligent hiring claims
- It also demonstrates how Florida’s summary judgment standard can resolve weak claims early, reducing exposure and defense costs
- The appellate court ultimately affirmed summary judgment in Lyft’s favor.Sophia works in our Fort Lauderdale, FL office
- She can be reached at (954) 233-3026 or SEPhilor@mdwcg.com
- News Eight Marshall Dennehey Attorneys Selected to the 2025 Florida Super Lawyers & Florida Rising Stars Lists June 26, 2025
Practice Areas Explained
Sophia E.D. Philor's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Sophia E.D. Philor handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Sophia E.D. Philor is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in Florida →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Sophia E.D. Philor is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Florida →
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Sophia E.D. Philor is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Florida →
Sophia E.D. Philor is one of 40,689 construction attorneys indexed nationally. Browse construction attorneys in Florida →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Sophia E.D. Philor is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Florida →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Florida
Practicing law in Florida. Legal matters in Florida are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Fort Lauderdale are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Florida state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Florida brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Florida courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Florida attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Fort Lauderdale or all attorneys in Florida.
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