Attorney
Catherine “Katie” Norris
Catherine is a member of the General Liability practice group at Cobb & Gonzalez, P.A., where her practice focuses on premises liability and automobile negligence matters. She routinely represents both national and local retailers in the hospitality industry and defends personal injury claims arising from automobile accidents on behalf of commercial carriers, ride-share companies, and individual clients.
Before joining Cobb & Gonzalez, Catherine was an associate at a prominent Florida-based insurance defense law firm, where she gained extensive experience representing clients in premises liability and automobile negligence litigation.
A proud Double Gator, Catherine graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and earned her Juris Doctor, also cum laude, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. While in law school, Catherine served as the Managing Editor of the Florida Journal of International Law and was a teaching assistant for Legal Writing and Appellate Advocacy. She received Book Awards for achieving the highest grades in both Legal Writing and Statutory Interpretation.
During her academic career, Catherine also worked on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Congressman and served as a judicial extern at the Brevard County Attorney’s Office.
Outside of her legal career, Catherine is an avid long-distance runner and enjoys the discipline and focus the sport brings to her personal and professional life.
Honors and Awards
- Florida Super Lawyers Rising Star 2024
Admissions
- The Florida Bar, 2017
Education
- University of Florida Levin College of Law
- Juris Doctor, cum laude, 2017
- University of Florida
- Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, 2013
PRIOR RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE A SIMILAR OUTCOME
- Represented a storage facility where an employee sued the property owner after being injured on the job, resulting in partial paralysis. A motion for summary judgment was filed based on worker’s compensation immunity and that he had already settled his case with his employer, who had a contractual relationship with the property owner. Successfully resolved prior to trial outside of mediation for significantly less than the initial demand.
- Successfully represented a toxic chemical manufacturer in a premises liability matter involving a person who was injured while unloading the product at a processing facility. After significant litigation, successfully tendered the defense and indemnity to the transportation company who delivered the product based on contractual provisions.
- Successfully resolved a matter in presuit involving a significant automobile collision. After receiving an exorbitant demand along with allegations of bad faith, negotiated a favorable settlement for the corporate client well below the initial demand.
- Successfully defended and obtained favorable settlement for a rideshare company in various lawsuits.
- Represented a property owner in a premises liability case involving an employee of a pawn shop who tripped and fell in the parking lot. Elicited testimony at the plaintiff’s deposition that he admitted he knew of the condition of the parking lot and walked through the area numerous times a shift. A motion for summary judgment was filed on the grounds that there is no breach of a duty to maintain where the condition is so open and obvious that the plaintiff was reasonably expected to discover it and there is no duty to warn of a condition that plaintiff knew about. Obtained a favorable settlement at mediation due to the arguments in the motion.
- Represented a roller-skating rink in a case involving a patron who was injured while skating and claimed they slipped on a liquid on the floor. Argued in a summary judgment motion that the plaintiff was not allowed to pursue the claim based on signing the liability waiver prior to engaging in the recreational activity.
- Represented a commercial entity in an automobile negligence matter stemming from a low impact rear end collision. Plaintiff claimed a brain injury and had inflated medical expenses. Successfully resolved the case after pinpointing prior similar medical issues and complaints through Plaintiff’s extensive medical history.
Professional, Trade & Philanthropic Affiliations
- Florida Bar Association
- Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division