Personal Injury Law Firm in Clearwater, Tampa and New Port Richey, FL

Our Staff

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Ashley Elo

Marketing Director and Community Liaison

After relocating from Michigan to Florida, Ashley joined our team as the Marketing Director and Community Liaison. She has earned her Bachelor’s degree from the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University, where she double-majored in Marketing and Management. 

Ashley brings exceptional people skills and a well-rounded marketing background to our team, having previously worked in the automotive and commercial construction industries. She enjoys working at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers because of the firm’s strong commitment to community involvement and its supportive, collaborative team environment. 

In her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time with friends exploring Florida’s beaches and vibrant city life. When at home, she also loves spending time with her rescue cat and reading a good book. 

Carol-Lynn Roman

COO

Carol-Lynn Roman, a lifelong resident of Pinellas County, graduated from Dunedin High School and earned her degree in Mass Communications, with a minor in Political Science, from the University of South Florida. She began her legal career in high school and has since held management positions in Bay Area law firms.  

 

As the Chief Operations Officer of Roman Austin, Carol-Lynn oversees firm management, marketing, and client relations. With extensive experience in litigation support and jury selection, she is also a Florida Registered Paralegal. She is a graduate of the Leadership Pinellas program and has served on the Board of Directors for the Homeless Emergency Project and held leadership roles at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital and Morton Plant Mease Hospital foundations.  

 

Carol-Lynn has 2 daughters and resides in Safety Harbor with her husband. 

Personal Injury Paralegal Cate Nease Florida

Cate Nease

Litigation Paralegal

Cate has dedicated her entire career to the legal field, where she thrives on the dynamic challenges and complexities it presents. With a passion for securing the best outcomes for clients, she specializes in personal injury law, focusing on cases involving trucking accidents, brain injuries, and wrongful death.  

 

As the lead litigation paralegal at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, Cate plays a pivotal role in managing cases that involve the filing of civil lawsuits, bringing her extensive expertise to each step of the process. Her contributions have been instrumental in multiple jury trials, where her legal support has proven invaluable. Roman Austin deeply values Cate’s wealth of experience, her compassion for clients, and her attention to detail.  

 

Outside of work, Cate enjoys watching sports, walking, and bicycling. She also cherishes spending quality time with family and friends.  

Daniella Altamura

Intake Manager & Marketing Assistant

Born and raised in Tampa Bay, FL, she attended East Lake High School and graduated with a Marketing degree from Florida Gulf Coast University. She previously served as the Marketing and Development Coordinator for a local Tampa Bay nonprofit, where she developed a deep empathy and passion for helping people in need. 

Now, as the Intake Manager and Marketing Assistant at Roman Austin, she loves working for a company dedicated to rebuilding people’s lives and promoting cyclist and road safety—a cause close to her heart, as many of her family members are part of the cycling community. 

She lives with her fiancé and two adorable kitties in Pasco County. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and planning her upcoming wedding. 

Jacqueline Palaganas

Digital Media Specialist

Jacqueline is a Florida native, born and raised in the St. Petersburg area. She attended undergrad in Washington, DC, where she graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Communication and Media Studies, along with a minor in Marketing Management. 

During college, Jacqueline built a strong background in digital marketing and social media management through internships and working part time. She holds certificates in Marketing Analytics Foundation and the Fundamentals of Digital Marketing and is currently pursuing certifications in Digital Marketing & E-commerce and Meta Marketing Analytics. 

In her free time, Jacqueline loves reading and dabbling in film photography. She owns six different film cameras and enjoys using them to capture special moments. Recently, she has started to explore maternity photography, which has been a fun and rewarding new venture. 

Jennifer Sessa

Jennifer Sessa

Paralegal

A lifelong Florida resident, Jennifer graduated from River Ridge High School and attended St. Petersburg College. She joined Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers after seeking a career change from the medical field, driven by her passion for helping others. Jennifer plays a crucial role in guiding our new clients through the initial phase of their cases and supports our demand preparation team by gathering and securing vital evidence. Her dedication, attention to detail, and compassionate approach are highly valued by the firm. 

 

Jennifer and her husband, who serves in law enforcement, are proud parents of five children and reside in Trinity. The Sessa family is deeply committed to their community, and we are grateful for her husband’s service to the Tampa Bay area. 

Jonna Merritt

Jonna Rinaldi

Settlement Coordinator

Jonna relocated to Florida from Long Island. She began a career in law enforcement with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office until the birth of her daughter.  Jonna returned to the professional business world, working as a Medical Assistant for ten years. She joined the team at Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers, where she brings her medical profession experience and exceptional people skills to work. Helping our clients through their initial contact with our office and guiding them through what can be confusing and uncertain moments. She supports our legal team and helps to ensure an organized and smooth experience for our clients.  Jonna and her husband, Rick, who is also a Deputy Sheriff of Pinellas County, live in Trinity where they raise their daughter, enjoy cooking and entertaining with friends, and are active members of their community and their Law Enforcement Officer family.

Kolton Burke

Litigation Paralegal

Kolton is a fourth-generation Florida native born in St. Petersburg and graduated from St. Petersburg High School. Before embarking on his legal career, Kolton worked in hospitality for about seven years, serving in restaurants in St. Petersburg. He began his journey as a paralegal in early 2021 and has gained experience on both the defense and plaintiff side. Currently, he is working toward certification as a notary and a Florida Registered Paralegal. Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers appreciates his experience, empathetic nature, and meticulous approach to his work. 

In his free time, Kolton is an animal-loving single father to his amazing daughter. He enjoys reading, writing, and hosting game nights with friends. Fascinated by the sciences, arts, and music, Kolton has a broad range of interests!  

Melody Stivender

Melody Stivender

Paralegal

Melody has vast experience in the legal field handling all facets of personal injury cases from pre-litigation through litigation. She has been a paralegal, transferred her paralegal skills from Ohio to Florida when she relocated. She joined Roman Austin Personal Injury lawyers as our Demand Writer. As our demand writer she utilizes her analytical skills to identify the pertinent facts of each case, contributing to Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers in achieving positive outcomes for our valued clients. Melody enjoys fishing, boating, riding her motorcycle, and gardening; anything to do with the outdoors. She easily empathizes with our clients who have lost the ability to live life to the fullest after being in an accident. She has a son and resides in Holiday with her family that includes her two rambunctious k-9 rescues.

Stephanie Medlin

Stephanie Medlin

Case Manager

Stephanie is a Floridian native, she has lived in Pinellas and Pasco Counties her entire life. Stephanie graduated from Countryside High School and attended the University of Phoenix.  

With over a decade of legal experience managing personal injury cases from beginning to end, she assists our attorneys diligently, ensuring each client is cared for with the utmost comfort and professionalism. Our firm values the compassion she shows to all our clients throughout their medical treatment, making them feel like family.  

Stephanie is married with four children and resides in Trinity with their Frenchie pups Max and Ruby. 

Yadelis Morales

Bilingual Spanish Paralegal

Yadelis originated from Humacao, Puerto Rico, and moved to Clearwater, Florida, at a young age, making it her home ever since. Before joining Roman Austin, Yadelis worked in a firm’s real estate department, specializing in closings. Prior to that, she served as a corporate manager for a furniture store, where she honed her skills in client relations and exceptional service delivery. 

Currently, Yadelis is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies at SPC College, demonstrating her commitment to furthering her expertise. As a Certified Public Notary, she brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role, along with a fresh perspective and deep compassion for our clients. 

In her personal life, Yadelis cherishes spending quality time with her two daughters, her partner, and their pitbull puppy. 

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