Fox Wackeen & Dungey

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We are located in Stuart, Florida and have proudly served the Treasure Coast for thirty years.

Fox Wackeen is located near the intersection of Willoughby Boulevard and Indian Street, just North of Indian Street, on the east side of Willoughby Boulevard. Detailed driving directions may be provided on request

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Welcome to the Law Firm of Fox, Wackeen, Dungey, Beard, Sobel, Bush and McCluskey ("Fox, Wackeen, Dungey"). The firm was founded in 1974 and evolved to become a strong presence in the legal community with recognized, skilled attorneys. Our lawyers are here to assist you when you have a legal problem, but also to provide sound legal advice before a problem arises. Some of the reasons our clients seek legal assistance are to begin a business with sound legal incorporation, to protect their assets before marriage or divorce, to learn legal employment regulations, to seek a fair settlement if involved in a car accident or to protect their estate for their descendants. Sometimes people have legal situations thrust upon them: proposed government development could cause the loss of a home through eminent domain, they've been injured in an automobile accident and need to seek compensation for their injuries, tax changes have affected the assessed land value of a business, they are divorcing, child custody issues, customers don't pay for the services that have been provided to them or a contractor does not complete construction as promised. For these and other legal services, call our office now, our attorneys are here to assist you
Since its inception, the goal of our firm has been to consistently deliver timely, effective, and cost-efficient legal services to our clients. Located in Stuart, Florida, we pride ourselves in providing our clients with dedicated, experienced, knowledgeable attorneys. We have earned the respect of our clients, judges and opposing counsel. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators and caring individuals who devote themselves to seeking justice for the clients they represent and protecting their interests with every means available by law.
Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. While fewer than five percent of all attorneys practicing in Florida are Florida Bar Board Certified in their area of specialty, more than half of the attorneys at Fox, Wackeen, Dungey are Florida Bar Board Certified. Not every qualified lawyer is certified, but ONLY those who are board certified have taken the extra steps to have their competence and experience recognized. "Certified lawyers must satisfy a peer review assessment of their competence in the specialty field plus character, ethics and professionalism in the practice of law." Additionally, they must demonstrate substantive involvement in their field of law, pass the certification exam for their specialty and must satisfy the certification area's continuing education requirements, which are over and above the continuing education requirements for non-certified attorneys.
Fox, Wackeen, Dungey is proud to having been awarded the Martindale-Hubbell National Law Directory's highest honor of an AV rating. This independent, objective rating is based on peer and judicial feedback.

Administrative Law is the branch of law governing the creation and operation of administrative agencies. Of special importance are the powers granted to administrative agencies, the substantive rules that such agencies make, and the legal relationships between such agencies, other government bodies, and the public at large.

By definition, an ad valorem tax is a tax based on the value of real estate or personal property. Literally translated from Latin is means “according to value.” It refers to property taxes levied by local governments.

Our attorneys offer extensive experience handling appellate matters in both the federal and state courts of appeal. Our team includes a former law clerk for the Fourth District Court of Appeal, the appellate court serving the entire 19th Circuit, who has knowledge of the appellate court system when representing clients on an appeal.

Banks have regulations at the federal, state, and sometimes local levels. Examples of bank regulations include capital requirements and limits on interest rates. Member banks of the Federal Reserve are subject to further regulations, such as the requirement to buy stock in the Federal Reserve System.

Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.

Class Actions can create adverse publicity and result in very high litigation costs for a business. Dispelling of a class action quickly and efficiently helps protect a businesses bottom line and cash flow. The attorneys at Fox, Wackeen, Dungey have creatively worked to end several class actions before they become a burden on a business and have developed strategies to help protect you, your business and your employees.

The litigation department represents individuals, businesses and financial institutions through all phases of the collection process for pre-suit legal advice, through filing suit and trial, as well as the enforcement of judgments rendered in those cases. Our litigators are well versed in the federal and state laws, in addition to the common law, affecting collections and the relationship between and collection professional and consumer. Our attorneys assist in preventing litigations by offering advice to mitigate the need for collections, but if litigation is necessary, our attorneys stand by to collect our clients’ earnings in the most cost-effective manner.

Fox, Wackeen, Dungey handles a wide range of commercial and contract disputes. Fox, Wackeen, Dungey has handled disputes for owners, developers, corporate clients, and financial institutions. In the course of litigation, we consider all legal options and work toward resolving every case in a manner most beneficial to our clients. However, when disputes cannot be resolved through other means, our attorneys serve as forceful advocates in the courtroom.

Our attorneys are involved in a wide range of homeowner association and condominium association matters. These range from assisting developers in developing condominiums, townhomes and single family developments, to representing associations and individual residents in a wide range of condominium law and homeowner association law issues.

Our attorneys are experienced in all aspects of construction law. Fox, Wackeen, Dungey represents developers, contractors and subcontractors, owners, lenders, and construction professionals. Construction law is highly technical and requires an experienced attorney to guide the client through the issues that arise during the construction process. The firm assists clients in preparing construction agreements and lien documents.

The attorneys at Fox Wackeen and Dungey have substantial experience representing owners, contractors and subcontractors in construction defects litigation, including cases involving condominium, residential and commercial construction.

We draw from a broad range of expertise, which allows us to represent clients in all aspects of contract disputes. For instance, our attorneys represent clients regarding insurance coverage litigation, real estate litigation, complex land sale disputes, enforcement of promissory notes and mortgages, and partnership and shareholder disputes.

The experience and expertise of our attorneys specializing in the practice of Corporate and Business Law allows us to represent clients with complex corporate and business matters. We provide of full range of representation to businesses including:

Eminent Domain is the power of governments and public utilities to take land needed for public projects. The United States Constitution protects private landowners in that it provides that no property can be taken without just compensation. Under Florida Law private landowners enjoy the additional protection of state law that requires condemning authorities to pay for the landowner’s costs and attorney’s fees. Typically this will allow us to obtain an independent appraisal report from a highly qualified expert and negotiate with the condemning authority to obtain full compensation at no cost to you.

Working closely with our Real Estate department are our Environmental Law attorneys. Fox, Wackeen, Dungey is experienced in environmental issues and can review proposed acquisitions to evaluate the development potential of property and address any environmental due diligence issues.

The attorneys at Fox Wackeen Dungey handle disputes concerning disagreement over the distribution of a deceased person’s property. These cases involve the interpretation of wills and the relative rights of persons under the terms of those documents, including family members and third parties. In these situations, the litigation department works closely with the estate planning and probate departments on behalf of our clients.

Deborah Beard and Jennifer Waters assist clients in this diverse area of law focusing on dissolution of marriage (divorce), parenting plans and access scheduling, complex matrimonial matters, property settlement agreements, prenuptial agreements, post-judgment enforcement and modification, step-parent adoptions and domestic violence protection

Our attorneys’ are experienced in representing both lending institutions, homeowners’ associations, condo associations and homeowners. The foreclosure process is very technical, and we are here to assist clients throughout the stressful process. From the pre-litigation stages of a foreclosure action, through the courtroom proceedings and the judicial sale, our attorneys draft documents required in a foreclosure and counsel the client regarding what they can and cannot do during the foreclosure process.

Fox Wackeen represents insurers in a defending against bad faith claims by its customers. Our attorneys work hard to protect our insurance clients from such bad faith claims and cost-effectively resolve disputes between the insurance company and customers.

Our attorneys are experienced in representing both employers and employees navigate the complex state and federal employment laws. Fox, Wackeen, Dungey counsels employers as to their legal obligations and advises such employers on how to prevent serious risks by implementing appropriate practices and policies. Fox, Wackeen, Dungey assists in training management and employees regarding effective communication, and our attorneys draft procedures for businesses to adhere to in order to minimize the risks of an employment issue.

A law enforcement officer is a government employee who is responsible for the prevention, investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws, including an employee engaged in this activity who is transferred to a supervisory or administrative position; or serving as a probation or pretrial services officer.

Fox Wackeen recognizes the beneficial aspects of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), including mediation and arbitration, in providing a more cost-effective solution to disputes and minimizing costly and lengthy litigation. We actively point out to clients the advantages of the ADR process.

Mobile home owners, management companies for mobile home parks, and owners of mobile home parks are subject to a unique set of laws in Florida. Fox, Wackeen, Dungey is experienced and knowledgeable as to the laws affecting mobile homes and their owners.

Our trial practice includes representing plaintiffs in personal injury claims, that is, injury or death caused by the carelessness of another. Personal injury is often the result of a car accident, but any number of things including faulty product design, an unsafe property, an unruly dog or any kind of negligence.

The firm regularly represents and advises individuals, families, private foundations, banks, trust companies and other clients who are either beneficiaries or fiduciaries of trusts or decedents' estates. Such clients require guidance as to the management and distribution of personal and family wealth and the responsibilities of trustees and personal representatives.

Fox Wackeen represents real estate purchasers, sellers, lenders, borrowers, and developers in matters ranging from individual residential transfers to complex commercial transactions. In addition, we frequently serve as co-counsel with other law firms whose clients have real estate interests on the Treasure Coast.

Our attorneys have experience in representing clients before local and state government agencies. We assist all types of clients affected by state and municipal laws, including comprehensive planning, regulatory compliance, enforcement actions, zoning, permitting, and administrative proceedings. Our attorneys also have extensive experience in protecting and obtaining property development rights for our clients.

The tax attorneys of Fox, Wackeen, Dungey have years of experience dealing with the intricacies and breadth of the Internal Revenue Code. Our tax attorneys work closely with clients to best plan for potential income, gift and estate taxes and offer advice regarding potential tax consequences. Our attorneys work with clients to best plan for taxes affecting companies, private investors, and individuals concerned about their estate plan. We structure transactions and plans to achieve the best tax result for our clients, while meeting their personal, business, charitable and estate planning goals.

Utility companies are highly regulated and have specific needs. Utilities are affected by real estate, land use, corporate, tax, tort, administrative, and municipal law. Our attorneys have represented utility companies in several litigation matters and understand the special issues affecting utility companies.

Fox, Wackeen, Dungey advises clients of widely divergent affluence who require assistance in the increasingly complex area of estate planning. It is the purpose of our estate planning attorneys to provide clients with proper management of financial and personal matters during periods of disability, to protect assets against unintended claims, to preserve wealth by minimizing expenses and taxes, and to distribute gifts to intended beneficiaries in the most appropriate manner.