Kristopher M. Cruzada, Esquire
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Kristopher M. Cruzada was born in Orlando and grew up in Winter Park, Florida. In 1995, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from the University of Central Florida and was a Member of Beta Alpha Psi, Accounting Honor Society. Additionally, he was appointed Comptroller to the University of Central Florida - Student Government Association. During his term, the Executive Board garnered the distinction of being the Best State Student Government Association in 1995, by Florida Leader Magazine. Mr. Cruzada began his professional career working as a tax accountant for Lockheed Martin in the Lakeland Financial Services Center. While there, Mr. Cruzada assisted Lockheed Martin with its tax reporting requirements for its numerous employees located in many local and state tax jurisdictions in the United States. After Lockheed Martin, Mr. Cruzada had the unique opportunity to work in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. He reported sales and inventory at the Centennial Olympic Park Superstore to management. The Superstore generated over $10 million in sales in less than two weeks. After the Olympics, Mr. Cruzada relocated to Los Angeles, California to work with Avalon Attractions, the premier concert promoter in Southern California. He was responsible for profit and loss statements for some of the biggest concert events in Los Angeles. From the Wiltern Theater to the L.A. Coliseum to Irvine Meadows Amphitheater, Mr. Cruzada played a vital role with management in tracking sales and show expenses. Additionally, Mr. Cruzada assisted independent auditor staff and executive management at Avalon Attractions through two corporate acquisitions. Avalon Attractions is now owned and operated by Live Nation, a Ticketmaster Company.
In 1998, Mr. Cruzada enrolled at Saint Louis University School of Law in Saint Louis, Missouri. While at Saint Louis University, Mr. Cruzada was involved in the Legal Clinic, where he became involved in protecting the rights of public housing recipients, being displaced by the HUD’s HOPE VI Redevelopment Program, from the St. Louis Housing Authority. Mr. Cruzada gained valuable experience and knowledge about the delivery of Public Housing within metropolitan / urban areas. Upon graduation in 2001, he returned to Orlando, Florida. While studying for the Florida Bar Exam, Mr. Cruzada was employed as a Senior Analyst for Accounting Tax Compliance Service, where he reviewed and analyzed tax and franchise fee collections related to Public Service Tax, Communication Service Tax, Fuel Tax, and Franchise Fees for Florida municipalities and county governments against major communication companies, public utilities, fuel companies, and waste management companies. In 2002, Mr. Cruzada passed the Florida Bar and was admitted to practice law in the State of Florida. Soon after, Mr. Cruzada was hired by Norm Wolfinger, State Attorney of the 18th Judicial Circuit. As a criminal prosecutor, he prosecuted misdemeanor cases in Sanford, Seminole County. He handled hundreds of misdemeanor cases from Domestic Violence-Battery to DUI. During his time at the State Attorney's Office, Mr. Cruzada brought to trial over a dozen cases and wrote six appeals to the Circuit Court. In 2003, Kristopher Cruzada was hired to work as in-house counsel for Infinity Insurance Company in Orlando. As a trial attorney, he handled civil litigation cases primarily related to motor vehicle accidents and premises liability. With a caseload of more than a hundred cases, Mr. Cruzada was able to gain extensive civil trial experience.
In late 2004, Mr. Cruzada founded and served as managing partner of Castellon, Cruzada & Culver, P.A. He primarily focused his practice on Residential Real Estate Transactions and Civil Litigation in relation to Real Estate. Mr. Cruzada assisted the Firm in the establishing standards and guidelines for handling residential real estate closings. As a result, the Firm closed hundreds of residential real estate transactions. As a litigator, Mr. Cruzada handled various real estate issues ranging from landlord-tenant evictions, condominium association liens, real estate contract disputes, title disputes, and mortgage foreclosure defense. He also assisted clients in other matters related to IRS tax liens, easements, property tax liens, criminal defense, immigration, wills and guardianships. In 2008, Mr. Cruzada established The Law Offices of Kristopher M. Cruzada, P.A., where he continued to grow his practice in real estate and civil litigation.
In 2009, Mr. Cruzada joined the NeJame Law Firm as a partner, where his extensive experience in business and financial accounting provided a tremendous advantage for clients. He continued to handle real estate related matters, as well as other litigation matters related to breach of contract, civil fraud, and theft claims. Additionally, Mr. Cruzada continued to advise and counsel small businesses to strategically plan their goals and objectives.
In 2012, Mr. Cruzada returned to his solo practice and re-established The Law Office of Kristopher M. Cruzada, P.A. He continued to focus on real estate transactions and real property litigation. Mr. Cruzada has represented land owners, tenants, owner associations, and investors. Mr. Cruzada also focuses on small businesses, assisting in start-ups and asset purchases. In today's global economy, Mr. Cruzada also handles immigration clients for real estate and small business investors. In 2015, Mr. Cruzada became a Member Attorney for ARAG Legal Insurance Plan, the premier legal insurance plan in the United States. ARAG Legal Insurance Plans is the largest in the United States and require Member Attorneys to undergo a stringent review process. Additionally in 2012, with his extensive trial experience and insurance defense background, Mr. Cruzada expanded his legal practice into Personal Injury matters. He now accepts cases and matters in which parties are injured in Motor Vehicle Accidents, Slip and Falls, and other injuries due to the negligence of others. Mr. Cruzada approaches every case with unwavering determination to achieve the best results possible for each of his clients.
Kristopher M. Cruzada stays active in the local legal community, he has devoted his time to numerous organizations and has participated in various organizations such as the Orange County Bar Association-Legal Aid Society-Homeless Advocacy Project, Seminole County Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Central Florida Real Estate Council, Lawyer's Title Insurance Corporation and the Oviedo-Winter Springs Chamber of Commerce, Runway to Hope, Florida Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials, National Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials, and Public Housing Agency Directors Association. Additionally, Mr. Cruzada has been a past member of Attorney's Title Fund Services, LLC and Old Republic National Title Insurance Company. In 2005, Mr. Cruzada was appointed, by Governor Bush, to the Board of Commissioners for the Seminole County Housing Authority, located in Oviedo, Florida. In 2008, Mr. Cruzada was re-appointed, by Governor Crist. In 2015, Mr. Cruzada was appointed for a third term to serve on the Board of Commissioners of the Seminole County Housing Authority, by Governor Scott. Currently, Mr. Cruzada serves as the Chairman of the Seminole County Housing Authority. In 2017, Mr. Cruzada was elected by the Members of the Florida Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials, to serve on its Board of Directors, and to serve on the Southeast Regional Council-National Association of Housing Redevelopment Officials-Commissioners' Committee. In 2018 and 2019, Mr. Cruzada was appointed to serve on the Orange County Government - Development Advisory Board. In 2018, Mr. Cruzada helped found LAWNCH, INC., a software-as-a-service company to develop solutions for Small and Solo Practice Law Firms. Mr. Cruzada was integral in the development of a new platform in the delivery of legal services. For more information on LAWNCH, INC., visit https://www.321lawnchlive.com. In 2019, LAWNCH, INC. was an exhibitor to the 2019 Florida Bar Annual Convention in Boca Raton, Florida. Mr. Cruzada is also admitted to practice in the Federal District Court of the Middle District of Florida.