Meet Our Attorneys
About Us
Who We Are
Why Choose VAN DINGENEN LAW?
Over 60 Years of Devoted Workers’ Compensation Experience
Millions of Dollars Recovered for Our Clients & Their Families
Small Firm Dedication & Focus, Producing Large Firm Results
We Will Travel to You, So You Can Focus On Your Recovery
When it comes to filing a workers’ compensation claim, you need a legal team you can trust. Since 2003, Van Dingenen Law has been standing up for injured workers and their families, fighting to make sure they receive every benefit they’re entitled to under the law. We understand how overwhelming this process can be, and we’re here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring you get the support and results you deserve.
Interested in learning more about our experienced and dedicated Central Florida workers’ compensation attorneys? Check out the profiles and meet our team.
Donald Van Dingenen
FOUNDER & ATTORNEY
Donald Van Dingenen, known as “Don” to his friends and colleagues, is a proud graduate of the University of Central Florida in 1985, where he focused on Finance, Marketing and Drama. After graduating, Mr. Van Dingenen started a highly successful sub-contracting firm which he later sold to pursue a legal career. Mr. Van Dingenen then graduated from Mercer University School of Law in 1993 and was admitted to the Florida Bar that same year.
Mr. Van Dingenen joined the firm of Simmerman & Morgan, P.A., a long-standing Orlando firm that represented injured workers throughout Central Florida. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Van Dingenen became the managing partner at this firm – Morgan & Van Dingenen, P.A. – focusing on workers’ compensation law.
THE CASE THAT CHANGED IT ALL
In February 2002, Mr. Van Dingenen represented a young bank teller that was shot, paralyzed, and rendered a quadriplegic in Lake County, Florida. With Mr. Van Dingenen’s assistance, the client was awarded the largest civil trial verdict in Lake County history, $26.7 million. After this record-setting achievement, Van Dingenen, P.A. was founded along with the introduction of the 1(800)WORKERS toll-free phone lines for all of Central Florida’s injured workers. His focus on workers’ compensation law has led to the representation of thousands of injured workers throughout the State of Florida.
MAKING HISTORY
In 2004, Mr. Van Dingenen was hired by a young construction worker that was paralyzed on the job and rendered a quadriplegic in Brevard County, Florida. In January 2009, after five years of litigation, Mr. Van Dingenen was successful in obtaining his client the largest civil trial jury verdict in Brevard County history, $76.6 million. That jury verdict stands as the fourth largest civil trial jury verdict in the United States for 2009. Mr. Van Dingenen and his family reside in Winter Park, Florida, and enjoys spending family time in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and Kaluga, Russia.
Blaze Schwartz
ATTORNEY
Blaze Schwartz is a skilled and passionate attorney at Van Dingenen Law, where he devotes his practice to fighting for the rights of injured workers across the state of Florida. With a unique combination of legal expertise, competitive athletic discipline, and insider knowledge from his time representing insurance companies, Blaze is a relentless advocate who delivers real results for his clients. He leverages this insider knowledge to advocate powerfully and effectively for his clients, ensuring they receive the benefits and protections they deserve under the law.
Born in Pensacola, Florida, Blaze relocated to the Orlando area in 2007 to attend the University of Central Florida (UCF). While at UCF, he served as captain of the NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Team and completed all four years of NCAA eligibility. He went on to earn both a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice. After a brief period competing on the professional tennis tour, Blaze shifted his focus toward a legal career.
He earned his Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law, graduating cum laude in 2017, and was admitted to The Florida Bar that same year. Blaze began his legal career as a civil defense attorney, representing insurance companies in complex litigation matters across Florida. That experience gave him a deep understanding of how insurers approach claims—and ultimately inspired him to switch sides and fight for those injured by workplace accidents.
SELECTED AS A RISING STAR BY SUPER LAWYERS
Since joining Van Dingenen Law, Blaze has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for his clients and has been instrumental in securing life-altering medical treatment and critical wage benefits for injured workers. His commitment to justice and tireless work ethic have earned him recognition beyond the courtroom. Blaze was named to the prestigious Super Lawyers Rising Stars list—an honor given to less than 3% of attorneys in the state who are 40 years old or younger. Selection is based on a rigorous combination of peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research.
Blaze resides in Winter Park, Florida, and outside of the courtroom, he continues to embrace the active lifestyle that defined his early years. He enjoys playing tennis, freediving, rooting on UCF sports and the Orlando Magic, and traveling.
Brandon Newsome
ATTORNEY
Brandon Newsome is an attorney at Van Dingenen Law, and has been at Van Dingenen Law for eight years. He was born in Kissimmee, Florida and has been a resident of Central Florida his entire life. He attended the University of Central Florida (UCF) where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. While a student at UCF, Brandon began working at the firm in 2015. After three years of assisting injured workers as a paralegal, he decided to advance his legal career by enrolling at Florida A&M University College of Law. He graduated with his Juris Doctor degree in 2022, and was admitted to the Florida Bar the same year.
As an attorney, he now utilizes his 8+ years of experience in Workers’ Compensation law to aid our clients in obtaining their medical and lost wage benefits. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends. He also is a car enthusiast and likes to fish.
Florida registered Paralegal & office manager
Nadia Hasildar
