Before going to law school I served four years as a Coast Guard line officer. The first year I was assigned to a high endurance cutter out of Pensacola, FL. The following year I was given command of a 95' Coast Guard patrol boat stationed in West Palm Beach, FL. We mostly did patrols of the Florida Keys doing search and rescue work, drug interdiction, and other law enforcement. The next year I commanded an 82' patrol boat out of DaNang, Vietnam doing coastal patrols. The fourth year I taught cadets at the Coast Guard Academy and then the Coast Guard sent me to law school. I spent a total of nine years on active duty, then left to become a felony prosecutor in the State Attorney's office in West Palm Beach.
After two years as a prosecutor, I joined a large law firm. I primarily represented Doctors and Hospitals in medical malpractice claims and General Motors and Ford Motor Company in complex product liability claims.
In 1978 I moved my family back to Pensacola, Florida to be close to my aging parents.
In 1982 I was a founding partner in a three lawyer firm. Since then I have only represented plaintiffs in serious injury cases with an emphasis on maritime and product liability claims.
Admitted in FL, AL, MS. Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime Law by the Florida Bar.
Married, two daughters, four grandsons and one grandaughter.
My wife of 40 years and my oldest daughter are also lawyers.
Admitted in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. Board Certified in Admiralty and Maritime law by the Florida Bar.
Education: Bachelor of Science, Engineering, United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut. Juris Doctor, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University of America, Washington D.C.
