Florida Asbestos Lawyers
Each Florida asbestos attorney in the law firm of Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Echsner & Proctor, P.A. contributes to the firm's impressive track record for mesothelioma case settlements and verdicts. The firm's attorneys have also achieved tremendous work outside the legal profession, dedicating their time to such causes as racial justice and caring for needy children. Please click on the link for each Florida mesothelioma lawyer for more information.
Mike Papantonio
Shareholder
Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Echsner & Proctor, P.A.
Pensacola, Florida
Phone - Local: (850) 435-7000 Phone - Toll Free: (888) 435-7001 Fax: (850) 435-7020
Mike Papantonio is a senior partner of Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Echsner & Proctor, P.A., one of the largest plaintiff's law firms in America , having handled thousands of cases throughout the nation including Asbestos, Breast Implants, Pharmaceutical Drug Litigation, Factory Farming, Securities Fraud, the Florida Tobacco Litigation, and other mass tort cases. "Pap" has received numerous multi-million dollar verdicts on behalf of victims of corporate malfeasance.
Mr. Papantonio is listed in the publications, Best Lawyers in America and Leading American Attorney. He is also a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers. Both organizations invite only 500 trial lawyers throughout America to participate as members. Papantonio is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates; the American Association for Justice (formerly the ATLA); the Southern Trial Lawyers Association; and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers ; where he served on the Board of Directors for five years. He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer who has authored and co-authored instructional articles on handling complex litigation for trial lawyers. In 2008, Papantonio was selected by the Public Justice Foundation as a finalist for its Trial Lawyer of the Year Award.
Mr. Papantonio also is the founder of the cutting edge continuing legal education seminar organization, Mass Torts Made Perfect, which has and continues to train thousands of lawyers in how to better their legal practice. The organization has hosted speakers such as former President Bill Clinton, James Carville, Johnnie Cochran, Bob Woodward, Elliot Spitzer, Jack Kemp, Arianna Huffington, Dick Morris, and Paul Begala.
An author of four motivational books for lawyers, Mr. Papantonio regularly lectures at trial seminars throughout America . He is also the co-author of Air America : The Playbook; listed by The New York Times as a Political Best Seller.
In 1998, Mike Papantonio teamed with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Hudson Riverkeepers, and Water Keeper Alliance, to establish a Riverkeepers program in Northwest Florida, known as the Emerald Coastkeepers, Inc., a full-time organization that serves the community as a public advocate for the waterways of Northwest Florida . Coastkeepers and Riverkeepers are reputable for their willingness to take polluters to court. In 2001, Mike filed two lawsuits against polluters, which lead to a $70 million settlement. In 2007, as lead trial counsel in the environmental class action case of Perrine v. Dupont, Mike received a jury verdict award for a West Virginia community with an estimated value in excess of $380 million.
Mike Papantonio and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., also currently host Ring of Fire, a nationally syndicated radio show, which airs on the Air America Radio network, and from which Papantonio is featured in the movie, Jesus Camp, which was nominated for the 2007 Academy Award for Documentary Feature. While hosting Ring of Fire Radio, Mr. Papantonio has conducted hundreds of recorded interviews with guests such as Dan Rather, Helen Thomas, Howard Zinn, Arianna Huffington, Mary Chapin Carpenter, David Crosby, Merle Haggard, Morgan Spurlock, John Edwards, Bill Moyers, Rickie Lee Jones, Alanis Morissette, Pete Seeger, Jackson Browne, Chuck D from Public Enemy, Henry Rollins, Ted Sorensen, and Elizabeth Kucinich, to name a few.
Mr. Papantonio is also the founder of Goleft.tv, an innovative, multi-media Internet television and video-sharing portal which provides an outlet for news, political commentary and special reports on the major issues facing Americans from the Progressive point of view. Papantonio has frequently discussed and debated these issues also on national television programs such as Good Morning America, MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News.
Mike Papantonio Mass Tort Case Involvement:
- Asbestos Products Liability Litigation, MDL 875 (E.D. Pa.) (Lead and Co-Lead Counsel on more than 5,000 individual cases)
- In re Breast Implant Products Liability Litigation, MDL 926 (Florida Liaison Counsel, Lead and Co-Lead Counsel on thousands of individual cases)
- In re Factor VIII or IX Concentrate Blood Products" Products Liability Litigation, MDL 986 (N.D. Illinois ) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee, Settlement Committee)
- State of Florida v. American Tobacco Company, CL-95-1466 (AH) ( Palm Beach County , FL ) (Founding and Participating Member of Legal Team)
- In re Diet Drugs (Phentermine/Fenfluramine/Dexfenfluramine) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1203 (E.D. Pennsylvania) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee, Science Committee, Lead and Co-Lead Counsel on thousands of individual cases)
- In re Rezulin Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1348 (S.D. New York ) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee, Chair Discovery Committee, Lead and Co-Lead Counsel on thousands of individual cases)
- Baycol Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1431 (D.C. Minn. ) (Lead and Co-Lead Counsel on hundreds of individual cases)
- Serzone Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1477 (S.D. W. Va. ) (Lead and Co-Lead Counsel on approximately 200 individual cases)
- In re Accutane Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1626 (M.D. Florida) (Co-Chair Discovery Committee)
- In re Amtrak "Sunset Limited" Train Crash in Bayou Canot , Alabama on September 22, 1993, MDL 1003 (S.D. Alabama ) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee, Electronic Depository Repository, Research Committee)
- In re America Online, Inc., Version 6.0 Software Litigation, MDL 1412 (N.D. Illinois ) (Co-Lead Counsel)
- In re Bextra and Celebrex Marketing Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1699 (N.D. California ) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee, Co-Chair Discovery Committee, Science Committee)
- In re Cisco Systems, Inc., Securities & Derivative Litigation, MDL 1527 (N.D. California ) (Co-Lead Counsel)
- In re Conoco, Inc. Class Action, Case 2001 CA 000631 ( Escambia County , FL ) (Co-Lead Counsel)
- In re Guidant Defibrillators Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1708 (District of Minnesota) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee, Discovery Committee, Trial Team Committee)
- In re Life Insurance Company of Georgia Class Action, CV 94-002696 ( Mobile County , AL ) (Co-Lead Counsel)
- In re Medtronic, Inc., Implantable Defibrillators Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1726 (District of Minnesota) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee, Co-Chair Discovery Committee)
- In re Ortho Evra Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1742 (N.D. Ohio ) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee)
- In Re Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1407 (W.D. Washington) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee, Discovery Committee, Lead and Co-Lead on approximately 250 individual cases )
- In re Propulsid Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1355 (E.D. Louisiana) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee)
- In re Vioxx Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1657 (E.D. Louisiana) (Plaintiff Steering Committee, Co-Chair Discovery Committee, Science Committee, Lead and Co-Lead Counsel on hundreds of individual cases)
- In re Welding Fume Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1535 (N.D. Ohio ) (Plaintiff's Executive Committee, Co-Chair Discovery Committee)
- In re Zyprexa Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1596 (E.D. New York ) (Plaintiff's Steering Committee)
Areas of Practice:
- Mesothelioma
- Mass Torts
- Product Liability
- Personal Injury
- Securities Litigation
- Wrongful Death Litigation
Certification/Specialties:
Board Certified Trial Lawyer
Bar Admissions:
- Florida, 1982
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1983
Education:
- Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama
- Honors: Head of the Trial Advocacy Department
- University of Florida
Published Works:
- Defenses You Can Count on in an Asbestosis Case
- How to Prove a Sick Building Case
- Closing Arguments - The Last Battle (Co-Author)
Classes/Seminars Taught:
- Lecturer, In Search of Atticus Finch, A Motivational Book for Lawyers
- Lecturer, Clarence Darrow, The Journeyman
- Lecturer, Resurrecting AESOP, Fables Lawyers Should Remember
Honors and Awards:
- Best Lawyers in America
- Leading American Attorney
- Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow, International Society of Barristers
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Member
- American Trial Lawyers Association
- Member
- Southern Trial Lawyers Association
- Member
- Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
- Member, Board of Directors
Robert Blanchard
General Counsel, Shareholder
Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Echsner & Proctor, P.A.
Pensacola, Florida
Phone - Local: (850) 435-7000 Phone - Toll Free: (888) 435-7001 Fax: (850) 435-7020
A veteran litigator with wide-ranging trial experience, Mr. Blanchard now serves as General Counsel to the Levin Papantonio law firm. Robert is a former prosecuting attorney who entered private practice in 1984 and tried his first jury verdict in excess of $1 million by the age of thirty. While spending his career primarily working as lead trial attorney in personal injury trials, he is proud to have handled one case which resulted in the adoption of an affirmative action plan by a Florida law enforcement agency, and another lawsuit which led to industry changes throughout the U.S. in child safety practices, and yet another that resulted in the largest commercial jury verdict in the State of Florida at the time. In addition to being lead attorney in over 40 personal injury trials, including asbestos, medical malpractice, auto accidents and defective products, Mr. Blanchard's career has been distinguished by the breadth of his trial practice, having tried cases to verdict before juries, judges, and arbitration panels in such divergent areas as RICO, securities fraud, fraud in real estate sales, fraud in vehicle sales, boundary disputes, contract and franchise disputes, antitrust, foreclosure, insurance claims, contested bankruptcy actions, DUI defense, child custody and criminal prosecutions. He has also argued appeals before the Circuit Courts of Appeal for the 5th and 11th Federal Circuits and Florida's First District Court of Appeals.
While at law school, Robert was Associate Editor on the University of Florida Law Review, and recipient of the Florida Trial Lawyers Association Essay Award for his published article, "Municipal Tort Liability: Sovereign Immunity and Access to the Court," Fla. Trial Lawyers Assoc. J. (May 1982). During his career, he has received awards for legal scholarship, pro bono work, and public interest research. He is a Past President of the Board of Trustees for Northwest Florida Legal Services. In the mid 1980's he hosted one of the country's earliest live call-in law shows on local cable TV and later hosted his own local call-in radio show.
Mr. Blanchard is licensed to practice law before all Florida state courts, and the Federal courts for the Northern District of Florida and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association and the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. His current practice consists of civil litigation and the trial of personal injury, business torts, environmental and mass tort cases.
Areas of Practice:
- Mesothelioma
- Business Torts
- Trial of Tort
- Civil Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Securities Litigation
- Personal Injury
Bar Admissions:
- Florida
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
Education:
- University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, J.D., 1983
- Honors: Recipient, Florida Trial Lawyers Association Essay Award
- Law Review: University of Florida Law Review, Associate Editor
- University of West Florida, 1978
Published Works:
Municipal Tort Liability - Sovereign Immunity and Access to the Court, Fla. Trial Lawyers Assoc. J., May, 1982
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
- Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
- Northwest Florida Legal Services Past President, Board of Trustees
R. Larry Morris
Shareholder
Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Echsner & Proctor, P.A.
Pensacola, Florida phone - Local: (850) 435-7000 Phone - Toll Free: (888) 435-7001 Fax: (850) 435-7020
Larry Morris received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in 1973, and his law degree from Cumberland Law School in 1977.
Mr. Morris is licensed to practice law before all state courts in Florida and before the United States District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Florida. He is the author of Dissolution of Cohabitation Arrangements. He is a member of Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Florida Bar Association, The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association. Mr. Morris is also a member of the Entertainment and Sports Industries Forum of the American Bar Association, and a member of the Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section of the Florida Bar Association.
Areas of Practice:
- Mesothelioma
- Product Liability
- Personal Injury
- Sports and Entertainment Law
- Wrongful Death Litigation
Bar Admissions:
- Florida
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
Education:
- Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, J.D., 1977
- University of Florida, 1973
Published Works:
Dissolution of Cohabitation Arrangements
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- American Association for Justice
- Florida Bar Association
- The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
- Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
- Entertainment and Sports Industries Forum of the American Bar Association
- Florida Bar Association, Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Section
Katherine McFarland
Associate Attorney
Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Echsner & Proctor, P.A.
Pensacola, Florida
Phone - Local: (850) 435-7000 Phone - Toll Free: (888) 435-7001 Fax: (850) 435-7020
Katherine McFarland is an associate at Levin Papantonio. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In 2008, she received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Florida College of Law. While in law school, Ms. McFarland was a member of the Florida Trial Team and was a quarter-finalist winner in the 2007 National Trial Advocacy Competition. She also served for two years as president of the University of Florida chapter of the Law Association for Women.
Ms. McFarland is licensed to practice in Florida. Her focus is on mesothelioma and lung cancer resulting from asbestos exposure.
Areas of Practice:
- Mesothelioma
Bar Admissions:
- Florida
Education:
- University of Florida Levin College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, Juris Doctorate, 2008
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Florida Bar Association
- Florida Justice Association
- Member
- Escambia / Santa Rosa County Bar Association
Scott Barnes
Associate Attorney
Levin Papantonio Thomas Mitchell Echsner & Proctor, P.A.
Pensacola, Florida phone - Local: (850) 435-7000 Phone - Toll Free: (888) 435-7001 Fax: (850) 435-7020
Scott Barnes is an associate with Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Echsner, & Proctor. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from Florida State University in 2003, graduating summa cum laude. In 2007, he earned a law degree from the University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law. He graduated magna cum laude and in the top seven percent of his class from the Levin College of Law. Scott won book awards in Advanced Torts and in Trial Practice (a simulated litigation class). As well, he made the Dean's List every semester and was selected for membership in the Order of the Coif, University of Florida Chapter.
While at the Levin College of Law, Scott was a member of the Journal of Law and Public Policy, holding the position of Policy Chair. As well, he was a member of the University of Florida Trial Team, competing nationally in trial team events against other law schools. In 2006, he competed in and was selected as a finalist at the National Civil Rights Trial Competition held in New York.
In July of 2007, Scott took and passed the Florida Bar Exam. He obtained one of the highest scores on the state exam. As a result, the Florida Supreme Court selected Scott to speak on behalf of the new inductees at the First District Attorney Induction Ceremony presided over by the Florida Supreme Court.
Scott joined the law firm of Levin, Papantonio as an attorney in 2007, but worked for the firm in different positions throughout high school, college, and law school. He is licensed to practice law in the state of Florida. Scott focuses his practice on litigation involving personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, and wrongful death. He is currently a member of the Florida Bar Association and the Florida Justice Association.
Areas of Practice:
- Mesothelioma
- Personal Injury
- Medical Malpractice
- Products Liability
- Wrongful Death
Bar Admissions:
- Florida, 2007
Education:
- University of Florida Levin College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, Juris Doctorate, 2007
- Honors: Magna Cum Laude
- Florida State University, B.S. Criminology, 2003
- Honors: Summa Cum Laude
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Florida Bar Association
- Florida Justice Association
