Levin Papantonio was proud to donate $5,000 to the United Way of West Florida for Hurricane Sally relief. Thank you to WEAR's Sue Straughn for hosting the live relief drive and interviewing our own Virginia Buchanan about the firm's commitment to helping our community rebuild. It is with heavy hearts that the donation was made in loving memory of Julie Blanchard, a member of the Levin Papantonio family who left us too soon. ❤ If you would like to contribute to the Hurricane Sally relief fund or apply for help, please visit https://www.uwwf.org/.
It's #InternationalPodcastDay! 🎉 Celebrate by listening to the Game Changing Attorney podcast where our very own Mike Papantonio was the guest. Listen in as he discusses redefining the status quo, how to embrace rejection, and much more. ➡️ https://www.crispvideo.com/podcast/episode-12-mike-papantonio
Today is National Son's Day! We are featuring some of Levin Papantonio's proud parents with their sons, as well as their daughters, too! We have many to include and needed more time to show them all off! ❤️
Happy Friday! And if that weren't reason enough to celebrate, it's also #NationalDaughtersDay!! We love our Moms, Dads and daughters at Levin Papantonio. Enjoy this amazing collage of pictures, celebrating their special bond! ❤️
A big "Thank You" to our first responders and power crews who worked hard to keep us safe and get life back to normal after Hurricane Sally! First responders from all across the state also came to help. We thank you all for your service! ❤
This community knows how to come together after a storm! If you need food or water, click below for a list of sites that are open today. #HurricaneSally #pensacolastrong
PNJ.COM
Need a hot meal? These Escambia County feeding sites are open Monday
A district judge has ruled that the U.S. Air Force was responsible for the death of a local military contractor accidentally killed during a live-fire training exercise. The contractor, Charles Holbrook, was a retired master sergeant and former Tactical Air Control Party airman from Northwest Florida. He died Jan. 31, 2017, at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, after an F-16 Fighting Falcon student pilot incorrectly identified the target location during the nighttime training, instead shooting at Holbrook's location. Levin Papantonio attorney Rachael Gilmer and additional counsel in New Mexico represented Holbrook's widow and their child in the wrongful death case. They initially asked for $25 million, but the case settled for less. The exact amount is confidential, but the family's attorneys say it's enough to take care of Holbrook's family.
"This was a tragic accident, but if proper precautions had been taken he would still be here to take care of his child and be married to the love of his life," said attorney Rachael Gilmer. "This is an extremely proud military family who understands mistakes happen, but in this case this was a mistake that could have been avoided. Because of this accident, changes were made to the training protocols in hopes that a tragedy like this will never happen again."
According to local news reports, Holbrook was working as a contractor for Sensors Unlimited, now a division of Raytheon Technologies. He was killed when the student "mistook the line of rental cars for the similarly aligned target and was ordered to fire at the group, blowing up one of the rental cars and striking Holbrook with a 20 mm round," the records show.
Early Voting starts today in Florida! Here are links to our local Supervisor of Elections websites, listing all the early voting locations in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties. If you are registered to vote and don't want to wait until Election Day on Nov. 3, cast your ballot now! Early voting ends Oct. 31.
https://escambiavotes.gov/early-voting-locations; https://www.votesantarosa.com/m/Election-Information/Early-Voting-Information; https://www.govote-okaloosa.com/Ways-to-Vote/Vote-Early
VOTESANTAROSA.COM
Early Voting Information
Levin Papantonio attorney Brenton Goodman weighs in on what businesses can expect when it comes to compensation over the closure of the Pensacola Bay Bridge.
NEWS.GULFBREEZENEWS.COM
We need economic help to survive the #bargeblunder | Gulf Breeze News
While Skanska is still cleaning up in a limited way some of the mess caused by their barges, Levin Papantonio is working hard to help mitigate the damages caused to businesses on both sides of the bridge. Business loss has been huge. We trusted Skanska to use standard safety practices while they were building the new Pensacola Bay Bridge and they didn’t. Can we trust them to do right by businesses and everyone else that has been hugely impacted by their failure to comply with minimum safety standards? To help ensure Skanska makes amends, we are representing those who have had physical property damage and financial business losses as a result of Skanska’s negligence. Please call us at 850-432-1111, if your property has been physically damaged by one of the barges or your business has suffered as a result of Skanska’s negligence. We handle cases on a contingency basis and there are no charges unless we recover for you.
This week, Levin Papantonio is hosting its annual Fall conference, Mass Torts Made Perfect, online. We've had a great turn out from attorneys, paralegals, and other legal staff who are logging on from across the country to join MTMP Virtual Vegas. MTMP is usually held in Las Vegas, but plans changed due to coronavirus precautions. It's the largest plaintiff's attorney conference in the country and provides expert speakers and networking opportunities for those who want to learn more about successfully pursuing mass tort and class action cases. Online, on the phone, or in person, Levin Papantonio is always here for our clients and colleagues. Learn more about what we do at https://mtmp.com/registration/. ⚖️
Today, Levin Papantonio attorneys and paralegals are attending and speaking at Mass Torts Made Perfect’s FIRST #VirtualVegas conference! 🌟
Although we can’t be in Vegas this year, we can’t wait to see our colleagues from around the nation online and discuss more on how we can unite against corporate corruptions and advocate for consumer safety. 👏
Mass Torts Made Perfect
October 14 at 2:51 PM ·
#VirtualVegas starts...NOW! 🌟 🖥️ See you all online! ❤️
Looks like Skanska has a history of questionable business practices. Here's an article describing the construction company's past legal problems, including paying nearly $20 million to settle criminal allegations that it committed fraud against government programs on more than a decade's worth of public works projects. The settlement allowed Skanska to avoid criminal charges. We can't depend on Skanska to do right about our community.
#fixyourmess #strandedbyskanska
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/01/nyregion/01fraud.html
NYTIMES.COM
Contractor Agrees to Pay $19.6 Million in Fraud Case (Published 2011)
If you're looking for a sign, look up to the skies above Santa Rosa and Escambia County this week and next. This message is for Skanska. It may take public and legal pressure to hold the company responsible for damage caused to local businesses and others impacted by the closure of the General Chappie James Bridge.
PNJ.COM
Levin-Papantonio law firm is flying a banner telling Skanska to 'fix your mess'
Levin Papantonio has a message for Skanka: Fix Your Mess! A banner plane is carrying that message across our area, while residents and business owners struggle with transportation hardships created by the closure of the bridge. The plane flew the banner today over Garcon Point Bridge and other high travel areas. Attorney Mike Papantonio says it's going to take legal and public pressure to get Skanska to make things right for those who have suffered damages related to the closure. The firm is taking on the case because it fits with our mission, not because it will be profitable.
“We don’t even analyze this case from the standpoint of fees or profitability. It simply isn’t,” admitted Papantonio. “But that doesn’t mean we pass on trying to do the right thing. This law firm has been in Pensacola for 67 years. And every time this community is confronted with something with this caliber, we’ve always tried to rise to the occasion. So there’s nothing different here.”
The plane will fly again on Thursday and next week.
It's Election Day! Several of our attorneys, including Rachael Gilmer, are volunteering as poll watchers, today. She also voted with her son in the primary so he could see how the process works.
"The right to vote is a freedom that all Americans deserve. As an attorney and a poll watcher it is my job to make sure every eligible voter who wants to vote is able to do so. I knew I would be volunteering my time to ensure this right on election day so I voted early." - Attorney Rachael Gilmer
Have you voted yet? Make your voice heard at the polls! 🇺🇸 #justvote
Levin Papantonio attorney Brian Barr was part of tonight's panel aimed at answering questions for Pensacola and Gulf Breeze businesses struggling because of the bridge closure. Many business owners told Rep. Alex Andrade, FDOT, and other local leaders that they will dry up before the bridge reopens at the promised repair date in March. Barr says Skanska is not concerned about our community and that the company is unlikely to cover certain damages unless it faces legal pressure. Our firm is currently looking at a number of options. In the meantime, FDOT has hired two subcontractors to help repair the damage while Skanska continues to build the bridge.
Four months ago today Skanska's barges battered our shores and closed the Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. Bridge, isolating communities and causing businesses and residents to struggle. This Thursday, Levin Papantonio Rafferty is hosting a Town Hall meeting for business owners affected by the bridge closure. Join us to get your legal questions answered and together let's hold Skanska accountable for the damage their negligence has caused our community. If you can't be there in person, we will stream it live. ⚖️
#skanskafixyourmess
THU, JAN 14 AT 6:00 PM CST
Skanska Fix Your Mess – Community Town Hall
We're excited about a new project we're working on! We interviewed Levin Papantonio Rafferty attorney Virginia Buchanan for a video on Fred Levin and his annual lung cancer conference. She is organizing the Fredric G. Levin Lung Cancer Symposium and is the first of a number of newsmakers we are interviewing for the story. Fred Levin is a lung cancer survivor and started the annual conference to help others. We'll share the video when it's done! ❤
After nearly forty years in private practice, Levin Papantonio Rafferty vice president and veteran litigator, Mr. Robert Blanchard, is retiring. Bobby 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. Although he spent most of his career primarily working as lead trial attorney in personal injury trials, among his many personal and professional accomplishments he is proud to have handled a case that 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. Mr. Blanchard's retirement is well earned but he will very much be missed for his leadership and professionalism. All the best, Bobby!
We begin 2021 wishing Levin Papantonio Rafferty partner, Clay Mitchell, the best on his retirement! This new chapter in Mr. Mitchell's life is well earned after more than fifty years of practice. He will be missed for his excellence in law and recovering substantial awards for his clients, including multi-million dollar settlements and trial verdicts. He will also be missed for his leadership and professionalism with his co-workers. All the best, Clay!
Hundreds of local children and families had a brighter holiday thanks to Communities Caring at Christmas. Levin Papantonio is proud to be one of the major sponsors and our own Peter Mougey was interviewed about the firm's commitment to our community.
WEARTV.COM
The Elf Angels, Sharing the Joy of Christmas!
