Shareholder Michael J. Thomas was recently awarded the Attorney of the Year Award by the American Board of Trial Advocates for the second time. The American Board of Trial Advocates is an invitation-only association, the members of which must exhibit the principles of courtroom civility, integrity, and professionalism over the course of their legal profession. As a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Mike is one of only 7,300 members nationwide who have been accepted into the organization. In order to be considered for membership, a prospective member must have tried at least 10 civil jury trials to conclusion and possess additional litigation experience. It is widely accepted that to be invited to join the organization is a prestigious honor for individuals of stellar character and in-depth experience within the legal profession. Mike is grateful and excited to have been recognized a second time as Attorney of the Year, and he aims to continue exemplifying the core values of the American Board of Trial Advocates in his practice of law. Michael J. Thomas is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar and has an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review rating system, which represents the highest level of professional excellence for ethical standards and legal ability. Mike is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the members of which exhibit the virtues of civility, integrity, and professionalism in trial advocacy. He has been several times awarded Attorney of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mike is licensed to practice law in Florida and Georgia and has been admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the Northern, Middle, and Southern U.S. District Courts of Georgia, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Shareholder Michael J. Thomas recently presented a lecture to the Nurse Residency Program at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (“TMH”) concerning the litigation process. The audience was a group of over 70 nursing residency program members. TMH’s Nurse Residency Program is the only accredited nurse residency program in the region, and it bridges the gap between classroom learning and direct patient care. The participants, all new nurse graduates that were part of the year-long mandatory Nurse Residency Program at TMH, were active and engaged during the lecture, asking numerous questions regarding how litigation is handled when nursing care is involved. Michael J. Thomas is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar and has an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review rating system, which represents the highest level of professional excellence for ethical standards and legal ability. Mike is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the members of which exhibit virtues of civility, integrity, and professionalism in trial advocacy. He has been awarded Attorney of the Year twice by the American Board of Trial Advocates, having recently received his second award in 2026. Mike is licensed to practice law in Florida and Georgia and has been admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the Northern, Middle, and Southern U.S. District Courts of Georgia, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Shareholders Michael J. Thomas and Cody W. Short recently earned a defense verdict in a premises liability case in Bay County, Florida. The plaintiff, a plastic surgeon, alleged that the defendant, a surgery center, allowed a dangerous condition to exist within the defendant's premises where the plaintiff worked, resulting in an alleged injury sustained when the plaintiff collided with a coworker in a hallway. Specifically, the plaintiff alleged that the hallway should have had a safety mirror at the intersection of two hallways, and that defendant failed to follow its policy regarding completion of documentation during the pre-operative phase of a patient’s surgery. The plaintiff alleged that the injury caused permanent/total disability, affecting his ability to perform plastic surgeries. The defense successfully showed that there was no dangerous condition, and no negligence on the part of the surgery center. The case was tried before Judge James J. Goodman and resulted in a complete defense verdict for the defendant on February 11, 2026. Michael J. Thomas is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar and has an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review rating system, which represents the highest level of professional excellence for ethical standards and legal ability. Mike is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mike is licensed to practice law in Florida and Georgia and has been admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the Northern, Middle, and Southern U.S. District Courts of Georgia, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Cody W. Short’s practice focuses on insurance defense and litigation, including medical/dental malpractice, product liability, premises liability, commercial litigation, and employment litigation. Cody is licensed to practice law in Florida and has been admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Cody has previously been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.
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