Fred Levin
Encyclopedia
Fredric Gerson Levin is an American
plaintiffs' attorney
in the state of Florida
, who is the owner of his own law practice in northwest Florida, Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Echsner & Proctor, P.A. The Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida
is named for him. He is best known for spearheading Florida's 1998 class-action lawsuit
against the tobacco
industry, the first such state to file a suit with the tobacco businesses. The Associated Press
has referred to Levin as "one of the nation's most successful civil trial lawyers."
Fred Levin graduated from Pensacola High School
in 1954. He is a graduate of the University of Florida
, and is an initiated brother of Pi Lambda Phi
International Fraternity. The University of Florida school of law was renamed for him in 1999 following a $10 million donation. This name change garnered a mixed reception from alumni, as Levin had been accused by the Florida Bar Association of illegal gambling on football games and in 1991 received a public reprimand from the Florida Supreme Court
. Another ethics complaint was filed in 2003 after Levin publicly ridiculed the state's witness, Willie Junior, in a case he was defending, regarding a violation of the Sunshine Law.
He is also well-known for being the advisor and sometime manager for boxer Roy Jones, Jr.
Currently, he practices law in his hometown of Pensacola
, Florida
. One of Pensacola's wealthiest citizens, Levin is also a philanthropist
, giving to the University of Florida as well as Pensacola's Jewish community, of which he is a member. Levin has also donated to the campaigns of former Florida Senator Bob Graham
and presidential candidate John Kerry
.
Levin was married to the former Marilyn Kapner from 1959 until her death in 2011. He has three daughters and a son: Marci, Debra, Kimberly, and Martin. All four of Levin's children attended the University of Florida, with two of the four following their father into professions relating to law.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
plaintiffs' attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, who is the owner of his own law practice in northwest Florida, Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Echsner & Proctor, P.A. The Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
is named for him. He is best known for spearheading Florida's 1998 class-action lawsuit
Class action
In law, a class action, a class suit, or a representative action is a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued...
against the tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
industry, the first such state to file a suit with the tobacco businesses. The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
has referred to Levin as "one of the nation's most successful civil trial lawyers."
Fred Levin graduated from Pensacola High School
Pensacola High School
Pensacola High School is a secondary school located near downtown Pensacola, Florida, USA.The school celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2001 and graduated its 100th class of seniors in 2005; however, the school has not always been at its current location. It was moved to Maxwell Street in 1952...
in 1954. He is a graduate of the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and is an initiated brother of Pi Lambda Phi
Pi Lambda Phi
Pi Lambda Phi International Fraternity Inc. is a college social fraternity with 35 active chapters and four colonies in the United States and Canada....
International Fraternity. The University of Florida school of law was renamed for him in 1999 following a $10 million donation. This name change garnered a mixed reception from alumni, as Levin had been accused by the Florida Bar Association of illegal gambling on football games and in 1991 received a public reprimand from the Florida Supreme Court
Florida Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of Florida is the highest court in the U.S. state of Florida. The Supreme Court consists of seven judges: the Chief Justice and six Justices who are appointed by the Governor to 6-year terms and remain in office if retained in a general election near the end of each...
. Another ethics complaint was filed in 2003 after Levin publicly ridiculed the state's witness, Willie Junior, in a case he was defending, regarding a violation of the Sunshine Law.
He is also well-known for being the advisor and sometime manager for boxer Roy Jones, Jr.
Currently, he practices law in his hometown of Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. One of Pensacola's wealthiest citizens, Levin is also a philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, giving to the University of Florida as well as Pensacola's Jewish community, of which he is a member. Levin has also donated to the campaigns of former Florida Senator Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
and presidential candidate John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
.
Levin was married to the former Marilyn Kapner from 1959 until her death in 2011. He has three daughters and a son: Marci, Debra, Kimberly, and Martin. All four of Levin's children attended the University of Florida, with two of the four following their father into professions relating to law.
External links
- Levin Papantonio law firm website
- Fred Levin profile from Levin, Papantonio
- Levin College of Law page from the University of Florida
- Fred Levin at Pensacola wiki