COMPLEX COMMERCIAL - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the Paralegals & Staff
• Paralegal to Alan Wagner

Job Titles:

• Member of the Paralegals & Staff
• Paralegal to Jason Whittemore

Job Titles:

• Retired

Bill Wagner grew up in Lake Worth, Florida, and graduated from Lake Worth High School in 1951. He attended undergraduate school at the University of Florida and later graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Law in 1960. He practiced law in Miami at Nichols, Gaither, Beckham, Colson, Spence, and Hicks, where he became a partner. Thereafter, in 1967, he formed the partnership of Wagner, Cunningham, & Vaughan, which later became Wagner, Vaughan & McLaughlin until 2015. Bill's dedication to plaintiffs' rights has led to a long history of active leadership in professional organizations. The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (now named Florida Justice Association) elected him to its 1972-1973 presidency, as well as sixteen years of board membership - and in 1992 honored him with its highest recognition, the Perry Nichols Award. He has also served as president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now known as the American Association for Justice), the first national organization of lawyers whose main practice is representing those damaged by the fault of others, and was an officer or a member of its Board of Governors for more than sixteen years. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, considered to be the premier professional trial organization in America. Bill was selected for the first publication of The Best Lawyers in America and has continued to be chosen for that honor every year since, for more than 25 years. Over his distinguished career, Bill has been honored with more awards than can be listed here. Within the past few years, the Florida Justice Association honored him with its Lawyer to Legacy 2012 Eagle Legend Award, and the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association presented him with its highest "Champion of Justice" Award. He received the Hillsborough County Bar Association's Outstanding Lawyer Award in 2000 and was presented with the Florida Trial Lawyer of the Year Award by the Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates in 1997. As a member of the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, he has received its prestigious War Horse Award. Bill's personal interest in flying led to his obtaining a commercial pilot's license, with multi-engine, instrument, seaplane and helicopter ratings, which has given him a rare insight into aviation equipment, operations, and accidents. He served as an original member of and chaired the Florida Bar's Aviation Law Certification Committee, was the first plaintiffs' board-certified aviation lawyer on Florida's west coast, and remained board-certified in aviation for many decades, until 2013. Bill was born Frederick William Wagner, but most of his life has been known by and called "Bill." He has three adult sons. His eldest son, Alan Wagner, is also an attorney and has been president of Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore since 2004. Bill's son Darryl Wagner is a retired Lieutenant with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department, Florida; and Bill's youngest son, Thomas Wagner, until his recent retirement was in project-management with Verizon Communications in Tampa.

Job Titles:

• Chairman
• President
• Eagle Member
• Sustaining Member

Job Titles:

• Member of the Paralegals & Staff
• Paralegal to Jim Guarnieri

Job Titles:

• Partner

John McLaughlin became a partner with the firm in 1976. He provides a unique perspective and passion in admiralty law, thanks to both his education and experience. Prior to passing the Bar, John earned a degree in marine engineering at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and worked as an engineer for several years before returning to his Washington, D.C. birthplace and joining the U.S. Department of Commerce as a Patent Examiner. Upon graduation from The National Law Center at George Washington University, he worked as an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, Admiralty and Shipping Section. John's special area of practice is reflected in many of his professional activities, including leadership positions on admiralty and maritime law committees of both the American Bar Association and The Florida Bar, as well as membership in the Maritime Law Association of the United States. He is also a Diplomat of the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. John is a former member of the Board of Directors of the S.S. American Victory, a victory ship with an historical museum dedicated to merchant seamen. John is a member of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers and has been listed in "Florida Legal Elite" and "Florida Super Lawyer." A sustaining member of the American Association for Justice and the Florida Justice Association, he helped found Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, a national public interest law firm, and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a past president of its Tampa Bay Chapter. By appointment of the Florida Governor, John has served on 13th Judicial Circuit's Judicial Nominating Committee, as well as the 13th Judicial Circuit's Grievance Committee. John is a frequent lecturer, having authored many articles on maritime law, automobile liability, and insurance law. Two of John's sons, Kevin and Michael, practice with him as his partners. Florida Maritime Attorney John McLaughlin at Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore was interviewed by Steve Andrews of Channel 8 News regarding the year-long Coast Guard investigation of the Pass-A-Grille Spring Break drowning. Read or view the interview here: http://bit.ly/2GLpOLc

Job Titles:

• Member of the Paralegals & Staff
• Receptionist

Job Titles:

• President of the Hillsborough County Bar Association

Job Titles:

• Bookkeeper
• Member of the Paralegals & Staff

Job Titles:

• Member of the Paralegals & Staff
• Paralegal to John McLaughlin and Michael McLaughlin

Job Titles:

• Legal Assistant
• Member of the Paralegals & Staff