BARNES TRIAL GROUP - Key Persons
Adam Rieth is a litigation attorney with the Barnes Trial Group. Prior to joining the Barnes Trial Group, Mr. Rieth worked at one of Florida's largest and oldest insurance-defense firms. Over the course of a half decade at the defense firm, Mr. Rieth tried cases ranging from medical-malpractice wrongful death to trip-and-fall negligence. He also litigated numerous catastrophic claims involving many complex facts and legal issues. Mr. Rieth was frequently called upon to investigate wrongful-death cases, tractor-trailer crashes, dram-shop/alcohol liability related incidents, premises-liability incidents, sexual-assault cases, and professional malpractice matters.
Prior to his work in insurance defense, Mr. Rieth was an Assistant State Attorney ("ASA") in Pinellas County, Florida. As an ASA, Mr. Rieth tried over 30 jury trial to verdict, in the majority of which he was the sole or lead attorney. Before being promoted to a felony division, Mr. Rieth served as a Lead Trial Attorney for misdemeanor division, where he supervised and mentored several younger attorneys. Mr. Rieth was also selected as a governor-appointed prosecutor for several conflict cases in neighboring Hillsborough County.
Mr. Rieth is a proud Tampa native. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida, graduating cum laude. Mr. Rieth earned his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law, as well as his Certificate of Concentration in Advocacy. Outside the courtroom, Mr. Rieth serves as a strong advocate for safe streets in Greater Tampa, as well as promoting the concept of Vision Zero, which is a world-wide strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, health, and equitable mobility for all. In his free time, Mr. Rieth enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching Florida Gator and Buccaneer football, traveling, and cycling.
Chris Donegan is a litigation attorney with Barnes Trial Group. Prior to joining the Barnes Trial Group, Mr. Donegan started the litigation practice at a large Plaintiff's law firm in Tampa and before that he was a partner at one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in Florida. During his time working for some of the country's largest insurance companies and institutional clients, Mr. Donegan ran an active litigation practice group. Over his career, Mr. Donegan has lectured nationally for various defense organizations, insurance professionals, institutional clients and corporations.
Mr. Donegan has tried many complex and significant cases to verdict for his clients in the areas of catastrophic personal injury, car accidents, slip and fall accidents, wrongful death claims, negligent security and alcohol service cases, product liability and food contamination cases. He also routinely handled and investigated complex trucking accidents, mass tort claims and professional malpractice matters. His practice focuses on providing aggressive representation to his clients in both State and Federal Court, whether locally or on the national level.
Mr. Donegan was raised in Hernando County and graduated from Central High School. His family has lived in the greater Tampa Bay Area for the last 20 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Louis University. Upon graduation, Mr. Donegan earned his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law, graduating cum laude. He was also inducted into the National Order of Barristers and the legal honors fraternity Phi Delta Phi. During law school, Mr. Donegan earned his Master of Business Administration from Stetson University's School of Business Administration, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and was inducted into the business honors fraternity Beta Gamma Sigma. Mr. Donegan is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Florida and all State Courts within the State of Florida and the United States District Court for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida.
Mr. Trujillo is a member of the firm's litigation department. His substantial experience has focused on the prosecution and defense of serious personal injury and wrongful death claims together with a history of litigating complex commercial claims and judgment enforcement. His interests include spending time with family, saltwater fishing, wing shooting, Florida State and Buccaneer football, and historical studies. Both sides of his family settled in Tampa in the 1880's, and Johnny is proud to call himself a Tampa native.
Nate Thompson joined the Barnes Trial Group as a litigation attorney in 2023 focusing on the prosecution of serious personal injury cases. Nate brings to the firm his wide range of experience in the areas of personal injury and insurance litigation. Nate began his career in 2007 working for the Pinellas County Public Defender's office. Over the years his hard work has garnered him a reputation as a seasoned trial attorney and a desire to help the injured.
Nate received his Juris Doctor from Barry University College of Law and is a graduate of the University of Florida where he played football.
Nate and his wife, Allison, are the proud parents of two daughters and can be found most weekends at the soccer field or volleyball court cheering them on. Nate also enjoys watching Florida Gator sports, fishing, and hunting when not spending time with his family.
Sean is a trial attorney with the Barnes Trial Group. Sean focuses his practice on significant personal injury and wrongful death litigation, helping those who have suffered life-changing injuries or have lost loved ones as the result of someone else's negligence. Sean offers a unique, broad-based experience, having not only previously worked as a defense attorney, defending large businesses and insurance companies against the types claims he now prosecutes on behalf of his clients, but he also spent over six years prosecuting claims and recovering tens of millions of dollars on behalf of large businesses, billionaires, and other high-net worth individuals in complex commercial and business litigation.
After successfully representing his business and commercial clients for years and trying cases before juries and judges in multiple jurisdictions throughout Florida, Sean joined the Barnes Trial Group so he could use his experience and skill set to help those who have truly suffered.
Since he began practicing law, Sean's philosophy in representing his clients has always been to "Be the attorney you want for yourself." In implementing this philosophy, Sean fights vigorously for his clients in and out of the courtroom and strives to be the advocate he would hire for himself, paying meticulous attention to each of his cases.
Sean earned his B.A. from the University of Florida, and then went on to earn his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law, graduating cum laude. While in law school, Sean served as the Editor-in-Chief of the University of Miami's Inter-American Law Review, managing and overseeing the publication of its 46th Volume. Furthering his advocacy skills, Sean also specialized in litigation and trial advocacy while at Miami Law and earned his Litigation Specialization Certificate.
On a personal note, Sean was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was raised in South Florida. He is proud to call South Tampa his home, spending most of his free time with his wife and daughter.
Stephen Barnes is the founder of The Barnes Trial Group. Mr. Barnes exclusively represents family members and victims of personal injury and wrongful death. One hundred percent of his practice is dedicated to representing these persons in their pursuit of justice and fair compensation for the harms and losses suffered as a result of the inattention and carelessness of other people and companies.
Over his eighteen year career, Mr. Barnes has been recognized as a pre-eminent and highly skilled trial lawyer by many attorney rating and certification organizations, including The Florida Bar, the National Board of Trial Advocacy, the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Florida Trend and Tampa Bay Magazine.
Mr. Barnes became one of the youngest board-certified civil trial attorneys in Florida at age 33 and is proud to be AV Pre-eminent* peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Mr. Barnes strongly believes that once an injured person or family member of a lost loved one places their trust in the Barnes Trial Group, it is his moral obligation to provide the client the strength and attention they need and deserve and to obtain a full recovery of money damages to balance the harms and losses suffered by the client.
A life long resident of Florida, Mr. Barnes attended the University of Florida and obtained his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance. Thereafter, he attended Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, earning his degree in 2 1/2 years.
He is the proud husband of his wife, Jessica, who cares for their five children, Ashley, Audrey, Matthew, Myles, Mason their dog Lola, and a family of hens, Penelope, Genevieve, Gwendolyn & Madeline. The Barnes family is a member of South Tampa Fellowship where they attend services. They are proud to live and work in the Tampa Bay area.