Trial Lawyers have always protected American familes. At the Fernandez Firm, we still do.
Tampa Attorney Frank Fernandez
The Fernandez Firm Accident Injury Attorneys
2503 W. Swann Ave #100,
Tampa, Florida 33609
(813) 228-6313
Attorney Profile
Frank F. Fernandez, III, was born in Tampa, Florida. After obtaining his degree in Finance from the University of Florida in 1989, Mr. Fernandez attended Stetson University, College of Law, in St. Petersburg, Florida, receiving his Juris Doctorate law degree in 1992. Following an internship with the U.S. District Court, for the Middle District of Florida, Mr. Fernandez began his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney prosecuting criminal cases in Tampa, Florida.
In 1994, Mr. Fernandez joined the Orlando-based law firm of Meyers, Mooney and Meyers specializing in plaintiffs’ personal injury law and worker’s compensation disputes. In 1996, Mr. Fernandez joined the civil trial firm of Wooten, Honeywell & Kest and, thereafter, the nationally-recognized law firm previously known as Morgan, Colling and Gilbert (now Morgan and Morgan). While a partner with Morgan, Florida injury Attorney Frank Fernandez gained significant trial experience in all matters of personal injury and premises liability, ultimately specializing in nursing home abuse, medical malpractice and wrongful death cases.
In 2003, Tampa Attorney Frank Fernandez co-founded The Fernandez Firm Accident Injury Attorneys. For more than a decade, his law firm has represented hundreds of plaintiffs and successfully tried numerous Florida personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Throughout his legal career, Mr. Fernandez has been an active member of his local, state and national bar and trial lawyer associations. He has held numerous leadership positions and has been a frequent lecturer for these organizations since 1996. Recently, Tampa injury lawyer Frank Fernandez was selected by his professional peers as one of Florida Trend Magazine’s “2012 Legal Elite.”
Experience
Managing Attorney
The Fernandez Firm Accident Injury Attorneys
August 2003 – Present
Partner
Petosa & Fernandez, PL
April 2002 – August 2003
Partner
Morgan, Colling & Gilbert, P.A.
March 1997 – April 2002
Education
Stetson University College of Law
Juris Doctorate, Law
1992
University of Florida
BSBA, in Finance
1989
Jesuit High School
Tampa, Florida
1985
Bar Admissions
The Florida Bar
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
Professional Memberships
The Florida Bar
Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
Florida Justice Association
American Trial Lawyers Association
American Association for Justice
Hillsborough County Bar Association
Tampa Bay Hispanic Bar Association
Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association
Orange County (Florida) Bar Association
Ybor City Chamber of Commerce
Honors and Awards
Florida Trend Magazine, 2012 Legal Elite
Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Bronze EAGLE Award, 2003
Phi Delta Phi Honorary Society
Leadership Positions & Pro Bono Service
American Association for Justice
Board of Governors, New Lawyers Division, 2001 – 2002
Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association
Founding Member
Board of Directors, 1999 – 2001
Florida Justice Association
Board of Directors, 2001 – 2004; 2008 – 2009
Nursing Home Committee Member, 2001 – 2003
Young Lawyers Section
President, 2001 – 2002
Vice-President, 2000 – 2001
Secretary, 1999 – 2000
Board of Directors, 1996 – 2002
Member, 1994 – 2002
Orange County Bar Association
Guardian Ad Litem, Volunteer, 1994 -2001
Great Oaks Village “Day in the Park” Committee, 1996 – 1998
Speaking Engagements
Civil Litigation for Paralegals & Legal Assistants, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, November 2004, Speaker – Florida injury Attorney Frank Fernandez
Trial Preparation, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, September 2004, Civil Litigation for Paralegals & Legal Assistants, Moderator/Speaker – Tampa injury Lawyer Frank Fernandez.
Direct Examination: The Basic Building Blocks, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, November 2002, The Art and Science of Persuasion Seminar, Moderator/Speaker- Florida Injury Attorney Frank Fernandez.
The Earl Zehmer Memorial Mock Trial Competition/Seminar, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 2001, Moderator, Speaker and Co-Chairman- Florida injury Attorney Frank Fernandez.
Litigating in the 21st Century: Who will Fight for the Victims? presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1999, Moderator/Seminar Chairman – Tampa injury lawyer Frank Fernandez.
Developing the Difficult Case, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1998, Seminar Chairman – Florida injury Attorney Frank Fernandez.
The Ultimate Trial Notebook, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 1997, Seminar Committee- Tampa injury lawyer Frank Fernandez.
Continuing Legal Education
2019 Advanced Trial Skills, presented by the Florida Justice Association, West Palm Beach, Florida, June 2019.
2019 Annual Review: Legislative and Case Law Update, presented by the Florida Justice Association, West Palm Beach, Florida, June 2019.
2018 Masters of Justice – Medical Malpractice, presented by the Florida Justice Association, Tampa, Florida, December 2018.
2018 Masters of Justice – Insurance Bad Faith Seminar, presented by the Florida Justice Association, Tampa, Florida, December 2018.
2018 Masters of Justice – Technology Seminar, presented by the Florida Justice Association, Tampa, Florida, December 2018.
2018 Social Media Discovery, Ethics, Evidence & Sanctions, presented by the Avalon Investigative Services, Tampa, Florida, February 2018.
2017 Annual Review: Legislative and Case Law Update, presented by the Florida Justice Association, St. Petersburg, Florida, June 2017.
2017 Advanced Trial Skills Seminar, presented by the Florida Justice Association, June 2017.
2015 29th Annual Workhorse Seminar, presented by the Florida Justice Association, February 2015.
2013 Legislative and Case Law Update, presented by the Florida Justice Association, St. Petersburg, Florida June 2007.
2013 Winter Convention, American Association for Justice, Miami, Florida, February 2013.
2012 Medical Malpractice Seminar, presented by the Florida Justice Association, Orlando, Florida, December 2012.
2012 Auto Insurance Seminar, Advanced Trial Skills, presented by the Florida Justice Association, Tampa, Florida, June 2012.
Proposals for Settlement and Compulsory Medical Examinations, presented by the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association, Tampa, Florida, February 2012.
2011 Annual Convention, American Association for Justice, New York, New York, July 9 – 13, 2011.
Ethics & Professionalism, presented by the Florida Justice Association, January 2010.
FJA 2009 Insurance Seminar, presented by the Florida Justice Association, November 2009.
2009 Medical Malpractice Seminar, presented by the Florida Justice Association, November 2009.
Notable Cases and Statutes Influencing Your Practice, for FJA Voting Members only, presented by the Florida Justice Association, May 2008.
2007 Legislative and Case Law Update, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, June 2007.
Advanced Trial Skills, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, June 2007.
2006 Legislative and Case Law Update, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, June 2006.
Advanced Trial Skills, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, June 2005.
2005 Medical Malpractice Seminar, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, April 2005.
2005 Workhorse Seminar, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, February 2005.
2005 Collateral Sources Seminar, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, January 2005.
2004 Jury Selection Seminar, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, April 2004.
The Art and Science of Persuasion, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, November 2002.
Medical Malpractice Seminar, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, March 2002.
Advanced Trial Skills Seminar, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, June 2001.
Long Term Care Advocacy Skills for the Elder Law Practitioner, presented by the Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee and the Elder Law Section, January 1999.
Insurance Bad Faith Seminar, – AFTL Voting Members Only, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, September 1998.
Direct and Cross Examination of Experts, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, October 1997.
Insurance Bad Faith Seminar – AFTL Voting Members Only, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, September 1997.
Premises Liability, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, July 1995.
Nursing Home Liability, presented by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, February 1995.
Civic, Cultural & Community Involvement
Annual Gil Memorial Classic: Sponsor
Bay Area Legal Services: Sustaining Member/Benefactor
Central Florida Habitat for Humanity: Volunteer, 1999 – 2000
Central Florida Meals on Wheels: Volunteer, 1994 – 1997
Cystic Fibrosis Association: Benefactor
Democratic Lawyers Association: Election Law Attorney Volunteer/Poll Watcher, 2007 -2008
Florida Democratic Party: Volunteer/Sponsor
Glazer Children’s Museum: Sponsor
Jesuit High School: Alumni Benefactor
John B. Gorrie (Elementary School) Foundation:
Foundation Board, Information Technology Committee Chair, 2010 – 2011
Volunteer/Benefactor, 2004 – 2012
Great American Teach In Volunteer, 2008 – 2011
Lutz Little League Leaguerettes: Team Sponsor
Make a Wish Foundation: Benefactor
March of Dimes Association: Volunteer/Sponsor
Muscular Dystrophy Association: Volunteer Summer Camp Counselor, 1984
Sacred Heart Catholic Church: Parishioner
Sigma Chi Fraternity: Alumni Benefactor
Tampa Bay Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Benefactor
Tampa Gator Club: Sponsor/Volunteer – Kickball Tournament for Children of the Spring
Tampa Museum of Art: Pavilion Sponsor
Woodrow Wilson (Middle School) Foundation:
PTA Member/Volunteer, 2009 – present
Benefactor, 2009 – present