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. 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
August 2003 – Present
Partner
Petosa & Fernandez, PL
April 2002 – August 2003
Partner
Morgan, Colling & Gilbert, P.A.
March 1997 – April 2002
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
- 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.
- AAJ 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:
Board Member, 2008 – 2011
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
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
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
