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Attorney Profiles
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Mr. Milton concentrates on representation of both plaintiffs and defendants and is well recognized for his expertise in handling heavy exposure cases. He is a past president of the Jacksonville Bar Association, past president of the Florida Council of Bar Presidents, past president of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, past chair of the Trial Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar and a member of the National Board and Diplomat of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is a past president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates(ABOTA), which was recognized as the best chapter in the country during his tenure. He is also past president of FLABOTA, the Florida ABOTA organization for the eleven chapters in Florida. Mr. Milton is a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers and the American Bar Foundation. He is a past member of The Florida Bar Board of Governors and the Fourth Judicial Circuit Nominating Commission; and past chairman of the Admiralty & Maritime Law Board Certification Committee of The Florida Bar. He is a Master Emeritus in the Chester Bedell Inn of Court. He is the immediate Past President of the National Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates (2006 & 2007). His jury trials have occurred in state and federal courts throughout Florida, as well as in other states. He has defended his verdicts in appellate courts up to the Supreme Court of Florida and the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. Mr. Milton has written and lectured for The Florida Bar, the American Board of Trial Advocates, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. Mr. Milton has been a pioneer in mandating that professionalism be a driving force in the legal community. He worked on the Code of Professionalism as chairman of the Trial Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar. He served on the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar when Ideals and Goals of Professionalism was adopted. He has served on both the Maritime Law Association and American Board of Trial Advocates Professionalism Code Committees. Mr. Milton was named by the Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit as Chairman of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Committee on Professionalism, which was established at the direction of the Florida Supreme Court. During his chairmanship, The Florida Bar Award for Outstanding Professionalism Program was presented to the Fourth Judicial Circuit. In addition, during his chairmanship, the American Bar Association Award for the most outstanding professionalism program nationwide was presented to the Fourth Judicial Circuit. During the past decade, Mr. Milton has been one of The Florida Bar's most honored lawyers having received the Daily Record / Jacksonville Bar Association Lawyer of the Year Award for 1999, the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year Award for 2000, the FLABOTA Outstanding Trial Lawyer of the Year Award for the State of Florida in 2000, and the Outstanding Past Volunteer Bar President Award from the Florida Council of Bar Presidents in 2001. In 2004 he received the National Master in Trial Award from the National American Board of Trial Advocates. In 2006 he was named as a Super Lawyer of Florida in the 1st edition of that publication, and continues to hold that distinction to the present. Less than 5% of all attorneys in Florida are included. Also in 2006, he received the prestigious President's Award from FLABOTA. In July 2002, Mr. Milton was reappointed by Governor Jeb Bush and The Florida Bar to a second four year term on the Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission. The commission is responsible for interviewing nominees and making recommendations to the Governor for appointments to the Florida Supreme Court. In 2005 Mr. Milton was elected Chair of the Florida Supreme Court Nominating Commission. In 2006 he was selected by The Florida Bar to serve on a special committee to report on recommended changes to rules regulating The Florida Bar. On July 26, 2008 at the FLABOTA Convention, Mr. Milton became the first recipient of the Fran Peacock Coker FLABOTA Community Service Award for his outstanding leadership as FLABOTA Foundation President in 2006 and 2007. He was also recently appointed by Chief Justice Fred Lewis of the Florida Supreme Court, to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners Testing Commission. Mr. Milton was also recently elected as Second Vice President of the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society. He and his wife, Cela, live in Jacksonville. Mr. Milton has three adult children.  ERIC L. LEACH is a 1987 graduate of the University of Florida College of Law. He was admitted to The Florida Bar and U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 1988 and the Georgia Bar in 1996. He achieved board-certification as a civil trial lawyer by The Florida Bar in 2001.
Mr. Leach is a partner in the firm and is experienced in trying cases before juries involving personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and commercial issues. Mr. Leach has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict throughout the State of Florida and has presented oral arguments in the First, Third, and Fifth District Courts of Appeal. Mr. Leach has lectured locally and nationally to safety organizations and trial attorneys on various civil trial practice and medical subjects. Mr. Leach serves on The Florida Bar, Rules of Civil Procedure Committee. Mr. Leach is a Barrister in the Chester Bedell Inn of Court, an organization dedicated to improving ethics and professionalism among trial lawyers. Mr. Leach is a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, American Bar Association, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, and National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel. In 2006 he was named as a Super Lawyer of Florida in the 1st edition of that publication, and continues to hold that distinction for 2007. He and his wife, Jodie, have two children and live in Mandarin.
Mr. Whitman received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Florida College of Business Administration in 1980. In 1984, he graduated with honors from the Florida State University College of Law, where he taught Legal Research and Writing, and was a member of the Moot Court Team. He has served on the Alumni Board of the College of Law since 1988.
Mr. Whitman was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1984, and is authorized to practice in the United States District Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. From 1984 through 1985, Mr. Whitman served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Harvey E. Schlesinger, then-United States Magistrate, now United States District Court Judge, for the Middle District of Florida. Mr. Whitman entered private practice in 1986 and, by 1990, he had already tried a sufficient number of civil jury trials to distinguish himself as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education and the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Mr. Whitman has continuously qualified as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer since 1990 and, in 1998, he was appointed to serve on The Florida Bar's Civil Trial Certification Committee. This Committee is charged with screening applicants for certification, and with authoring, administering and grading the examination required to become a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. Mr. Whitman served as Vice-Chair of the Committee in 2001. He has also been Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy since 1991.
Mr. Whitman has served by appointment on The Florida Bar's Standing Committee on the Unlicensed Practice of Law, the Fourth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, and the Fourth Judicial Circuit Fee Arbitration Committee. He is a past member, and two term Chairman, of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, where he served from 1998 through 2002. The Judicial Nominating Commission is responsible for screening and nominating lawyer applicants for the local trial bench.
In 1999, Mr. Whitman was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a national organization comprised of an equal number of plaintiff and defense attorneys dedicated to professionalism in the promotion and preservation of the jury trial system. He serves on the organization's National Board of Directors, and was appointed to serve on the National Executive Committee in 2010. Mr. Whitman has served as the Jacksonville ABOTA Chapter Treasurer (2002), Vice-President (2003) and President (2004). At the conclusion of his term as ABOTA Chapter President in 2004, the Jacksonville Chapter was recognized as the National ABOTA Chapter of the Year. In 2008, Mr. Whitman was honored as ABOTA Chapter Trial Lawyer of the Year. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates (FLABOTA), an organization made up of the eleven Florida Chapters of ABOTA, and has served as its Treasurer (2005), President-Elect (2006) and President (2007 - 2008). Mr. Whitman chaired FLABOTA's 2008 Regional Jury Summit in Palm Coast, Florida, and ABOTA’s 2009 National Jury Summit in San Francisco, California. He was recently selected to Chair ABOTA's 2011 National Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. Whitman is a Legacy Fellow of the Foundation of ABOTA, the organization's educational arm, and has participated in numerous ABOTA educational programs.
Mr. Whitman has also served the Jacksonville Bar Association, where he was Plaintiff Co-Chair of the Personal Injury Litigation Section from 1996 through 1998. Mr. Whitman is also a member of the Florida Justice Association, where he has been an Eagle participant since 1989, is a past recipient of the Talon Award. He was elected to the organization's Board of Directors in June, 2003, where he chaired various fund-raising efforts. Mr. Whitman was also a founding member, and the Charter President, of the Jacksonville Trial Lawyers Association. He is a member of the Chester Bedell Inn of Court, the American Association for Justice, and the American Bar Association. He also maintains membership in the National Crime Victims Bar Association, and is an invited member of the International Society of Barristers and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In 2006, Mr. Whitman was named as a Super Lawyer of Florida in the first edition of that publication, and continues to hold that distinction. In 2009 and 2010, Jacksonville Magazine included Mr. Whitman as one of Northeast Florida's "Top Lawyers". Also active in his local community, Mr. Whitman was selected to the Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2003.
Married for nearly 30 years to Elyse, an adjunct Professor at the University of North Florida, the Whitmans reside in Jacksonville's Southside. They have three sons: Alex is an honors graduate of the University of Florida and Emory Law School; Ben is also an honors graduate of the University of Florida and attends the Florida State University College of Law; and Sam attends the University of Central Florida.
Email: jwhitman@miltonleach.com
He has served on the Fouth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee and chaired the Fourth Judicial Circuit section of the Florida Bar Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration Program, which he currently serves as a certified arbitrator/mediator Mr. D'Andrea is a member and proctor of the Maritime Law Association and the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. He served as chair of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Committee on Professionalism's Mentor Program and is a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, The Florida Bar, the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, the Catholic Lawyers Guild, American Trial Lawyers Association. He also serves as chair of the Morningstar School's Board of Directors. He has lectured to trial and claims organizations around the state and country. Mr. D'Andrea and his wife, Kate, have three children.
Mr. Milton was born and raised in Jacksonville. After graduating from Mercer University School of Law, he was admitted to The Florida Bar, the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in 1998. Effective November 4, 2002, he was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in all areas and has successfully handled and argued cases in both state and federal trial and appellate courts. Mr. Milton is a member of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute (Port Director, 2003-present), the Maritime Law Association and the Jacksonville Bar Association. In 2001, Mr. Milton was selected as an associate in the Chester Bedell Inn of Court, an organization dedicated to improving ethics and professionalism among trial lawyers. Mr. Milton is also actively involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations within the community. Mr. Milton and his wife, Julie Anna, have three children. Email: mmilton@miltonleach.com
Mr. Mulhall is a member of The Florida Bar, The Jacksonville Bar Association, The National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, The American Bar Association, and The Propeller Club of the United States, Port of Jacksonville. He has been admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States (2002), the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2001), the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (1999), and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (2001). Mr. Mulhall was rated “BV” by Martindale-Hubbell in 2006, which is the highest rating for an attorney with less than 10 years of practice. Mr. Mulhall is committed to public service and is very active in his community. Mr. Mulhall was recently appointed by the St. Johns County Commission to a four year term on the Ponte Vedra Architectural Review Board. He is a member of the School Advisory Council for Ponte Vedra/Palm Valley and Rawlings Elementary Schools, and has coached little league baseball for several years. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Mulhall practiced criminal trial law for two years as an Assistant Public Defender in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, where he tried over two dozen cases and set a record for trial victories. He now concentrates his practice on general civil litigation matters, railroad law and maritime law.
Mr. Eslinger is licensed to practice in Florida (2003), Maine (2004), the United States Supreme Court (2006), the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit (2005) and all of the U.S. Districts Courts in Florida. He is a member of The Florida Bar, The Maine Bar, the American Bar Association, the Jacksonville Bar Association, the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, the Maritime Law Association and the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. He currently serves on the The Florida Bar's Admiralty Law and Student Education and Admissions to the Bar Committees. Mr. Eslinger joined the firm after serving as a judicial law clerk for the Circuit Court, Seventh Judicial Circuit, working primarily in Putnam County. His practice now involves all aspects of general civil litigation for both plaintiffs and defense, including railroad and maritime litigation, personal injury, and probate litigation. Additionally, he has appellate experience in all of the Florida District Courts of Appeals. He and his wife, Erica live in Saint Augustine with their two sons. Email: reslinger@miltonleach.com
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Collins was an Assistant State Attorney for the Seventh Judicial Circuit, prosecuting cases in Daytona Beach. Email: dcollins@miltonleach.com
Ms. Jacobellis is licensed to practice in Florida (2009) and in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida (2010). Ms. Jacobellis joined the firm after serving as a summer law clerk. Her practice involves all aspects of general civil litigation for both plaintiffs and defense, including railroad and maritime litigation and personal injury. Ms. Jacobellis resides in Jacksonville and is engaged to Army Chief Warrant Officer Cody Knight, a Blackhawk pilot currently serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Email: LJacobellis@miltonleach.com
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