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Fred Levin
Fred Levin
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Fredric Gerson Levin (March 29, 1937 – January 12, 2021) was an American plaintiffs' lawyer who served as chairman of Levin, Papantonio, Rafferty, Proctor, Buchanan, O'Brien, Barr, Mougey, P.A., a law firm in Northwest Florida.[2][3] The Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida is named for him because of a monetary donation he made to the school in 1999.

Key Information

He was best known for rewriting Florida's Medicaid Third-Party Recovery Act to allow the State of Florida to sue and recover billions of dollars from the tobacco industry for smoking-related illnesses.[4][5] His flamboyant and brazen personality resulted in him being prosecuted by the Florida Bar two times, and investigated two additional times.[6][7]

Levin's life was summarized in the weekly medical journal The Lancet. In its December 2014 edition, the author wrote: "And Give Up Showbiz? explores the extraordinary life of a pioneering and often controversial lawyer. Seen as an inspiring innovator by some, and a flamboyant self-promoter by others, Levin's work was not always met with a favourable outcome. Levin was accused of two murders, and often met with controversy because of his relentless fight for justice against big companies. His home life, while loving, was often neglected in his pursuit of business, and this is mentioned several times in the book—bringing a sense of balance to the stories."[8]

Personal life

[edit]
Marilyn and Fred – 1967
Fred Levin (bottom right), with his parents and brothers in 1950

Levin was born in 1937, in Pensacola, Florida. He grew up in a conservative Jewish household, with his mother (Rose), father (Abe), and brothers (David, Herman, Stanley, Martin, and Allen).[9][10] His father was a pawnbroker catering to the large military presence in the Pensacola area, and also ran the concessions at the Pensacola Greyhound Park and at a store on Pensacola Beach.[9][10] Levin attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, as an undergraduate, but did not do well academically. Instead, he was known as a drinker, smoker, and gambler.[9][10] He was a member of Pi Lambda Phi, one of two Jewish fraternities on campus.[11][12] While attending the University of Florida, Levin met his future wife, Marilyn, who was a member of the Jewish sorority Alpha Epsilon Phi.[13][9] The Levins were married for 51 years, when Marilyn died on February 6, 2011, survived by their four children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.[14]

Levin began law studies in 1958, as a student enrolled in the College of Law at the University of Florida. This was mostly due to his reluctance to leave behind the college party lifestyle, as well as the fact that his older brother David had established a small law firm where Levin could work. He attended summer classes to raise his Grade Point Average for law school admission, as his grade scores were below the required minimum 2.0 G.P.A. [9][15] (Note: In 1958, virtually any white male[16] could gain admittance to Florida public law school, where approximately one-third would graduate.)[9]

In Levin's first few weeks of law school, he received word that his brother Martin was rapidly succumbing to late stage leukemia, and his death was imminent. Levin approached the dean of the law school, asking for time off from school to attend his brother's funeral. The dean looked at Levin's undergraduate course records, said that he could take the days off, and added that he needn't return to school, as he doubted Levin would make it through law school successfully.[9]

Levin drove from Gainesville to Pensacola, but Martin died before he arrived at his brother's bedside in Pensacola. Ignoring his dean's advice, Levin returned to law school where he thrived, finishing third in his class. Post-graduation, his plans were to go back to Pensacola, spend one year in practice with his brother David's law firm, and then go back to college to pursue a Master's degree in tax law. At that point, he had never considered or intended on working as a trial lawyer, as he was terrified by public speaking.[9][12]

On January 12, 2021, Levin died from COVID-19 complications.[17]

[edit]

In 1961, Levin began practicing in the law firm of Levin & Askew (now known as Levin Papantonio) in Pensacola.[11] The firm was founded by his brother David and Reubin Askew, who eventually would go on to become a two-term governor of Florida and candidate for President of the United States.[9][18]

Fred Levin and a few partners in the late 1960s. David Levin (top, middle), Reubin Askew (top right), and Fred Levin (bottom left).

Levin began his legal career in family law, but once a client explained that her husband said he would kill her divorce lawyer, he chose to switch to general civil law.[12] His first case involved an insurance dispute over a residential fire claim. The case ended up before a jury. Levin won the case and decided he wanted to become a trial lawyer.[9][15]

In the late 1960s, Levin handled a case involving the wrongful death of a child who had taken the antibiotic Chloromycetin. Levin won the case. While the compensatory damages were not large, the judge allowed Levin to pursue a punitive damage claim which ended up playing a role in the drug being pulled from the market in the United States for most uses.[9]

Levin received national attention with the case of Thorshov v. L&N. On November 9, 1977, Dr. Jon Thorshov, a thirty-eight-year-old physician, his wife, his four-year-old daughter, and his one-year-old son were at their home in Pensacola when a freight train operated by L&N derailed near their home and released anhydrous ammonia. The family attempted to escape their home, but were overcome by the fumes. Dr. and Ms. Thorshov died, and both children sustained serious physical injuries.[19] In 1980, Levin received a jury verdict for the family in the amount of $18 million.[20][21] As a result of the verdict, Us magazine did a story on Levin in its swimsuit preview issue. On the cover were Randi Oakes from CHiPs, Morgan Fairchild from Flamingo Road, and Donna Mills from Knots Landing. Inside was a half-page picture of Levin standing in front of an L&N railcar under the headline, "I'll Sue".[22]

Levin received more than thirty jury verdicts in excess of $1,000,000 (six in excess of $10,000,000). At various points in his career he held the national record for jury verdicts involving the wrongful death of a child, the wrongful death of a housewife, the wrongful death of a wage earner, and the largest personal injury verdict in the state of Florida.[23][24] He was listed in every edition of Best Lawyers in America; was a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates; and was inducted into the National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2009.[25][12][26]

Tobacco litigation

[edit]

Levin played a significant role in the litigation brought by numerous states against the tobacco industry during the 1990s. Levin was at a trial lawyer conference when another attorney saw Levin drinking whiskey and smoking a cigarette. The attorney told Levin that smoking was going to kill him, and that he was working with the State of Mississippi to sue the tobacco industry for compensation for all the money Mississippi was spending in Medicaid dollars treating smoking related illnesses. Levin did not believe the legal theory would be successful, explaining that the tobacco industry had never paid a penny to anyone as a result of smoking injuries.[4][9]

Levin returned to Pensacola and thought about the potential case, and went to the Florida statute allowing the state of Florida to recover against individuals and companies that harm someone where the State has to pay Medicaid. Levin thought that with a few changes in the statute's language, he could rewrite the law so that the State could sue the tobacco industry without the tobacco industry being able to raise the numerous defenses it had relied upon in winning the cases against it.[27][4][9]

Levin made the changes, and then approached a good friend who was the dean of the Florida Senate. The two then went to the Governor of Florida, who supported the concept. The dean of the Senate was able to get the law passed on the last day of session and at the last minute. The Senator made it part of another law that received unanimous support in the Senate, and Levin's amendments passed.[28][2][9] When the tobacco industry discovered the true intent of the law, it began donating money to Florida senators to repeal the statute.[2][9] The Senate voted to repeal it, but the Governor vetoed the repeal. The Senate then came within one vote of overriding the Governor's veto, but could not, and the law stood.[2][9]

After the passage of the law, John French, a lobbyist for Philip Morris USA, stated, "This is probably the single biggest issue to ever have been run through in the dead of the night."[29] John Shebel, president of the pro-business organization Associated Industries of Florida, told the Orlando Sun-Sentinel, "This law is probably one of the worst laws ever passed by any Legislature."[30] Walker Merryman, vice president of the Tobacco Institute, said, "It's certainly creative, and it demonstrates how a government will try to impose a significant financial burden on one portion of the economy."[31]

Gannett News Service wrote: "What they engineered was a first-of-its-kind bill making it much easier for the state to recoup money it spends for treating cancer patients and others with smoking-related diseases. ... Its created such an uproar in Tallahassee that tobacco companies have pledged millions of dollars to fight the bill either by getting it vetoed or using the upcoming special session on health care to change or eliminate it."[32]

"I could say, I think without exaggerating, that the financial life of the tobacco industry is riding on [the veto of the bill]", said John Banahaf, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health.[27] Professor Richard Daynard of Northeastern University called the bill: "the single biggest blow against the tobacco industry and for the public health that's ever been done in the United states."[33]

Challenges to the law made it the United States Supreme Court, but was upheld.[34][35][36] Immediately after jury selection, the tobacco industry settled with the State of Florida for a record $13 billion. Levin's law firm would end up earning a fee of more than $300 million.[5] Soon thereafter, Levin appeared on ABC's 20/20 talking to reporter John Stossel. While interviewing him for the piece, Levin lit up a cigarette, which ABC highlighted in the segment.[37] Next, he appeared on two full pages of George magazine, standing on his putting green in a tuxedo, drinking Crown Royal whiskey and smoking a cigarette.[37] He was then highlighted in a Time article entitled: "Are Lawyers Running America?"[38]

Florida Bar

[edit]

Levin had a lengthy and hostile relationship with the Florida Bar whom he often and openly referred to as "lily-white elitists, country club, men".[39] He has been prosecuted by the Florida Bar on two occasions, and formally investigated on another two occasions. In the first investigation, Levin stated on his primetime, live, call-in, television show that doctors have "this God-complex--they think they are above the law." The investigation did not result in bar charges.[23] In the second investigation, and first prosecution, Levin admitted on his television show to gambling on football games, and said he found nothing wrong with it.[40] He mocked law enforcement for arresting and prosecuting local bookies, as if they were an elite swat team fighting terrorism. He commented that the local law enforcement and prosecutors wouldn't have the guts to go down to the high crime streets in Pensacola to arrest drug dealers and rapists because they would be scared to get shot. The Florida Bar charged Levin with ethics violation as he was admitting to violations of Florida law, and demeaning the legal profession.[41][42] Levin was found guilty and a public reprimand was recommended.[43][44] Levin challenged the decision to the United States Supreme Court, but in the end he received his public reprimand.[45]

The third investigation, and second prosecution, involved Levin's use of the word "ridiculous" to describe the defense in two separate civil cases.[46][47] Levin won both cases and received large jury verdicts, but both verdicts were taken away on appeal because the appellate court believed Levin inflamed the jury by calling the defense ridiculous.[46][47] The Florida Bar then brought charges against Levin alleging that his closing argument violated ethics rules because he was stating his personal opinion.[46][47] This was the first time in U.S. history that a lawyer was charged by a bar disciplinary committee in a situation such as this. This time Levin was found innocent.[6][48][49][50]

The fourth investigation occurred when a friend of Levin's, the Senator who passed the tobacco legislation, was being prosecuted for violations of the Florida Sunshine Law. The key witness against the Senator (who now was a county commissioner) was another local county commissioner who claimed the now former Senator offered him a bribe to pass an item before him. When the former Senator was convicted of violation of the Sunshine Law, Levin made comments to the press calling the witness a "rat fink". He then told the Pensacola News Journal, "If [the witness] was on the Titanic, he would dress like a woman and jump on the first lifeboat."[51][52] Levin called the judge's ruling not to free the politician while he appealed "unconscionable". He also assailed the judge. "I have never been so embarrassed or ashamed of the legal profession", he told the paper. "I believe the inmates have taken over the asylum." Asked what exactly he meant, Levin replied, "That means the nuts are in charge."[52]

Levin's comments led to an ethics complaint being filed against Levin with the Florida Bar—the third in his career. Months later, the Florida Bar's grievance committee ruled there was no cause to pursue a full investigation into the matter.[53] However, the Florida Bar sent Levin a "letter of advice" as to how to act in the future. The letter said: "While your conduct in this instance does not warrant formal discipline, the committee believes that it was not consistent with the high standards of our profession. The committee hopes that this letter will make you more aware of your obligation to uphold these professional standards, and that you will adjust your conduct accordingly."[54]

Death of Jake Horton

[edit]

On April 10, 1989, at approximately 1:00 p.m. C.S.T., a twin-engine Beechcraft King Air 200 crashed within minutes of takeoff from Pensacola Regional Airport, killing the two pilots and the single passenger, Jacob F. "Jake" Horton. The plane was owned by Southern Company, an American electric utility holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.[55][56][57] The company is currently the 16th largest utility company in the world, and the fourth largest in the U.S.[58]

Jake was a senior vice-president at Gulf Power Company, a subsidiary of Southern Company. The cause of the plane crash has never been solved, with theories including pilot error, poor maintenance, sabotage, and suicide. Levin became embroiled in the incident because he was one of the last people to speak with Jake, and he also was legal counsel for Gulf Power.[55][57]

In the months before the plane crash, Southern Company was under a federal grand jury investigation for possible tax evasion and inappropriate political contributions. Gulf Power and Jake were at the center of the investigation, with Southern Company claiming that Jake was the primary responsible party. Between 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. C.S.T. on April 10, 1989, Jake met privately with Levin in his office. Levin's law firm had been serving as private counsel for Gulf Power for many years, and Levin also was a close personal friend of Jake. Southern Company wanted Levin to convince Jake to resign, but Jake wished to remain employed and clear his name. Prior to leaving Levin's office, Jake ordered a corporate plane to take him from Pensacola to Atlanta where he wished to meet with the president of Southern Company. Jake boarded the plane approximately 1.5 hours later, and within minutes the plane crashed, killing all on board.[55][57] Within three hours after the crash, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous call stating: "You can stop investigating Gulf Power now. We took care of that."[56][59] Within two weeks of the plane crash, and in protest to Southern Company blaming Jake, Levin quit as counsel for Gulf Power.[55][56][57]

Over the next year, the federal grand jury investigation continued, and Levin eventually was called to testify. Southern Company took the position that Levin was not permitted to testify because his knowledge was subject to attorney–client privilege. Southern Company finally agreed to allow Levin to testify, but only on the limited subject of his conversation with Jake on the morning of the plane crash. Southern Company would not permit Levin to talk to the National Transportation Safety Board or the Escambia County Sheriff's Office.[55][57]

In the days before Levin was scheduled to testify, someone began leaving parakeets at his home and office with their necks broken. Also, someone called the FBI stating that Levin would be killed if he were to testify. Levin testified with U.S. Marshals escorting him to and from the hearing.[60][61]

Despite numerous federal and state investigations, and multiple lawsuits, the cause of the plane crash has never been solved.[56] Gulf Power ended up pleading guilty to illegal political contributions and other violations, and paid a $500,000 fine. Gulf Power blamed Horton for the illegal events.[59][57]

Career in boxing

[edit]
Roy Jones Jr. & Fred Levin

In 1989, Levin began managing the boxing career of Roy Jones Jr., who had just returned from Seoul, Korea, having earned a silver medal in the 1988 Olympic Games. The fact that Roy did not win the gold medal became an international issue after it was discovered that three of the judges had been subject to inappropriate contact, and yet awarded the gold medal to Roy's opponent or ruled it a draw. Roy had dominated his opponent (Park Si-hun), landing almost three times as many punches. Although the three judges were suspended, with two being banned for life, Roy was not awarded the gold medal. He was, however, awarded the outstanding competitor in the games by the International Amateur Boxing Association.[62][63][64]

The fact that Levin was chosen to help manage Roy's career was controversial considering he had no experience in the boxing business. Roy had been courted by some of the biggest names in boxing, including Don King and Sugar Ray Leonard.[62] Roy's father, Roy Jones Sr., chose Levin to manage his son's career because Jones Sr. no longer trusted the boxing establishment after the Olympic decision. Jones Sr. once stated: "The boxing biz has stolen the medal from my son."[25]

Levin negotiated a middleweight championship fight for Roy against James Toney. Roy won the fight, and then earned a multimillion-dollar long-term contract with HBO.[65] Levin received the 1995 Al Buck Award from the Boxing Writers Association of America as boxing manager of the year; and received the Rocky Marciano Foundation President's Award in 2001.[66]

Levin managed Roy's boxing career from 1989 to 2003. Levin's last fight with Roy involved heavyweight champion John Ruiz on March 1, 2003. Ruiz had recently defeated Evander Holyfield for the championship. Jones officially weighed in at 193 pounds to Ruiz's 226 pounds. Jones won by unanimous decision, becoming the first former middleweight title holder to win a heavyweight title in 106 years, the last being Bob Fitzsimmons in 1896. Jones also became the first fighter in history to start his career as a junior middleweight and become a heavyweight champion.[63]

Fighting racial injustice

[edit]
George Starke and Fred Levin at the law school naming

When Levin entered the University of Florida College of Law in 1958, George Starke, the first African American student to enter a public institution in the state of Florida, entered with Levin's class. Levin described the first day as follows: "They had all of us on one side of the auditorium and he was all by himself, except for all the Secret Service people. Up to that point, I had not thought much about racial issues. I looked over and my heart went out to him. Here were 350 white law students and this one black guy. He was dressed in a suit, and the rest of us were dressed like bums. They started shuffling him, which is rubbing your feet together on the floor like they do in prison. ... I always studied in the library, and I would look across at George because he always had to sit at a table by himself and everybody would shuffle their feet. It just tore me up. I wanted to go over and sit with him, but I didn't have the guts."[9][67]

After the first semester of law school, Levin approached George to become his study partner.[67] The two remained friends for the next two years. Although Levin ended up graduating number three out of his graduating class, George failed to graduate.[67]

In an oral history interview conducted by Samuel Proctor at the University of Florida, Levin described the final events leading to George leaving the University of Florida. "We were going to study for the exam the next day, I told him to meet me at my apartment. I was running a little late, and I got there, and he's sitting on the steps, we were an upstairs apartment. I said, 'Why didn't you go on in?' He said, 'You don't understand, a colored man doesn't go into an apartment where a white woman is.' I said, 'Oh the hell with it, come on.' So we came in, Marilyn cooked supper for us, and we studied all night long. I had these little flip cards that worked real well. All night long. He goes home, and I clean up and go to the exam, and he never shows up. He had gone home just to lay down for a second [snap of fingers], slept through the exam. They wouldn't give him another exam, they flunked him."[67]

When the law school was renamed to the Fredric G. Levin College of Law in 1999, George attended in support of Levin.[15][9]

Fred Levin being inducted as a chief of Ghana

Shortly after becoming a lawyer in Pensacola, Levin nominated Nathaniel Dedmond to be the first African American as a member of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Counties Bar Association. Several lawyers in the association were offended by the nomination and had their wives call Marilyn, Levin's wife. They asked Marilyn how she would like to be sitting next to Nathaniel Dedmond's wife at a bar meeting. They were hoping to get Marilyn to go to Fred and have him drop the nomination. Instead, Marilyn replied: "Oh, yes, that will be fine." Levin commented that he had never been more proud of Marilyn.[67] When the nomination came up for vote, the association voted against Levin's nomination.[39][15]

In 1999, Levin received recognition for his support of the African American community by being named a chief of the country of Ghana,[68][69][25][9] and receiving a citation from the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus; which provides in part: "We of the Congressional Black Caucus wish to join with the distinguished world citizens and other leaders in congratulating you on your designation as a Ghanaian Chief. But more specifically, we wish to honor your lifelong contributions to bettering the lives of the people of Ghana and the people of America. Long before we became aware of your outstanding contributions in Africa, we knew of your work as a lawyer fighting on the side of underprivileged people in America. We thank you for that rich legacy. We are proud that the world community is now beginning to recognize your valuable service to it as well."[70]

Awards and honors

[edit]

Levin received the Perry Nichols Award in 1994, which is the highest honor bestowed by the Florida Justice Association, and is given in recognition of a person's lifetime achievements in the pursuit of justice.[25][12]

For the year 1999, The National Law Journal named Levin as the top civil litigator in Florida. This honor encompassed plaintiff and defense counsel.[24] Levin also was named in the October 4, 1999, edition of The National Law Journal as one of the "Top Ten Litigators for 1999", which again included both plaintiff and defense counsel.[12]

In 1999, Levin was honored at the United Nations by being made a chief in the Republic of Ghana.[68] This honor was bestowed on Levin because of his lifetime of dedication to equal justice for people of all races.[69] At the same time, Levin received a citation honoring him by the United States Congressional Black Caucus.[70]

Levin was a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an organization limited to 100 of the top trial attorneys in the country, and has been listed in every edition of the publication Best Lawyers in America. In 2009, he was inducted into The National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame.[25][12][26] In 2016, Levin was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by The National Trial Lawyers.[71]

In December 2017, Levin was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from University of West Florida.[72]

Later career

[edit]

At the age of 80, Levin continued to practice law. "I want the practice of law to continue", he said. "I want there to be lawyers. Less and less people are going to law school now. In 2013, applications to accredited law schools dropped for a third consecutive year. My son, Martin, left the practice of law because of its transformation from the personal--a lawyer representing one client--to a business where a lawyer represents thousands of clients in mass tort or class action."[73] Despite his opposition to mass torts, Levin agreed to transfer his law firm's primary practice to this niche area of law.[74][75] The firm now runs Mass Torts Made Perfect, a conference held twice a year, usually in Las Vegas, to bring together mass tort lawyers from across the country.[76]

In 2013, when he was 76, he won a $3.4 million jury verdict in an ATV case.[77] In 2014, at the age of 77, he won a $12.6 million jury verdict in an automobile accident case.[78] In 2016 (age 79), he was named national Trial Lawyer of the Year.[71]

Charitable work

[edit]

In 1995, Levin gave a professorship at the University of West Florida, in honor of his father.[79]

In 1998, Levin gave the University of Florida law school $10 million, the second largest cash donation ever given to a public law school as of that time.[80][81] In 1999, the law school name was officially changed to the University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law.[82]

In 1998, Levin contributed $2 million to the Levin & Papantonio Family Foundation.[83]

In 2006, Levin gave the University of Florida law school $2 million to help fund the Martin H. Levin Advocacy Center.[84][85]

In 2013, Levin gave $1 million in memory of his recently deceased wife to the Lubavitch-Chabad Student and Community Center at the University of Florida.[86]

In 2015, Levin (along with his sister-in-law Teri) gave $1 million to the YMCA of Northwest Florida to support the construction of its new facility in downtown Pensacola.[87]

In 2016, Levin gave $1 million to the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition to help fund the institute's 30,000 square foot research facility in artificial intelligence, robotics, human-centered computing, agile and distributed computing, and many related areas.[88]

In 2017, Levin gave $550,000 to the University of West Florida to establish the Reubin O'D. Askew Institute for Multidisciplinary Studies.[89]

In 2017, Levin gave $2 million to the Brigham & Women's Hospital to establish the Fredric G. Levin Distinguished Chair in Thoracic Surgery and Lung Cancer Research. The gift was given in honor of Dr. Raphael Bueno for saving Mr. Levin's life after he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.[90][91]

In 2018, Levin gave an $8 million home, including its personal belongings, to the University of West Florida. In honor of the gift, the school named its government department the Reubin O'D. Askew Department of Government, after Levin's former law partner and two-term governor of the state of Florida.[92]

In 2019, Levin gave 300,000 shares of Charlotte's Web Holdings, LLC stock to the University of Florida Levin College of Law. At the time of the announcement of the donation, the stock was valued at $6 million.[93]

In 2019, Levin donated $2 million to Dana–Farber Cancer Institute to establish the Fredric G. Levin Endowment in Translational Cancer Research.[94]

In 2021, Levin donated an additional $40 million to the University of Florida Levin College of Law through his estate.[95]

Levin College of Law

[edit]

The Fredric G. Levin College of Law at the University of Florida is named for him because of a $10 million cash donation he made to the school in 1999. The gift was the largest-ever cash donation to the University of Florida; the second-largest gift ever to a public law school when matched with state funds; and more than three times larger than any gift in the college's 90-year history.[79] The naming drew statewide attention because of the vehement criticism of having the state's prestigious law school named after a person many thought to be reprehensible and undeserving.[82][96][97]

One letter to the then dean of the law school read: "I have no problem with naming the law school in honor of an appropriate person, as other colleges have done, but naming our college after Fred Levin does no honor to him, to the institution, or its constituency, and demeans the efforts of the many deans, faculty, and alumni who have worked for so many years to achieve the vision of making our college one of the top twenty law schools. ... You degraded the image and prestige of the University of Florida College of Law by selling its good name to Fred Levin, a lawyer who has been castigated by the courts for abusing the rules, and is notorious for commercializing the practice, thumbing his nose at the bar, and otherwise manipulating the system."[98][10] In response, Levin told the press: "Two hundred years from now the great, great, great grandchildren (of my critics) will be getting their law degrees from a school with my name on it. It's a good feeling."[99] "It makes me feel great, when their great-grandchildren go up to that stage to get the law degree, they'll know that, dadgum it, that Jew's name is up there on the damn diploma. It's just gotta eat at them."[10]

In 2024, the law school gave an award to a student paper arguing that "We the People" in the US Constitution protects only white people, calling for the removal of voting rights for non-white people, and contending that white people "cannot be expected to meekly swallow this demographic assault on their sovereignty." The author of the paper has publicly called for Jews to be "abolished by any means necessary." The law school's interim dean, Merritt McAlister, defended the decision to honor the student with the award. [100]

Health issues and death

[edit]

In January 2016, Levin was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to his brain. The brain tumor was removed at the University of Florida Health, and he was treated for his lung cancer at Dana–Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital.[101][102][94][103]

Levin died from COVID-19 on January 12, 2021, after surviving stage 4 lung and brain cancer. He was asymptomatic for 10 days and died within 5 days of experiencing any symptoms. He was 83 years old.[104]

Publications

[edit]
  • Operations and the Rule Against Perpetuities, 13 Fla. L. Rev. 214 (1960–1961)
  • Wrongful Death and Florida's '10–20' Liability Policy -- The Twilight Zone, 13 Fla. L. Rev. 377 (1960-1961)
  • A Trial Lawyers look at No-Fault, 1 Miss. College L. Rev. 271 (1979)
  • Personal Injury Protection Coverage, Florida No-Fault Ins. Prac. (2d ed. 1979)
  • Attorney's Fees, Florida Civil Practice (2d ed. 1980)
  • Visiting Florida's No-Fault Experience: Is it Now Constitutional?, 54 Fla. Bar. J. 2 (1980)
  • Structured Settlements in Review: A Case Study, The Am. J. of Trial Advocacy Vol. 4, No. 3, pg. 579 (Spring 1981)
  • Effective Opening Statements: The Attorney's Master Key to Courtroom Victory (1983)
  • The Trial Masters, Strategy for Opening Statement: A Case Study pp. 158–196 (1984)
  • The Art of Cross-Examination: A Case Study, 9 Trial Diplomacy J. 1 (1986)
  • Plaintiff's Trial Strategy, Periodic Payment Judgment (1987)
  • The Winning Attitude, 2 Trial Practice News Letter 4 (1988)
  • A Plaintiff's Guide to Effective Opening Statements, 9 Verdicts, Settlements & Tactics (Sept. 1989)
  • Opening Statement, Fla. Civil Trial Prac. (4th ed. 1990)
  • Opening Statement, Florida Civil Trial Practice Ch. 8 (5th ed. 1998)
  • Closing Arguments, The Last Battle (2003)

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Fredric Gerson Levin (March 29, 1937 – January 12, 2021) was an American trial lawyer renowned for his work in plaintiffs' litigation, particularly his pivotal role in amending Florida law to enable the state to recover Medicaid costs from tobacco companies, resulting in a landmark $13 billion settlement in 1997. Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, Levin graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in 1961 and founded what became the influential firm Levin Papantonio, where he served as chairman. His firm's efforts in the tobacco case yielded substantial fees, estimated at around $300 million, which Levin himself described as excessive, and he channeled significant philanthropy into education, including a major donation that renamed the University of Florida's law school in his honor. An outspoken advocate against racial injustice and a manager for boxer Roy Jones Jr., Levin was known for his combative courtroom style and larger-than-life persona, though his career also drew criticism for its aggressive tactics and high-profile controversies. Levin succumbed to complications from COVID-19 at age 83, following a battle with stage 4 lung and brain cancer.

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Childhood

Fredric G. Levin was born on March 29, 1937, in Pensacola, Florida, to Abe Levin, a pawnbroker and concessions manager at the local dog track, and Rose Levin, a homemaker. He grew up as one of six brothers—David, Herman, Stanley, Martin, Allen, and himself—in a conservative Jewish household within Pensacola's small Jewish community of about 350 families, surrounded by 435 churches in a predominantly Christian Southern environment. Abe and Rose had relocated to Pensacola in 1928, where Abe became a prominent figure in the Jewish community, often holding the Torah during synagogue services. Levin's childhood was marked by a sense of being an outsider due to , which fostered resilience amid frequent exclusion as "the only Jew in the room." A self-described cutup and mediocre student, he initially anticipated joining his father's pawnshop business rather than pursuing higher education. The family endured profound loss when his brother Martin died of at age 17, an event that deeply affected , who rarely smiled thereafter.

University Attendance and Law School

Levin attended the , where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1958. During his undergraduate studies, he joined the fraternity and met his future wife, Marilyn, with whom he would marry and remain for 51 years. Following graduation, Levin enrolled in the that same year. He excelled academically, ranking at the top of his class after the first year and ultimately graduating third overall in 1961. His law school cohort included the University of Florida's first Black student, with whom Levin reportedly formed a friendship amid the era's racial tensions. Levin later reflected that law school served partly as a means to extend his time in Gainesville rather than a premeditated vocational choice.

Founding of Levin Papantonio and Early Cases

The law firm now known as Levin Papantonio originated as Levin & Askew, founded on January 1, 1955, by brothers David Levin and Fred Levin's future partners, with David Levin and as the initial attorneys handling a including . In 1956, D.L. Middlebrooks joined as an additional attorney. Fred Levin entered the firm in 1961 shortly after graduating from the College of Law, initially focusing on divorce cases before pivoting to litigation following a client's request for representation in a non-family matter. His debut case involved securing compensation for a woman whose home had been destroyed by fire, establishing an early pattern of advocating for individual plaintiffs against insurers. Mike Papantonio joined the firm in 1969, marking a key evolution toward complex litigation and contributing to its rebranding as Levin Papantonio, with an emphasis on plaintiffs' rights in and emerging mass torts. Under Fred Levin's influence, the firm shifted from general and to aggressive representation, including a pioneering case against a pharmaceutical manufacturer that highlighted defective . Early successes included multiple multimillion-dollar verdicts starting in , with Fred Levin personally securing over 25 such awards in wrongful death and injury claims. A breakthrough came in the late 1960s with Thorshov v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad, where Fred Levin achieved national recognition for a record-setting in a railroad case, underscoring the firm's growing expertise in transportation accidents. This was followed by a $18 million in 1970 against the Louisville & Nashville Railroad for negligence-related damages. By 1977, the firm negotiated a $52.15 million settlement in another Louisville & Nashville train derailment lawsuit, demonstrating strategic settlement tactics alongside trial victories and solidifying its reputation in high-stakes work. These cases relied on evidentiary focus on corporate and victim impacts, setting precedents for the firm's later mass tort expansions.

Key Litigation Victories and Strategies

One of Fred Levin's breakthrough cases was Thorshov v. Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1977, where he represented the family of Dr. Jon Thorshov, a physician who died along with his wife after a train released toxic anhydrous gas near their home, also injuring their young . The incident, which occurred on November 9, 1977, drew national attention due to the severity of the chemical exposure and Levin's successful prosecution against the railroad for in handling hazardous materials. This victory established Levin as a formidable trial lawyer and pioneered the use of structured settlements, transforming an $18 million into a $52 million long-term payout for the surviving through investments. Levin amassed over 30 verdicts exceeding $1 million during his career, including six surpassing $10 million, often in wrongful death and suits against corporations. He held national records for verdicts in categories such as the wrongful death of a , a , and a wage earner, reflecting his focus on maximizing compensation for individual plaintiffs against deep-pocketed defendants in litigation. Early in his practice, starting in the , Levin targeted pharmaceutical companies in groundbreaking cases, contributing to his reputation as a pioneer in holding manufacturers accountable for defective products. Levin's strategies emphasized aggressive persuasion, leveraging detailed accident reconstructions and on causation to demonstrate corporate or design flaws. He advocated for over early settlements to build and pressure defendants, often lecturing nationwide on techniques and verdict maximization while authoring instructional materials for fellow attorneys. By prioritizing structured annuities in high-value awards, Levin ensured sustained financial security for clients, a tactic he innovated to counter and extend verdict impacts beyond lump-sum payments. This approach, combined with his willingness to take on resource-intensive cases, yielded consistent multimillion-dollar outcomes while influencing broader standards in plaintiffs' advocacy.

Tobacco Industry Litigation and Settlement

In the early 1990s, Fred Levin played a pivotal role in amending Florida's Third-Party Liability Recovery Act to enable the state to recover costs for treating smoking-related illnesses from manufacturers. The amendment, advocated by Levin in 1993, expanded the law to treat the collectively as a liable third party for expenditures linked to use, overcoming prior limitations that restricted recovery to individual wrongdoers. This legislative change withstood legal challenges, including review by the U.S. , paving the way for Florida's against major producers. Levin, through his firm Levin Papantonio, assembled a team of attorneys to represent the state in the litigation against companies including Philip Morris, , and others. Filed in 1994, the case sought reimbursement for over $2.2 billion in outlays for tobacco-induced diseases, alleging , , and by the industry in concealing health risks. The suit advanced to trial preparation, with Levin's team uncovering internal industry documents revealing decades of deception regarding nicotine's addictiveness and health dangers. On August 25, 1997, on the eve of trial, secured a $13.7 billion settlement from the tobacco defendants, marking the largest recovery against the industry at the time and predating the national Master Settlement Agreement. The agreement required phased payments starting in 1998, totaling $11.3 billion after adjustments, plus $2.4 billion for attorney fees and costs, in exchange for releasing future claims and aiding the industry's defense against private suits. opted out of the 1998 national settlement of $206 billion involving 46 states, relying instead on its earlier deal, which influenced subsequent negotiations by demonstrating the viability of state-level pressure on tobacco liability.70234-6/fulltext) Post-settlement, Levin Papantonio pursued individual smoker cases, securing multimillion-dollar verdicts against , such as $9 million in the 2010 Gray case for and concealment.

Extralegal Pursuits

Career in Boxing Promotion and Management

Levin entered the boxing industry in 1989 by taking on the management of Roy Jones Jr., a Pensacola native who had recently won a silver medal in the light middleweight division at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Alongside his brother Stanley, Levin co-managed Jones through their company Square Ring Inc., aiming to shield the fighter from exploitative promoters and handle negotiations directly. Lacking prior boxing experience, Levin learned the business through hands-on involvement, securing key bouts such as Jones's middleweight title victory over James Toney, which paved the way for a multimillion-dollar HBO broadcasting contract—the largest for a non-heavyweight fighter at the time. Under Levin's management, Jones achieved unprecedented success, culminating in his March 1, 2003, title win against in , marking the first time in 106 years a former claimed the crown and the first from junior middleweight to do so. Levin navigated fierce competition from prominent promoters including , Dan Duva, and to arrange favorable fights and deals for Jones. The partnership with Jones lasted until 2003, spanning Jones's prime years and multiple world titles across weight classes. Beyond Jones, Levin managed other champions, notably Ike Quartey, who held the WBC title from 1996 to 1999. He also explored promotional ventures, attempting to launch a league with former politician and Dallas Mavericks CEO Terdema Ussery to unify fragmented championship belts, though the effort collapsed due to insufficient backing from sponsors like and . Levin's contributions earned him the National Boxing Manager of the Year award in 1994 and the Al Buck Award for Manager of the Year from the in 1995, the latter shared with his brother Stanley. These honors recognized his strategic acumen in elevating fighters' careers amid the sport's contentious promotional landscape.

Advocacy for Racial Justice

Levin supported efforts during his time at the College of Law, where he entered in 1958 alongside George W. Harper, the institution's first Black student; Levin defended Harper against racist harassment from peers and faculty, recognizing the ugliness of community firsthand. Throughout his legal career in Pensacola, Levin represented plaintiffs in , directly challenging Jim Crow-era discrimination and standing with in a segregated . He demonstrated commitment to combating by nominating a for partnership consideration in his firm during an era when such actions were uncommon. Levin's firm, Levin Papantonio, prioritized hiring and promoting minority attorneys, reflecting his broader advocacy for in the . His sustained support for the African American community earned him a citation from the United States and recognition as a chief in in 1999, honors attributed to his lifelong efforts in promoting . In later years, Levin contributed financially to organizations supporting Black alumni and law students at the , including a significant to the Association of Black Law Students, underscoring his ongoing dedication to racial beyond litigation.

Controversies and Criticisms

Conflicts with the Florida Bar

In 1987, Fredric G. Levin publicly admitted on his Pensacola television show to routinely engaging in betting, including placing wagers of $500 to $2,000, acting as a for others, and permitting such activities in his law office, while describing with a as acceptable recreational conduct despite knowing it constituted a under law. He further testified that he would continue betting if given the opportunity. The charged him with violating Integration Rule 11.02(3)(a) (conduct contrary to honesty, , or good morals), 11.02(3)(b) (commission of a ), and Code of DR 1-102(A)(1) and (A)(6) (violating disciplinary rules and conduct reflecting adversely on fitness to practice law). A found Levin guilty on all counts and recommended a public requiring personal appearance before Board of Governors. On October 11, 1990, the approved the findings, imposed the public , and ordered Levin to pay $1,814 in costs. Levin contested the sanction, arguing since the gambling statute was rarely applied to bettors rather than operators and citing testimony from other attorneys who admitted similar conduct without discipline, but the court upheld the 's determination. Levin faced three additional Florida Bar investigations for public statements deemed controversial, including criticism of in gambling prosecutions, alleged unethical remarks to juries in two 1996 personal injury trials (of which he was acquitted), and ridicule of a judge's ruling in a 2003 Sunshine Law case involving client W.D. Childers, which resulted in no discipline. These probes stemmed from Levin's outspoken style but did not yield further sanctions beyond the 1990 .

Involvement in the Jake Horton Case

Fredric Gerson Levin served as personal legal counsel to Jake Horton, senior vice president of , amid a federal investigation into the utility's alleged tax fraud, , and illegal campaign contributions in the late . On April 10, 1989, Horton, along with two pilots, died when their company plane crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff from Pensacola Regional Airport, just hours after Horton informed Levin that he believed himself to be the target of the probe. Levin, who was also outside counsel for (a subsidiary of ), was among the last individuals to speak with Horton by phone that morning, during which Horton reportedly expressed fears of threats against him. Following the crash, whose cause remained undetermined by investigators despite evidence of an onboard , Gulf Power executives suggested Horton may have intentionally downed the aircraft in , a Levin vehemently contested as an attempt to deflect scrutiny from the company's broader ethical lapses. Levin resigned his position with Gulf Power immediately after the incident and publicly accused the utility of Horton while withholding information, positioning himself as a defender of his client's integrity amid suspicions of foul play or corporate . In subsequent testimony during a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Horton's widow against and Gulf Power, Levin reiterated Horton's pre-crash concerns about personal threats and the company's role in the unfolding scandal. The episode drew Levin into , as his outspoken defense amplified public intrigue over the crash—linked by some to a pattern of suspicious deaths around Gulf Power, including the unsolved murders of utility-linked figures—and fueled debates over whether Horton carried incriminating documents in a recovered from the wreckage. While no evidence directly implicated Levin in misconduct, his dual role as Horton's advocate and former Gulf Power counsel raised questions about potential conflicts, though Levin maintained his loyalty lay with Horton personally. The case remained unresolved, with the unable to conclusively determine the crash's origin beyond mechanical failure or , leaving Levin's assertions as a key but unverified counterpoint to the utility's account.

Scrutiny Over Fees and Legislative Influence

Levin's pivotal role in amending Florida's Third-Party Liability Act in 1994 enabled the state to pursue recovery of smoking-related healthcare costs from manufacturers, a legislative change he helped craft with W.D. Childers to circumvent opposition. This amendment, passed discreetly due to pressures, formed the basis for Florida's against the , culminating in a $13.2 billion settlement in 1998. Critics raised ethical concerns about an attorney's direct involvement in shaping laws that positioned his firm to benefit from ensuing litigation, viewing it as a conflict between and private gain. The contingency fees awarded to Levin's firm, Levin Papantonio, from the tobacco settlement—approximately $300 million—drew significant public and legislative scrutiny for their scale relative to the state's recovery efforts. In late 1997, State hearings highlighted disputes over fee allocation, with Levin allocated an 8% share (potentially reducible to 6% via informal agreements) based on his claimed persuasion of Governor to authorize the suit. Proponents argued the percentages reflected contractual terms and individual contributions, including Levin's legislative groundwork, while opponents questioned the equity of such distributions and called for to resolve internal disputes. Levin later acknowledged the firm's payout as "totally obscene," amid broader debates on whether private contingency arrangements in state-led cases justified multimillion-dollar windfalls. These episodes fueled perceptions of , with the probing potential irregularities in fee negotiations and the lawsuit's origination, though no formal sanctions resulted specifically from the tobacco fees. The controversies underscored tensions between aggressive plaintiff-side and in high-stakes public-interest litigation, where Levin's strategies yielded substantial state benefits but amplified questions about fee proportionality and legislative self-interest.

Philanthropy, Honors, and Legacy

Charitable Contributions and Educational Donations

Levin established the Fred & Marilyn Levin Family Foundation, which funds 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations primarily in Northwest Florida. He also supported the Fred Levin Way Foundation, which organizes an annual free festival in Pensacola to connect families in need with non-profits offering services such as health screenings, job assistance, and food distribution, while gifting over 150,000 essential items like clothing, school supplies, and hygiene products each year. In 2019, Levin donated $2 million to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to create the Fredric G. Levin Endowment in Translational , aimed at advancing cancer studies through clinical and basic science integration. Levin's educational donations extended to the (UWF). In the mid-1990s, he endowed a professorship in honor of his father, Abe Levin, which had grown to exceed $400,000 in value by 2017. In April 2017, he gifted $550,000 to UWF to establish the Fredric G. Levin Center for Public Leadership, focusing on training future leaders in government and . In January 2018, Levin donated his Tanglewood estate in Pensacola to UWF, including the property, artworks, and collectibles, with a total appraised value surpassing $8 million, intended for use as an educational and event facility.

Awards and Professional Recognitions

Levin received the Perry Nichols Award in 1994 from the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (now the Florida Justice Association), the organization's highest honor for lifetime achievements in advancing justice through trial advocacy. He was inducted into the Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame, recognizing his record of securing more than 25 verdicts exceeding $1 million, including six over $10 million. Levin was named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the National Trial Lawyers, an accolade highlighting his contributions to plaintiffs' advocacy. In 1999, The National Law Journal designated him Florida's top civil litigator and one of the nation's ten leading litigators. He earned consistent inclusion in every edition of The Best Lawyers in America and membership in the Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation-only group limited to 100 of the most accomplished trial lawyers nationwide. In recognition of his boxing management, Levin received the 1995 Al Buck Memorial Award from the as Manager of the Year.

Establishment of the Levin College of Law

In January 1999, Fredric G. Levin, a alumnus and prominent trial attorney, donated $10 million to the University of Florida College of Law, marking the largest one-time cash gift from an individual to the university at that time. This contribution was matched by $10 million in state funds, establishing a $20 million endowment to support faculty recruitment, academic programs, research, and public service initiatives, including enhancements to centers for and , which generated over $1 million in annual income. The donation prompted the renaming of the college to the Fredric G. Levin College of Law, announced on January 6, 1999, with a formal ceremony on January 11, recognizing Levin's legal career and commitment to public education. The renaming elevated the institution's profile, enabling it to compete for top students and faculty while aiming to rank among the nation's leading schools, with the endowment increasing private funding to approximately $50 million. Levin, who earned his from the college in 1961, described the gift as an extension of his longstanding support for public higher education. President John V. Lombardi emphasized its "immediate and permanent impact" on the school's quality. The decision drew criticism from some legal and academic figures, who questioned whether a personal-injury lawyer like Levin—previously reprimanded by the Florida Supreme Court for publicly admitting to illegal sports gambling—merited naming rights for an institution central to the rule of law, and whether the university had lowered standards by accepting the donation over potential larger gifts. Defenders, including UF administrators and Dean Richard Matasar, highlighted the gift's transformative scale—the second-largest to a public law school—and its alignment with precedents for donor-named programs at UF. Levin responded by noting the inconsistency in objections compared to other named UF entities. Levin's philanthropy continued post-renaming, with a $6 million donation in 2019 funding scholarships, faculty positions, and campus facilities, further solidifying the college's resources and legacy tied to his name. Following his death in 2021, an additional $40 million estate gift supported ongoing endowments and programs.

Later Years and Personal Life

Health Challenges and Retirement

Levin faced multiple cancer diagnoses in his later years. In 1999, he was diagnosed with and underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy. In 2016, he received a diagnosis of stage 4 that had metastasized to his brain. To address the 2016 illness, Levin had a tumor surgically removed from his and received further treatments, resulting in remission. These health setbacks led him to scale back his involvement in trial work during the 2000s and fully cease practicing law by 2014. Post-retirement, Levin directed his energies toward , , and civic engagements in Pensacola, maintaining an active public presence despite ongoing vulnerabilities.

Family, Publications, and Death

Fredric G. Levin was born on March 29, 1937, in , into a conservative Jewish family headed by his parents, Abe and Rose Levin, alongside six brothers. He married Marilyn Levin, with whom he had four children: Marci Goodman (married to ), Debra Dreyer, Martin Levin (married to Terri Levin), and Kimberly Swartz (married to Steven Swartz). Levin later reflected that his intense professional commitments led him to neglect family life, leaving the primary responsibility of raising their children to his . Levin contributed to legal literature through articles published in professional journals, including works on topics such as the and wrongful death liability under Florida's liability policies. Levin died on January 12, 2021, at age 83, from complications of . A private service was conducted following his .

References

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