Ron Davis is an independent attorney with a general practice who operates law out of his home office in Arlington. He is also of counsel for Fitzgibbons and Pfister.
HIS NICHE?
“Primarily personal injury and commercial litigation. I prefer to represent small to medium-sized businesses. These areas are what I’ve handled since I’ve been out of law school. I enjoy civil trial work — anything that gets me in the courtroom. I never thought I would be a personal injury attorney but after my first clerkship, I realized it was a natural fit.”
WHERE ELSE HAS HE PRACTICED?
For seven years, Miami was where Davis studied and practiced law. He also spent one year with the firm of Wicker, Smith, O’Hara, McCoy, Graham & Ford and, subsequently, with Milton, Leach, Whitman, D’Andrea, Charek & Milton.
WHY DID HE GO SOLO?
“It’s something I always wanted to do. With Jacksonville growing the way it is, I felt this was the right time to do it.”
CHALLENGES ?
“Dealing with clients. Litigation is so liquid. So many things can happen; so many things can change. So, guiding them through that process, explaining what’s happening and why it’s happening is probably the most challenging aspect.”
WHAT’S MOST REWARDING?
“For the personal injury plaintiffs, it’s nice helping them recover and pay their bills.”
EDUCATION
The University of Miami is where Davis learned the legal trade. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maine and an associate’s degree in conservation law enforcement from Vincenne’s University in his home state of Indiana.
WHAT BROUGHT
HIM TO TOWN?
“I hated Miami. I loved the work but Miami was not where I wanted to raise my kids.’
HOW MANY CHILDREN DOES HE HAVE?
Suzanne and Ariel are his two stepdaughters. He shares one son, Ron III, with his wife Marcella, a paralegal.
BIG BREAK
In conjunction with another Florida law firm, Davis is developing a specialty in agent orange litigation. “In June the Supreme Court ruled that a prior case settlement did not include anyone that got sick after 1994. We’re going back to the legal defenses that were never resolved in the initial settlement. The litigation is still in flux.”
WHO WOULD HE REPRESENT?
“The two major ones are Vietnam veterans that were exposed to agent orange and those people who work for the chemical companies. They were either not aware of the lawsuit or did not manifest any symptoms.
These guys are now in their 50s and are just starting to develop the cancers, the type II diabetes, etc. Later, the FDA came out with a study linking the agent orange to a lot of other medical conditions.”
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS?
“Carcinoma, skin cancer, unexpected rashes, chronic skin problems and some children are born with spina bifida. A causal, scientific link has to have been established and the treating medical doctor must state that the agent orange did cause the condition.”
WHAT IS HIS STANCE ON PUNITIVE DAMAGES?
“Even though I represent a mixture of both plaintiffs and defendants, my thought is that the tort reform that has passed hurts only those that are truly injured. It will not stop the frivolous lawsuits. Most cases don’t settle for amounts above cap limits, anyway.”
RANGER RON
During his stint in the military, Davis was a game warden on Loring Air Force Base in Maine. As part of his training as a conservation law enforcement officer, he was required to take courses in criminal law. He enjoyed dissecting cases so much that he decided to become an attorney himself.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Hunting and hiking are his favorite sports. He also enjoys reading fantasy novels and the epic film “Braveheart.”
WHO DOES HE ADMIRE?
“Growing up, I always respected George Washington for the way he put the country’s best interests first.”
— by Monica Tsai