by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
Joel Toomey, an attorney with the law firm of Peek, Cobb, Edwards & Ashton, was recently elected to the Jacksonville Bar Association’s Board of Governors.
“I’ve been pretty involved with the Bar,” said Toomey. “Most recently, I’m chair of the Law Week Committee. I’ve also been involved in client dispute resolution before.”
Attorneys undertaking the task of client dispute resolution are referred calls regarding complaints clients have against their attorneys. It is the job of this committee
to address these problems before drastic action must
be taken.
“I’ve always had an interest in being more involved,” said Toomey. “This just seems like the next step. The Jacksonville Bar is a good thing. It promotes collegiality and serves as a liaison to the community to keep lawyers involved. It’s a worthwhile use of time, something I’d like to be part of.”
Toomey’s a member of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, the San Marco Preservation Society and Assumption Catholic Church. He’s even been appointed by the governor to serve on the Judicial Nominating Commission.
A graduate from Duke Law School, Toomey has spent over 20 years in practice. He began his legal career in the early 1980s when he served as a clerk for Judge Gerald Tjoflat of the 11th Circuit (also a Duke alumnus). Toomey practiced commercial litigation at Smith, Hulsey & Busey for four years before prosecuting criminals at the State Attorney’s Office for five more. Later, at Gabel & Hair, he handled a variety of cases including civil litigation, personal injury and commercial cases. These days, his work focuses on plaintiff personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse and some defense cases primarily for railroad companies.
“It seems like people get involved with the Jacksonville Bar when they are younger,” mused Toomey. “I’ve probably been in practice longer than those on the board. I’m one of the older, more experienced attorneys. Hopefully, I’ve gotten a little bit wiser to the stage where I’ve developed more judgment. My experience and Bar activity has given me a feel for what the Bar should be doing. I like to think that I’m professional, easy to get along with and well-thought of in the legal community.”
Toomey resides in San Marco with his wife Mary. They have one daughter, Lee, a student at the University of Florida, and two sons, Stuart and Patrick.