Linda Wade

Managing Partner

Ms. Wade specializes in civil trial litigation. She is the first female board certified trial attorney in West Florida (only 1.5 % of attorneys are civil trial board certified in the State of Florida), and for the last 33 years she has successfully defended over 75 cases to conclusion at trial, ranging from wrongful death, products liability, bad faith and employment discrimination. Linda is AV rated and is also actively involved in advising private and public sector clients regarding issues concerning wrongful death claims, discrimination and sexual harassment to commercial property claims.

Distinctions, Appointments, and Bar Activities

  • AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, Florida (2000)
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
  • Vice President of Northwest Florida Chapter (2007)
  • President of Northwest Florida Chapter (2010)
  • Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), Senior Fellow
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance – (CLM) Member
  • National Board of Trial Advocacy
  • Judicial Nominating Commission
  • Member: 1st Circuit, 2001-2002; 2002-2006
  • Chairperson: 2003-2004 (Charged with recommending nominees for circuit and county judgeships in 4 counties; First Judicial Circuit)
  • Appointed to serve on the Florida Bar Civil Trial Certification Committee
  • Florida Bar (2004-2007) - Assistant Chair (2007)
  • American Inns of Court (Pensacola, 1991-1993; 1997-1999)
  • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS)
  • First United Methodist Church, Pensacola, Florida
  • Board of Trustees (2004-2007), Staff Parish Committee (2006, 2009)
  • Administrative Board (2010-2016, Chairperson 2011, Chairperson 2017)
  • Gulf Coast Diplomacy Council (Board of Directors 2015-2021)
  • Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge (Board of Directors 2017-2020, General Counsel 2017-2020)
  • Member of Civil Trial Certification Review Panel 2019, 2021

Reported Cases

  • Wallace v. Keldie, 249 So. 3d 747 (1st DCA 2018)
  • Heinike v. Beach Colony Resort Condominium Association, Inc., 145 So. 3d 834 (1st DCA 2014)
  • Stibolt v. Marcus Pointe Homeowners Ass'n, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 4087 (1st DCA 2015), PCA Opinion
  • Citizens Prop. Ins. Corp. v. Ashe, 50 So. 3d 645 (1st DCA 2010)
  • Mobley v. Innkeepers USA L.P., 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 12770 (1st DCA 2009)
  • Montgomery v. Dep’t of Children & Family Servs. 2007 Fla. App. LEXIS 5348 (1st DCA 2007), PCA Opinion
  • Dempsey v. Russell, 923 So. 2d 1249 (1st DCA 2006), PCA Opinion
  • Tom Hunt v. James Gordon Dular, 2005 Fla. App. LEXIS 18696 (1st DCA 2005), PCA Opinion
  • Norman ex rel. Estate of Cleff v. Farrow, 880 So. 2d 557 (Fla 2004)
  • E.B. Williams, Inc. v. Auto-Owners Ins. Co., 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 18501 (1st DCA 2004), PCA Opinion
  • Beachside II v. Beachside Two Condo. Ass’n, 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 6457 (1st DCA 2003), PCA Opinion
  • Lowry v. Florida Dept. of Corrections, 810 So. 2d 987 (Fla 1st DCA 2002)
  • Snaith v. Tropic Star Seafood, 801 So. 2d 929 (1st DCA 2001)
  • Worn v. Taylor, 2000 Fla. Ap. LEXIS 7294 (1st DCA 2000), PCA Opinion
  • Spring Valley Club Apartments, Ltd. v. Nichols, 729 So. 2d 543 (Fla 1st DCA 1999)
  • Nationwide Gen. Ins. Co. v. United Services Auto. Ass'n, 715 So. 2d 1119 (Fla 1st DCA 1998)
  • Jefcoat v. State, DOT, 584 So. 2d 167 (Fla 1st DCA 1991)

Education

  • Cumberland School of Law, J.D. (1986)
  • University of Florida, B.S. (1982)

Admissions

  • Florida
  • Kentucky
  • U.S. Northern Dist. Court, Florida
  • U.S. Middle Dist. Court, Florida
  • U.S. Southern Dist. Court, Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeal, 11th Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court