About Avera Smith's Oil Team
Avera & Smith is a law firm of experienced Florida trial Lawyers that focus their practice on personal injury cases of all types including, damages to Floridians and business in Florida as a result of the Gulf oil disaster. Our Florida attorneys are supported by a trained and efficient staff that is dedicated to providing you with assistance in all phases of your case until completion. The attorneys at Avera & Smith are known for obtaining some of the best jury verdicts and settlements in the North Florida area.
About Rod Smith
Smith worked for the Public Employees Relations Commission for
two years, representing the state in labor law cases. After this
time Smith returned Alachua County and went into private practice
for 15 years. The St. Petersburg Times wrote that since that time
Smith "crisscrossed Florida, representing an array of labor
unions–police officers and firefighters, electrical workers,
carpenters, painters and pipe fitters. He argued on behalf of large
vegetable farmers and dairies and nurserymen. He won settlements
against the likes of DuPont and, occasionally, represented criminal
defendants...He established himself as a skillful litigator."
In 1992, Smith was recruited by a group of sheriffs to seek the
office of State Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit. Smith was
elected and during his first term successfully prosecuted serial
killer Danny Rolling, the "Gainesville Ripper." Re-elected in 1996,
Smith created the circuit's first special prosecutions unit, which
dealt with crimes against women and children, and created an
environmental crime unit. See more on
Rod
Smith
About Mark Avera
Florida personal injury and commercial lawyer, Mark Avera is the managing partner of Avera & Smith and, together with his brother Lance, manages the firm. Mark primarily handles major injury cases in the areas of medical malpractice and wrongful death. He has obtained some of the largest verdicts in North Florida in medical malpractice and wrongful death cases. In past years, he has been very active in litigating and trying to verdict motor vehicle crashes involving semi tractor trailers. He is one of the few lawyers in Florida to have tried to verdict multiple police pursuit cases involving the serious injury or death of an innocent party. Many of his verdicts have exceeded the amount of available insurance available to the defendants. He has obtained many large verdicts in jury trials across Florida and negotiated even more settlements in the same range. Some of his trial and settlement accomplishments can be found on the firm's website. See more on Mark Avera
About Lance Avera
Lance F. Avera is a board certified Florida workers' compensation lawyer certified by the Florida Bar. Lance has served as chair on the workers' compensation section of the Florida Justice Association. His practice focuses primarily on workers' compensation and personal injury cases. Lance has obtained numerous six-figure workers' compensation settlements and has obtained several seven-figure workers' compensation settlements. He is a member of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Bar Association, the Florida Justice Association, and the American Association for Justice. He is currently licensed to practice law in the State of Florida, Georgia, and the District of Columbia.. See more on Lance Avera
About Todd Hingson
Todd Hingson has been a member of the Florida Bar for nine years. In 2000 and 2001, Todd worked for the Jacksonville law firm of Coffman, Coleman, Andrews & Grogan primarily in the area of employment and labor defense. From 2001 to 2008, Todd served as an Assistant State Attorney in both the Eighth and Third Judicial Circuits. In his career as a prosecutor, Todd handled thousands of cases and prosecuted virtually every type of criminal offense. For the last four years, Todd prosecuted Special Prosecution Cases, including Homicides, Child Sex Offenses and other high profile cases. Todd has successfully prosecuted some of North Central Florida's most dangerous offenders. Todd is currently serving a term as President of the Third Judicial Circuit Bar Association and has been a member of the bar association Executive Board since 2005. See more on Todd Hingson
About Tina Seifert
Tina Seifert served as a community correctional officer in Colorado. In 1990, she began working as probation and parole officer for the State of Florida. She continued in her career by becoming a state prosecutor in the Third Judicial Circuit. During her time as a prosecutor, Tina handled thousands of cases and prosecuted almost every type of criminal offense from petit theft to first-degree murder. Tina's most recent position was as the supervisor of the Lake City Field Office where she was actively involved in the day-to-day prosecution of all homicide and child sexual abuse cases. In the private sector, Tina handled family law matters, criminal defense, and general civil. Tina is currently an active member of the Judicial Circuit Bar Association and had previously served as President of the Judicial Circuit Bar Association. See more on Tina Seifert