Thomas F. Gonzalez is an AV-rated partner in the firm's litigation group. He represents companies and individuals in tort claims and business disputes. He has tried numerous civil jury cases, conducted administrative hearings and handled licensure investigations representing physicians, nurses and other healthcare practitioners before their respective professional boards.
Mr. Gonzalez is licensed to practice in Florida, Alabama, Texas and the District of Columbia. He has briefed and argued appeals in various appellate courts, including Florida's First and Fourth District Courts of Appeal and the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Gonzalez' first career as a Naval Aviator included deployments as a helicopter pilot in support of the NATO mission in Bosnia, counter-narcotic interdiction missions, and service in the Pentagon as the administrative aide to the Navy General Counsel. He earned an FAA Commercial Pilot Rating, and Instrument Rating, Rotary (Helicopter) and Fixed Wing. Mr. Gonzalez resigned as a Lieutenant in 1996. He has maintained his ties with the Navy by serving as the JAG on the Board of Directors of the Pensacola Council of the United States Navy League.
Mr. Gonzalez has been with Beggs & Lane since 1999 and has developed a diverse trial practice. He has successfully tried a wide variety of cases, including claims alleging personal injury and wrongful death arising from premises liability, aircraft and automobile accidents, medical malpractice and negligent security claims. He has also litigated and tried complex commercial disputes involving copyright infringement, aviation insurance claims, air ambulance contract disputes, electric utility contracts and homeowners' insurance.
Mr. Gonzalez has been certified by the Florida Supreme Court to mediate Circuit Civil cases. He is available to mediate pre-suit and ongoing litigation matters.
Mr. Gonzalez was named by Florida Trend magazine in October 2009 as one of Florida's Legal Elite's “Up and Comers.” In 2012, Mr. Gonzalez, after being nominated by the Florida Bar Board of Governors, was appointed by Florida Governor Rick Scott to be a commissioner on the First Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. In this role he works with fellow commissioners to provide the Governor with nominees to fill judicial vacancies.