James Michael Papantonio (born October 24, 1953) is an American torts lawyer, television presenter, radio talk show host and writer. He has been inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame.[1]
Mike Papantonio | |
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| Born | October 24, 1953 New York City, U.S. |
| Education | University of Florida Cumberland School of Law |
| Occupation(s) | Torts lawyer TV and radio host Writer |
As a trial lawyer, Papantonio co-hosts Ring of Fire, a nationally syndicated progressive weekly radio program, with Farron Cousins, where he is referenced as America's Lawyer.[2][3] In December 2016, Papantonio began hosting a program on YouTube called America's Lawyer.[4]
Education
editPapantonio graduated from DeSoto County High School, Arcadia, Florida.[1] He subsequently graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in advertising, and received his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1982 and the bar of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 1983.
Law career
editPapantonio is a senior partner in the Pensacola, Florida-based Levin Papantonio Law Firm, a mass torts firm.[5][6] Within the lawyer community, Mike Papantonio is known for his work in mass torts, product liability, personal injury, and wrongful death cases, and has returned numerous verdicts of multi-million dollar damages.[3][7]
He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1999,[7] and has written several books, including the legal thriller Law and Disorder; Resurrecting Aesop: Fables Lawyers Should Remember; Clarence Darrow, the Journeyman; and In Search of Atticus Finch, A Motivational Book for Lawyers, as well as Defenses You Can Count on in an Asbestosis Case and How to Prove a Sick Building Case. He also co-authored Closing Arguments–The Last Battle with Fred Levin.[8]
In 2004, Papantonio helped launch a nationwide organization called Mass Torts Made Perfect, an organization for injury attorneys.[9]
Radio and video broadcasting
editThe radio broadcast Ring of Fire began in 2004 and was syndicated by the now defunct Air America Radio until January 2010. Papantonio was also involved at Air America as a member of the Board of Directors, and as a co-contributor to the New York Times bestseller, Air America, the Playbook, a collection of essays, transcripts, and interviews by network personalities released in the run-up to the 2006 congressional elections.[10] Papantonio has appeared regularly as a contributor on Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN.
His role on Ring of Fire was featured in the 2006 documentary Jesus Camp, in which he offers commentary on many of the scenes depicted.[3][11] According to DVD commentary by the film's directors, Papantonio was added to the film later on because they felt there wasn't any "tension" in it, and they wanted another viewpoint.[12]
On the weekly show America's Lawyer, Papantonio, a Methodist, often criticizes the Christian right. He has said that "I come from a pretty strong spiritual center, but it doesn't change the way I judge people. Simply put, the Sermon on the Mount makes much more sense to me than the frenzied rantings of America's new 'religious right'. They have become an element of American politics that threatens our sense of decency as well as our democracy." Papantonio has called Republican politicians "an entire collection of ass clowns."[1]
Controversies
editIn March 2024, Papantonio, who is an organizer and founder of the conference Mass Torts Made Perfect, walked back on decision to invite actor Mark Ruffalo as a speaker due to the fact that at the 96th Academy Awards Ruffalo expressed support for ceasefire after Israel's invasion of the Gaza a few months earlier.[13][14]
Awards
edit- In 2011, Papantonio was awarded the Perry Nichols Award, the highest honor given by the Florida Justice Association, a lobbying organization for plaintiff lawyers.[15]
- In 2014, the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Center for Social Justice of Temple University Beasley School of Law honored Papantonio for his outstanding contributions to social justice.[16]
- In 2015, Papantonio was inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame.[17]
References
edit- ^ a b Deitz, Corey. "A Profile of Radio Personality Mike Papantonio". radio.about.com. About Technology. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
- ^ "Podcast 008 – "America's Lawyer" Mike Papantonio". wegoted.com/. Ed Schultz Broadcasting. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Ring of Fire - Mike Papantonio". ringoffireradio.com. Ring of Fire. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
- ^ https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article230671814.html [bare URL]
- ^ "Levin Papantonio Home Page". Levin Papantonio. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
- ^ "Mike Papantonio - Attorney Profile". levinlaw.com. Levin Papantonio. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "J. Michael Papantonio". bestlawyers.com. Best Lawyers. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
- ^ "Mike Papantonio on Corporate America's Need to Control Media". ideacityonline.com. IdeaCity Conference. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
- ^ "Fransen & Molinaro - Representing the little guy". www.fmtrialattorneys.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
- ^ "Best Sellers", New York Times, October 8, 2006.
- ^ "Jesus Camp Shuts Down Due to Negative Response". christiantoday.com. Christian Today. 29 November 2006. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
- ^ Jacobson, Alan (February 2008). "Innocence Lost or Regained? The Clear-Eyed Vision of Jesus Camp". brightlightsfilm.com. Bright Lights Film Journal. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
- ^ "Mark Ruffalo Appearance Canceled By Legal Event Over Palestine Support". March 21, 2024.
- ^ "Mark Ruffalo Scrapped From Conference Gig Over His Pro-Palestine Views". March 21, 2024.
- ^ "FJA Founders Awards". Florida Justice Association. Archived from the original on 13 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ "Mike Papantonio Biography". Ring of Fire. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
- ^ Cousins, Farron (April 9, 2015). "Ring of Fire's Mike Papantonio Inducted Into Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame".
External links
edit
- Official biography from the Levin Papantonio website