Lakeland, FL

Jennifer Gentry Fernandez

Jennifer Gentry Fernandez, was born in Jacksonville, Florida. After obtaining a Bachelors of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Florida in 1990, Mrs. Fernandez was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society. Mrs. Fernandez thereafter attended Stetson University, College of Law, in St. Petersburg, Florida, receiving her Juris Doctorate law degree, Cum Laude, in 1993. While attending Stetson, Mrs. Fernandez was a member of the College of Law’s award-winning 1993 National Trial Team and was honored to be named Champion of the 1993 Chester Bedell Memorial Mock Trial Competition as well as Best Advocate in the 1993 Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) Southeast Regional Student Trial Advocacy Competition. At graduation, she received the prestigious Ralph Harris Farrell Competition Award from Stetson College of Law. In 1994, Ms. Fernandez began her law career as an insurance and medical malpractice defense attorney with the Orlando law firm of Fisher, Rushmer Werrenrath, Keiner, Wack & Dickson. In 1997, Mrs. Fernandez joined the law firm of Maher, Gibson & Guiley, specializing in plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation and wrongful death claims. While associated with the Maher firm, Mrs. Fernandez worked with the Florida “Dream Team,” comprised of elite trial lawyers who, as the result of a ground-breaking civil lawsuit against The American Tobacco Company, ultimately recouped more than $11.3 billion dollars in Medicaid payments from Big Tobacco for the State of Florida. In 2003, after relocating their growing family to Tampa, Florida, Attorney Jennifer Fernandez joined her husband and co-founded what is now The Fernandez Firm Accident Injury Attorneys. Mrs. Fernandez remained “of counsel” to the Maher firm through 2004 and continues maintain an active trial practice in the greater Orlando area (Osceola, Orange and Seminole counties). For more than a decade, her law firm has represented hundreds of plaintiffs and successfully tried numerous personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. While her firm maintains a statewide “plaintiff’s only” trial practice, Mrs. Fernandez specializes in the handling of car accident claims, motorcycle crashes, medical negligence, nursing home abuse, slip and fall, traumatic brain injuries, other acts of general negligence resulting in personal injury, negligent security cases, as well as all personal injury claims and the civil representation of victims injured as a result violent crime. Throughout her legal career, Mrs. Fernandez has been an active member of her local, state and national bar and trial lawyer associations. She also has held numerous leadership positions and has been a frequent lecturer for these organizations since 1996 and recently Florida injury Attorney Jennifer Gentry Fernandez was inducted into the National Register’s “Who’s Who Among Business and Professional Achievers.”

Dante Weston

Dante Weston is a Partner at Weston & Pape Injury & Accident Lawyers. He received his B.A. from Brown University in 2002 and his J.D. from Stetson University College of Law in 2006. He is admitted to practice in Florida and the Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida. He is recognized by Super Lawyers, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and Martindale Hubbell AV Rating. He is also a member of the Palm Beach County Bar Association, Palm Beach County Justice Association, National Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, American Bar Association (Trial Evidence Committee), and The Florida Justice Association.

David C. Dismuke

David C. Dismuke is a Florida Bar board-certified civil trial attorney with more than 20 years of experience representing individuals and families during some of the most challenging times in their lives. His practice focuses on personal injury and legal malpractice, where he is known for his strategic litigation, relentless advocacy, and unwavering commitment to client care. Throughout his career, Dave has successfully handled thousands of cases in courts across Florida, earning the respect of his peers and the deep gratitude of his clients. His work has resulted in millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements-powerful outcomes that reflect his dedication to accountability and justice.

James Cunningham

James Cunningham is an experienced and aggressive Florida auto accident lawyer who has been fighting for personal injury clients since 1977. He is Board Certified in Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy and as a Civil Trial Specialist by The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has won numerous professional awards and is known for his tireless work ethic and commitment to obtaining recoveries for his clients.

Jason Neufeld

Jason Neufeld is the firm's elder law attorney, fighting to protect the rights of senior citizens. He is well-versed in elder-injury specific issues, including Medicare and Medicaid preservation. He is committed to assisting and protecting vulnerable members of society. He has created a separate firm for Elder Law related issues. Jason is consistently recognized as a top personal injury and elder law attorney among his peers in Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell (AV Preeminent Rated and awarded the Platinum Client Champion distinction) and Super Lawyers Magazine (2012-2023). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University and his Juris Doctorate and Masters of Business Administration (JD / MBA) degrees from the University of Miami. He is on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, North Dade Bar Association (former President, VP and Treasurer), and the North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. He is also on the Miami-Dade County and Florida Department of Health Initiative on Aging (Mayor’s Subcommittee) and Co-Chair of the Broward Bar Association’s Elder Law Committee. He was honored with a proclamation (Jason Neufeld Day) by the City of North Miami Beach in 2007 for his civic activism.

Kent Lilly

Kent Lilly was born and raised in Lake Wales, Florida. He graduated from University of Florida with a degree in Accounting and then from law school at Florida State University. He then returned to Polk County where he has practiced law since 1977 in the area of Personal Injury/Wrongful Death law. Mr. Lilly is an AV Rated lawyer, the highest rating established by Martindale Hubbell, the agency which provides attorneys’ ratings throughout the United States. He is board certified by The Florida Bar as a Civil Trial Lawyer. This distinction is held by less than two percent (2%) of lawyers within the state of Florida. Mr. Lilly is also Board Certified in Civil Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA), a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Florida SuperLawyers and President-elect of The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Tampa Bay Chapter. He has received the Professionalism Award from the Willson American Inn of Court, the Jerry DeVane Professionalism Award from the Lakeland Bar Assn and was named the Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Tampa Bay Chapter of ABOTA.

Kevin Humphries has since served as a Partner in private practice of his own for more than 15 years. He previously served as both a Partner for a local law firm as well as a Felony Prosecutor for the State Attorney’s Office of the 10th Judicial Circuit. Kevin Humphries as founding Partner of Lopez and Humphries, P.A. has practiced law on a wide diversity of cases both at the County and Circuit Court levels and in State Court in Hillsborough, Dade, Hardee, Pinellas, Osceola, Polk and Highlands counties. He has also handled cases in Federal Court in the United States Middle District Court for Florida in Tampa and Orlando. Kevin’s work has been showcased on numerous forms of media throughout the entire country. He has been featured locally on Fox 13 news, Bay News 9, ABC Action news, NBC, the Lakeland ledger and the Orlando Sentinel to name a few. He has been a guest speaker nationally on the Dr. Drew show. Kevin has had his jury trials covered live on national television on Court TV and True TV where he has been characterized as excellent by hosts and panelists alike. Kevin has a wealth of real jury trial experience that has been honed over the past 19 years. He has tried more than 70 jury trials to include capital murder cases, money laundering, complex commercial trucking accident cases, and motor vehicle crashes. His jury trials have occurred in multiple Circuits throughout the State. In his practice, he has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers which is an honor given to less than 2.5 % of practicing attorneys. He has also garnered verdicts in excess of one million dollars at trial and negotiated some of the largest settlements in (excess of 25 million), in the history of Florida for his clients. In addition to being a trial lawyer, he has served as an Adjunct Professor of law as well as a guest judge for trial team competitions at his alma mater Stetson University College of Law. It was at Stetson University College of Law that Kevin was a member of the National Championship Trial Competition Team and received the Ralph Harris Ferrell competition award for individual excellence in intercollegiate competitions. It was also at Stetson where he clerked with Chief Judge Demers from the 6th Judicial Circuit who has acknowledged Kevin in his DUI manual every year since its inception for his assistance in preparing this crucial manuscript. Off campus, Mr. Humphries acted simultaneously in several leading roles as Vice President for the Student Division of the Federal Bar Association, Stetson’s Liaison of the City of Saint Petersburg, Lieutenant Governor of Resolutions for the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association, Dean’s Assistant and Co-Chair of Stetson’s Social Committee. Kevin’s active role in his profession mirrors his involvement in voluntary bar and legal organizations. He has been President of the Lakeland Bar Association, President of the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, President of Polk County Trial Lawyers Association, Chair of the Grievance Committee for the 10th Judicial Circuit, Member of the Fairness and Diversity Committee for the 10th Judicial Circuit and a frequent Teen Court Judge. Attorney Kevin Humphries’ discipline, dedication, compassion and commitment to the practice of law coupled with his natural and learned skills, will make him a worthy advocate for you in your time of need.