Wilkes & Associates, P.A.

03/29/2023

On Saturday, March 25, 2023, Wilkes & Associates, P.A. joined other sponsors for the Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA)'s 14th Annual Pro Bono River Run and 19th Annual Judicial Food Festival.

The day started off a little bleak, but warmed up very fast so all were able to have a great time.

We are all a little eager for summer to get here, so our team went with a beach theme. We provided sunglasses, beach balls, and coozies to all the festival comers. Everyone devoured our beef and cheese empanadas, as well as guava and cheese empanadas. Children received blow pops in addition to our other goodies. We even gave out dog bones to our furry friends.

Once again, various members of the firm participated in the 5K to work up an appetite for the food festival. Of note, Wilkes & Associates' team placed second overall, with Franco Navarro and Michael Beehler placing first in their age groups, Amy Tanaka and Christa Maddick taking second in their age groups, Adam Schwab placing fifth in his age group, and Lisa Tanaka finishing seventh in her age group.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 5K and the festival, and to the HCBA for hosting such an incredible event!

07/01/2022

In observation of Independence Day, Wilkes & Associates, P.A. will be closed on Monday, July 4.

We wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July weekend. 🇺🇸🎇🎆

📷 Lance Raab Photography

05/30/2022

Wilkes and Associates, P.A. honors and remembers the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who fell in the line of duty to protect our freedom as well as their family members.

On this Memorial Day, we highlight Attorney Erica Roland’s brother, Captain Matthew D. Roland. In August 2015, Cpt. Roland made the ultimate sacrifice when he died in an ambush during his second tour in Afghanistan while protecting his teammates.

Cpt. Roland was a United States Air Force Academy graduate, a trained military static line jumper, free fall jumper, an Air Force combat scuba diver, and a joint terminal attack controller.

He was a decorated veteran with a Bronze Star Medal with Valor device and a Silver Star Medal recipient, the third-highest military decoration for valor in combat, received for his heroism.

On the day she lost her brother, Erica became a part of the Gold Star Families, a recognition given to the family members of those who died in service of our country.

As a Gold Star Sister, Erica now devotes her time outside of the office to the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), where she mentors fellow bereaved military siblings and spends time supporting deployed active duty military personnel through Military Missions, Inc., a local organization that creates care boxes to send overseas.

Wilkes & Associates, P.A. is grateful for Capt. Roland and all those who served and currently serve our nation.

To learn more about Capt. Roland’s story or the nonprofit organization benefiting military families, visit the link in the comments below and click on the hyperlinks throughout the post.

Pictured below: Attorney Erica Roland with her brother, Captain Matthew D. Roland.

05/27/2022

Congratulations to attorneys Lydia Wardell, Carly Koziol, Ryan Dwyer, and paralegals Laura Hutton and Jessica Rinaldi on successfully securing a Plaintiff's verdict for the family of a former U.S. Army helicopter pilot.

The team diligently represented the late veteran’s family during the seven-day jury trial at the Pinellas County Circuit Court in St. Petersburg, FL, over the course of the past two weeks.

Well done, team! We are all proud of the hard work you've put into the case.

04/27/2022

Happy Administrative Professionals Day to all Wilkes & Associates, P.A. team members.

We celebrate and honor you today and every day.

Thank you for all you do.

04/22/2022

TAMPA, April 22, 2022 -- A jury awarded $17 million in damages and $505,000 in punitive damages to the family of George W. Gage III of Tampa, who was struck and killed by Pinch A Penny driver, Benjamin Ehas, 34, on Bayshore Boulevard in January 2020.

The nearly two-week-long trial, led by Wilkes & Associates, P.A.’s trial attorneys Bennie Lazzara, Jr., Joseph H. Ficarrotta, Michael Beck, and Lisa Tanaka, with the assistance of trial paralegal Laura J. Hutton, took place at the 13th Judicial Circuit in downtown Tampa. The jurors reached their verdict on Wednesday, April 20, 2022.

The suit was filed on behalf of the Estate of George W. Gage III against Pinch A Penny, Inc., et al. on April 18, 2020. The Complaint read, in part, “Ehas drove the Pinch A Penny pickup truck under the influence, erratically, recklessly, negligently, and without regard for the safety of others […] struck George W. Gage III […] propelling him into Hillsborough Bay, causing his untimely death.”

During the past two years, the firm’s highly skilled team of attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants worked tirelessly to help the family find closure after the tragic and sudden loss of the family patriarch.

See the link to the full story in the comments.

04/14/2022

Spring is in full swing here at the office, and our team members showed up in their best for our annual "who wore it best" holiday dress-up contest.

Congrats to the winners, and from our Wilkes & Associates, P.A. family to yours.

03/28/2022

Wilkes & Associates, P.A. was proud to once again sponsor the Hillsborough County Bar Association Judicial Food Festival and 5K Pro Bono River Run at Stetson University College of Law's Downtown campus on Saturday.

The annual event supports and promotes pro bono legal services amongst members of the local bar association to help low-income residents of Hillsborough County.

This year, our team paid homage to the firm's heritage by offering local favorites, such as cubanitos, scachatta pizza, and guava pastries in its Old Tampa-themed booth.

Several team members took up the opportunity to compete for bragging rights in the family-friendly 5k along Tampa's scenic Riverwalk.

Amongst the firm's runners were paralegal Chris Rapozo, who won first place overall, followed by attorney Lisa Tanaka, who finished first in her age group, and Sean Gurdon, finishing third in his age group. Additional runners included attorney Ryan Dwyer and Timothy Kulig.

Congratulations to the HCBA for putting on another successful event, and thank you for a good time benefiting a great cause.

01/26/2022

Judge adopts $10-million-dollar verdict recommended by United States Magistrate argued during bench trial by Wilkes & Associates Attorneys Blake Fromang and Bennie Lazarra, Jr. against former nursing home chain owner.

Read more about it here: https://yourcasematters.com/2022/01/25/former-nursing-home-chain-owner-taken-into-federal-custody-on-labor-violation-charges-and-failure-to-pay-federal-taxes/

01/14/2022

In observation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Wilkes & Associates will be closed on Monday, January 17, 2022.

12/31/2021

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year from all of us at Wilkes & Associates, P.A.

📷 Lance Raab Photography

12/22/2021