Ross Goodman

Ross Goodman serves as of counsel with the Levin Papantonio, meaning that he does not practice full-time, but rather provides support and counseling to the law firm as needs arise.

Ross came to the firm in 1987 as an associate attorney and became a shareholder in 1992. Ross left the firm in 1999 to serve as a “Super Adjunct” Professor in the Legal Studies Department of the University of West Florida. During this time, he was the First Circuit representative to the Florida Bar Board of Governors. He also chaired the Committee that formulated Rule 20 of the Florida Bar establishing the “Florida Registered Paralegal,” and represented the Bar before the Florida Supreme Court in getting the Rule approved. In 2006, Ross was elected as a Circuit Judge for the Florida First Judicial Circuit. He served for 15 years, handling all divisions of the Court except family law. In 2021, Ross resigned to return to the firm.

As a practicing trial attorney, Ross received more than ten verdicts, ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to one verdict for $19 million and another verdict for $6 million in damages plus $25 million in punitive damages.

He was also appointed by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to the Steering Committee on behalf of the Multi-District Litigation representing 10,000 persons with hemophilia against the manufacturers of an anti-coagulation drug. This representation resulted in a global settlement for all plaintiffs.

Ross is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbel, earned his board certification in civil litigation and business litigation, and he was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocacy.

In 2021, the Escambia/Santa Rosa County Bar honored Ross with the Professionalism and Civility Award, and named the award in his honor.

Ross received his Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Vassar College and his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law with Honors, and also being elected to the Order of the Coif and Phi Delta Phi. While at law school, he was an editor of the Florida Law Review where he published a comment on Dirks v. Securities and Exchange Commission, Eviscerating Rule 10-b(5). After law school, he clerked for U.S. District Judge Wm. Terrel Hodges, Middle District of Florida.

While practicing, Ross was President of B’Nai Israel Congregation, President of the Pensacola Jewish Federation, and a Board Member for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, which honored him with its lifetime achievement award. Ross also chaired the Student Education and Admission to the Bar Committee, was vice-chair of the Professionalism Committee, and appointed to the Professionalism Commission of the Florida Supreme Court. He currently serves on the Florida Bar Special Committee on Professionalism. He has lectured at various legal seminars on the topic of Professionalism.

As a Judge, Ross was asked to teach four times at the Florida Supreme Court’s Justice Teaching Institute, which is a week-long program for high school teachers from across the State of Florida. He also taught Juvenile Law at the Florida New Judges College.