Virginia M. Buchanan Levin Papantonio 316 South Baylen St. Pensacola, FL 32502 Email Year Joined Law Firm 1989 Areas of Practice Ms. Buchanan limits her practice to serious cases involving personal injury and wrongful death. She is the head of the firm’s medical negligence department and is co-chair of the firm’s class action department. Publications False Claims, Trial Diplomacy Journal. April 1993. Errata Sheets Aren’t Just to Correct Misspellings, Summation. December,1995. Jury Selection in 2002: Perils and Pitfalls; Moving into the 21st Century Computer Software and other Jury Selection Aids, AFTL Journal. November/December. 2002. When Defendants Don’t Pay on Time, AFTL Journal. January 2003. When the Hospital Has to Pay for a Doctor’s Mistakes, AFTL Journal (Submitted on behalf of the Women’s Caucus). September 2003. Introducing the Hon. Margaret C. ‘Casey’ Rodgers U.S. District Court of Florida, Northern District, AFTL Journal. January 2004. Summary of the 2003 Medical Malpractice Legislation; Major Impacts from the Plaintiff Perspective and From the Defense Perspective, The Summation. March 2004. Discovering Personnel Records: Who Can Object?, AFTL Journal. August 2004. Vioxx: Once Again We Learn That Neither Manufacturers Nor the FDA Look Out For The American People, AFTL Journal. November/December 2004. A Fresh Look at Anti-Dumping Claims: Why It Is Worth Your While, AFTL Journal. January 2005. When Defendant’s Seek to Recover Private Information From Plaintiff’s Non-Party Family Members; What We Should Do To Fight It, AFTL Women’s Caucus Article. September 2005. Kids Will Be Kids…Legal Liability for the Misdeeds of Minors: Who Pays for Junior’s Torts?, AFTL Journal. April 2006. Welcome to Our First Resident Federal Judge in Panama City, Northern District of Florida The Honorable John Richard Smoak, AFTL Journal (Submitted on behalf of the Women’s Caucus). April 2006. Judicial Misconduct – Is the Judge Misbehaving?, AFTL Journal. June 2006. I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watching Me, AFTL Journal (Submitted on behalf of the Women’s Caucus). September 2006. The Florida Bar’s Legal Fee Arbitration Program: Is it Right for You?, AFTL Journal (Submitted on behalf of the Women’s Caucus). February 2006. Jury Verdicts: Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Away, Women’s Caucus of the Florida Justice Association, May 2007. Misdiagnosis Occurs In More Than 1 in 4 ICU Deaths, article published on website of Ring of Fire Radio on 11/21/12. Chapter 4, Co-Author “Medicine and Law: When Two Worlds Collide”, Loboto, Emilio B, et al. Complications in Anesthesiology. Philadelphia, Pa.; London, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008. Recent Study Shows Malpractice Claims Decreasing, article published on the website of Ring of Fire Radio on 11/25/12. Judge Finds Dirty Medical Equipment Caused Vet’s Illness, article published on the website of Ring of Fire Radio on 11/29/12. Severe Injuries From Patients Falling Out of Bed Due in Part to Inadequate Prevention Methods Used by Hospitals, article published on the website of Ring of Fire Radio on 12/6/12. Pediatric Organization Reverses Its Anti-Thimerosal Position, Citing Lack of Evidence, Need for Vaccines in 3rd World, article published on the website of Ring of Fire Radio on 12/17/12. Smoking Deadlier Than HIV According to New Study, article published on the website of Ring of Fire Radio on 12/20/12. Better Watch Out, Better Not Pout. Holiday Heart and Energy Drinks, article published on the website of Ring of Fire Radio on 12/21/12. Surgical Malpractice Associated With Surgeon Inexperience, article published on the website of Ring of Fire Radio on 1/7/13. American Cancer Society Issues Controversial Guideline to Try to Reduce Lung Cancer Deaths, article published on the website of Ring of Fire Radio on 1/14/13. Pediatricians Welcome President’s Proposed Gun Reforms and Increased Mental Health Care, article published on the website of Ring of Fire Radio on 1/20/13. Primary Care Doctors Miss Excess Drinking By Not Asking Right Questions, article published on the website of Ring of Fire Radio on 1/23/13. National Trial Lawyers Article, January 17, 2013: American Cancer Society Issues Controversial Guideline to Try to Reduce Lung Cancer Deaths. 2013: Publication in Downs Syndrome Archives: Bipolar Drug May Benefit Down Syndrome Patients. Co-author, book chapter, Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit, 4th Ed. John Romano, Editor, 2015. “Getting it Off Your Chest: Why Allergan Breast Implants Are a Big Problem,” V. Buchanan and M. McBride, Journal of The Florida Justice Assoc., May/June 2020 George Washington University Law School, James F. Humphreys Complex Litigation Center, Drafting Team Member, Class Action Best Practices, 2021 Bar Admissions Florida Alabama United States Supreme Court U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama United States Court of Claims Education Law Degree, University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, 1989 Honors: Order of the Coif Honors: With Honors Honors: Bickel Scholar Honors: Scripps-Howard Scholar Honors: Received Several Jurisprudence Awards Honors: Member, Moot Court Team Honors: Finalist, Florida Annual Moot Court Competition Honors: Finalist, Benton National Moot Court Competition, Chicago, IL Honors: Phi Delta Phi B.S., University of Florida, Journalism College, 1985 Honors: Graduated First in Class Telecommunication Honors: High Honors, Academics, (Special Project Committee vote) Honors and Awards ALM and Martindale-Hubbell recognition as a 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Labor & Employment Law AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale Hubbell by peer reviews 5.0 out of 5 AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell “Judicial Edition” 2023 Bickel Scholarship Final Four Finalist, Alumnus of University of Florida Moot Court Finalist, National Moot Court Competition, Chicago, IL First Runner Up, Florida Bar Annual Moot Court Competition Florida Bar Member, Unlicensed Practice of Law Standing Committee (2023) Florida Bar Committee on Student Education/Admission to the Bar, 2017-2018 (Appointed by the President of the Florida Bar) Florida Bar Examination Top Score and Invited Speaker for Attorney Swearing In Ceremony, Tallahassee, FL 1989 Florida Bar President’s Award for Pro Bono Service for 1st Judicial Circuit, 2014 Florida Bar President’s Award for Pro Bono Service for 1st Judicial Circuit, 2025 Florida Bar Professional Ethics Committee Member, 2019-2022 (Appointed by the President of the Florida Bar) Florida Justice Association, selected by peers and leadership as Distinguished Fellow (2019) Florida Super Lawyers, 2006 – 2025 Florida Trend Magazine, Florida “Legal Elite” 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020 Award Jurisprudence Awards, Criminal Law, Legal Writing & Legal Ethics Lawdragon, designated one of top 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers – 2010, 2019-2023 Martindale-Hubbell – 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in ‘Personal Injury Law’ National Trial Lawyers (Top 100 Trial Lawyers) Nominee for the Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Public Justice Foundation, 2008 Order of the Coif – University of Florida Law School Public Justice – Board Member (Board Member July 2020-July 2023) Scripps-Howard Scholarship Selection to Florida Justice Association, ad-hoc committee on Claims Bill Reform, September 2015 Shands Hospital, Shands Homecare Advisory Committee, member The Florida Bar – Civil Procedure Rules Committee, July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2011, member (Appointed by the President of the Florida Bar) University of West Florida Legal Studies Advisory Board, 2015 Women Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers – Top 25 (2021-2022) Recognized by her peers in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for her high caliber work in Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. Professional Associations and Memberships Academy of Trial Advocacy, member American Bar Foundation, Fellow Board of Governors – Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, sustaining member AFTL Medical Malpractice Task Force, member Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, member American Bar Association, member, Subcommittee on Health Care American Bar Association, member, Subcommittee on Legislation Affecting Litigation American Board of Trial Advocates, 1999 – present, treasurer, member Association of Trial Lawyers of America, member Chief Judge’s Council for Children, member Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, member, Committee on Professionalism Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, member, Judicial Liaison Committee Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Foundation, 2000, member Escambia-Santa Rosa County Bar Association, member, Grievance Committee First Circuit Fee Arbitration Committee, member Florida Bar Association, member Florida Justice Association, member (Eagle Benefactor-2015, Senior Fellow Program Member – 2018, Distinguished Fellow – 2019; Director 2021) Grievance Committee to Investigate Process Servers, chairman International Society of Barristers, Fellow Northwest Florida Association of Women Lawyers, July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009, member Science/Expert Committee of MDL for VIOXX, 2005, member The National Trial Lawyers (The NTL) (Top 100 Trial Lawyers), Member, 2011-present Trial Lawyers Section 2017, Florida Bar Association, Member West Florida Regional Medical Center, Advisory Board, Women’s Life Center Women’s Caucus Steering Committee for Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, member Women’s Caucus Steering Committee, AFTL, 1996, member Mass/Class Action Projects – Appointments, Co-Lead Counsel: Plaintiff’s Steering Committee, Philips Recalled CPAP, Bi-Level Pap, and Mechanical Ventilator Products Litigation Co-Chair, Discovery Committee of Philips Recalled CPAP, Bi-Level Pap, and Mechanical Ventilator Products Multi District Litigation Co-Chair, Plaintiffs’ CPAP Litigation Group, American Association for Justice Perrine v. E.I. Du Pont De Nemour & Co. Co-Lead Counsel, Lead Trial Counsel for Medical Monitoring Segment of Trial An environmental class action in Harrison County, West Virginia for property cleanup, medical monitoring and punitive damages on behalf of Spelter, West Virginia class members impacted by a Zinc smelter, with jury verdicts of $381,737,522. IN RE: Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation MDL 2406 Appointed Co-Chair, Class Certification Committee, Subscriber Track Settlement (with Preliminary Approval) of Subscriber Track claims with important monetary and non-monetary terms, to include payment of $2.7 Billion Dollars and injunctive relief intended to benefit the class members. IN RE: Allergan Biocell Textured Breast Products Liability Implant Litigation MDL 2921 Appointed Co-Lead Counsel in litigation against Allergan, Inc., et al, for risks of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (“BIA-ALCL”) caused by its textured breast implants. Classes/Seminars Taught Psychology and the Law, Pensacola Junior College, 1992 Sexual Harassment & Legal Accountability, Monsanto Corporation, 1996 Medical Negligence, Estate Planning, Seminar for Physicians, 1997 Legal Ethics & Confidentiality, 1998 – 2000 Nursing Malpractice, Association of Operating Room Nurses, 1998 Be All You Can Be, Lincoln Park Elementary School, 1993 – 1996 Tort Reform Overview: How It Was; How It Is, Joe J. Harrell Trial Seminar, 2004 Professionalism and Ethics, Northwest Florida Paralegal Association, 2004 The Essential Role of the Legal Investigator In The Development of Damages for Mediation and Trial, Inner Circle of Investigators, 2004 Preparing and Presenting Your Expert Witness in a Contested Liability Case, AFTL, Tampa, Florida, 2005 Ethical Considerations for the Paralegal, Florida Justice Association seminar at The Breakers, Palm Beach, FL, June 14, 2007 Symposium on Medical Malpractice topics include “History of Medical Malpractice,” “Ways to Avoid Litigation,” and “How a Plaintiff’s Attorney Approaches a Medical Malpractice Case.” University of Florida College of Medicine Department of Anesthesia, June 7, 2008 Presentation, Mass Torts Made Perfect, Las Vegas, NV: “BCBS MDL: History, Status, Future, Discovery Planning & Cost Management” (with Ed Gentle, Esq., Megan Jones, Esq., Chris Hellums, Esq.). October 2013 Co-chair of Florida Justice Association, Masters of Justice program on Medical Malpractice, with Mark Avera, held September 2014 Speaker, 360 Advocacy Series, “Trial Skills from the Woman’s Perspective,” Topic: Maximizing Damages, presented September 2014 Northwest Florida Paralegal Association – The Anatomy of a Case Seminar, “Discovery Strategies within Medical Malpractice.” September 2014 Co-Chair, Florida Justice Association Medical Malpractice , Best Practice Series – 10 part webinar series on cutting edge medical malpractice topics 2015 Panelist/Presenter, Florida Justice Association Webinar Series, Best Practices in Medical Malpractice, Expert Requirements, May 2015 Panelist for Symposium sponsored by the Florida State University College of Medicine and College of Law: “Medical, Legal and Ethical Aspects of Pain Management in Florida.”, January 2016 Florida Justice Association Bootcamp, Webinar Presentation on Venue/Practical Considerations for Where and When to File Suit, 2019 Presenter, 2019 Annual Conference of Alliance of Women Trial Lawyers, New Orleans, Louisiana Present, 2019 Mass Torts Made Perfect Presentation “Class Actions: Nuts & Bolts” Presenter, Webinar, MTMP Connect, Europe-The New Frontier, April 2020 Presenter, Webinar PSBplaybook Series, Allergan Breast Implant Litigation, with Pete Kaufman of Panish, Shea & Boyle, June 2020 Presenter, “New Causes Of Action Outside Chapter 766,” Florida Justice Association, Masters of Justice Fall Seminar, September 23, 2020 Presentation at National Trial Lawyers Summit on the Business of Law, May 4, 2021 Presentation at National Trial Lawyers Summit on Handling a Class Action from Start to Finish, May 7, 2021 Presentation, “Medical Malpractice: Risk and Incidence.” Harvard Medical School’s 2024 Fredric G. Levin Lung Care Symposium, April 2024.
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