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Firm partners David Fonvielle, Hal Lewis, Jim Messer, Allen McConnaughhay and Andrei Antohi possess a combined total of more than 100 years of legal experience in the practice of personal injury law. This unparalleled experience is brought to bear in every case handled by our firm, from the smallest to the most complex cases. Simply put, we PUT OUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO WORK FOR YOU!
C. David Fonvielle is a civil trial lawyer board certified by The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is AV rated by the Martindale-Hubble Law Directory, which is the highest rating possible. He was named the Tallahassee Best Lawyers 2009 Personal Injury Litigator of the Year and has been chosen by the American Trial Lawyers Association as one of Florida’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Mr. Fonvielle has also been named one of Florida’s Top Lawyers by Florida Monthly Magazine and is a member of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite. He was selected to Super Lawyers, a guide that recognizes the top attorneys in select states.In addition, he was selected to be included in Best Lawyers of America,
In addition, he was selected to be included in Best Lawyers of America, a definitive guide to legal excellence in the U.S. Mr. Fonvielle is one of one of Florida’s “Dream Team” of lawyers chosen in 1995 to represent the state of Florida in its historic and successful litigation against Big Tobacco. He is profiled by Law & Leading Attorneys, a listing of attorneys selected by their peers as someone to whom they would refer a close friend or relative. He graduated from Florida State University College of Law and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1972. He has served as a public defender for the 2nd Judicial Circuit and has been in private practice since 1974. A President’s Club member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Mr. Fonvielle was on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, a member of the American Bar Association, the Tallahassee American Inns of Court, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the Tallahassee Bar Association, where he served on the Board of Directors. He has spoken at numerous continuing legal education seminars and has guest lectured at the Florida State University College of Law and the Stetson University College of Law. Mr. Fonvielle annually attends specialized programs on handling personal injury cases and trial practice. He annually sponsors a scholastic award for achievement at the College of Law where he endowed a professorship. His practice is limited to significant personal injury and wrongful death claims. Mr. Fonvielle is married and has two
Halley B. Lewis, III, is a civil trial lawyer board certified by The Florida Bar who has worked in the field of personal injury litigation since his graduation from the University of Florida College of Law in 1990. He is a member of The Florida Bar and the Northern and Middle Districts of United States District Court, as well as the Tallahassee Bar Association. He is AV rated by the Martindale-Hubble Law Directory, which is the highest rating possible. Mr. Lewis is also a member of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He was selected to Super Lawyers,
a guide that recognizes the top attorneys in select states. In addition, he was selected to be included in Best Lawyers of AmericaBest Lawyer logo, a definitive guide to legal excellence in the U.S. He is also a member of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite. Mr. Lewis has handled and participated in the litigation andsettlement of hundreds of substantial personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout the United States and has had a large number of his results 
published in the Florida Jury Verdict Reporter. His record-setting verdict of $75 million for the death of a single mother was the third largest verdict of 1997 in the United States. Due to his undergraduate degree in finance, he offers the firm expertise in the financial aspect of analysis and evaluation of structured cash flow settlements. Mr. Lewis has five children.
James E. Messer, Jr. is an experienced trial attorney who is board certified by the Florida Bar and has practiced in the areas of general civil litigation and personal injury litigation since his graduation from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 1993. He is AV Rated by the Martindale-Hubble Law Directory; the highest rating awarded. Mr. Messer has been selected to Super Lawyers, a guide that recognizes the top attorneys in select states. In addition, Mr. Messer was chosen by his peers for inclusion in the Florida Trend Florida Legal Elite, recognizing the top lawyers in Florida. Mr. Messer joined Fonvielle Lewis Messer & McConnaughhay in 1999. He is a member of The Florida Bar, The State Bar of Georgia,
the Tallahassee Bar Association, The American Association for Justice, the Florida Justice Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. A former Army Captain who served as a helicopter pilot, Mr. Messer is admitted to practice before all Federal Courts in the State of Florida, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. His previous work as defense counsel for insurance companies in Florida, and while living in Georgia, provided him with invaluable insight into tactics of prosecuting the claims of the firm’s personal injury and wrongful death clients in both states. Mr. Messer is married and has three children.
Allen McConnaughhay joined Fonvielle Lewis Messer & McConnaughhay in 2005 as an Associate attorney, and has been a partner since 2010. Mr. McConnaughhay graduated from Florida State University College of Law in 1999, and spent two years as an Assistant State Attorney in Franklin and Leon Counties. During this time, he gained extensive courtroom experience as the lead prosecutor in jury and non-jury trials. In 2001, Mr. McConnaughhay began working for a statewide insurance defense firm, gaining an intimate knowledge of the strategies used by insurance companies in their claims’ handling and litigation. His experiences on both sides of the courtroom and his thorough understanding of the insurance
industry make him an invaluable asset to the firm and our clients. Mr. McConnaughhay is a member of the Florida Bar, the Georgia Bar, and various U.S. Federal District Courts in both states. Mr. McConnaughhay has been named as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, a guide that recognizes the top attorneys in select states. He is also an AV Rated attorney by the Martindale-Hubble Law Directory; the highest rating awarded. Mr. McConnaughhay and his wife Jen are the proud parents of two girls.
Andrei Antohi joined Fonvielle Lewis Messer & McConnaughhay in 2008 as an Associate Attorney. Mr. Antohi graduated from the Stetson University College of Law in 2004, and began his law career as an Assistant Public Defender in Pinellas County (Sixth Judicial Circuit). There, Mr. Antohi gained extensive courtroom experience defending individuals in jury and non-jury trials while handling caseloads ranging from misdemeanors to major felony crimes. In 2006, following his time at the 6th Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office,
Mr. Antohi spent two years as an Assistant State Attorney in Leon County where he prosecuted felony criminal defendants while continuing to sharpen his trial skills. His experiences on both sides of the courtroom make him an invaluable asset to the firm and our clients. Mr. Antohi is a member of the Florida Bar, the State Bar of Georgia, the Tallahassee Bar Association, the Florida Justice Association and is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Mr. Antohi is married and has two children.
