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Medical Malpractice

Top-Ranked Medical Malpractice Lawyers in Tallahassee, Florida

Updated Methodology LexRank v1.225 lawyers rankedReviewed by LexRanked editorial team

Summary

As of November 1, 2026, the top-ranked medical malpractice lawyers in Tallahassee, Florida are Donald Mark Hinkle (LexRank 80.25), Maria A Santoro “Maria” (80.00) and Hubert R Brown (80.00).

This ranking lists 25 medical malpractice lawyers in Tallahassee, Florida, in order of their LexRank score, calculated from their Florida Bar records and other cited sources. Their experience ranges from 6 to 52 years in practice. 3 of the 25 list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile.

Lawyers ranked
25
Fully verified
25 of 25

The ranking

Ordered by organic LexRank score; paid placements are labelled and never affect a position. How we rank

  1. No change

    Donald Mark Hinkle

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 46 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #1?

    Ranks #1 with 80.25: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Reputation (4/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Reputation 4/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  2. No change

    Maria A Santoro “Maria”

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 39 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #2?

    Ranks #2 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20). 0.25 points behind #1, mostly reputation.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    0.25 points behind #1 (Donald Mark Hinkle): Reputation −4.

  3. No change

    Hubert R Brown

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 32 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #3?

    Ranks #3 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  4. No change

    Richard Berry Collins “Dick”

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 52 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #4?

    Ranks #4 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  5. No change

    Lisa Barclay Fountain

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #5?

    Ranks #5 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  6. No change

    Ryan Michael Garrett

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 31 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #6?

    Ranks #6 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  7. No change

    Scott Edward Gwartney

    Brooks LeBoeuf Foster Gwartney & Hobbs · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 35 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #7?

    Ranks #7 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  8. No change

    Dean Robert Leboeuf

    Brooks LeBoeuf Foster Gwartney & Hobbs · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 44 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #8?

    Ranks #8 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  9. No change

    Carrie Mendrick Roane

    Fasig Brooks · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 26 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #9?

    Ranks #9 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  10. No change

    Halley Michelle Stephens

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 28 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #10?

    Ranks #10 with 80.00: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Data quality (10/10); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
  11. No change

    Harold R Mardenborough Jr. “Hal”

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 34 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #11?

    Ranks #11 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.40 points behind #10, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    1.40 points behind #10 (Halley Michelle Stephens): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  12. No change

    Miguel A Olivella Jr. “Mike”

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 48 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #12?

    Ranks #12 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  13. No change

    Donald W Hardeman Jr.

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 51 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #13?

    Ranks #13 with 78.60: strongest in Experience (30/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20).

    Strongest

    • Experience 30/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  14. No change

    Warren James Pearson

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 22 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #14?

    Ranks #14 with 75.00: strongest in Experience (26.4/30) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20). 3.60 points behind #13, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Experience 26.4/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    3.60 points behind #13 (Donald W Hardeman Jr.): Experience −3.6.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  15. No change

    Cameron Michael Kennedy

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 20 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #15?

    Ranks #15 with 74.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20). 1.00 points behind #14, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)

    1.00 points behind #14 (Warren James Pearson): Experience −2.4.

  16. No change

    Dana Nelson Brooks

    Fasig Brooks · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 18 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #16?

    Ranks #16 with 71.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (21.6/30). 2.40 points behind #15, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 23.9)

    2.40 points behind #15 (Cameron Michael Kennedy): Experience −2.4.

  17. No change

    Mark Walser Nonni

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 18 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #17?

    Ranks #17 with 71.60: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (21.6/30).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 21.6/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
  18. No change

    Elizabeth Minor Van den Berg

    Guilday Law, P.A. · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 15 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #18?

    Ranks #18 with 68.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (18/30). 3.60 points behind #17, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 23.9)

    3.60 points behind #17 (Mark Walser Nonni): Experience −3.6.

  19. No change

    Brian O’Shea Finnerty

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #19?

    Ranks #19 with 66.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30). 1.20 points behind #18, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 23.9)

    1.20 points behind #18 (Elizabeth Minor Van den Berg): Experience −1.2.

  20. No change

    Luke John Grabowski

    Pennington, P.A. · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 14 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #20?

    Ranks #20 with 66.80: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (16.8/30).

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 16.8/30 (ranking avg 23.9)
  21. No change

    Jennifer L. W. Seymore

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 15 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #21?

    Ranks #21 with 66.60: strongest in Professional credentials (15/15) and Local relevance (5/5); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (18/30). 0.20 points behind #20, mostly data quality.

    Strongest

    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)
    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 18/30 (ranking avg 23.9)

    0.20 points behind #20 (Luke John Grabowski): Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  22. No change

    Chase Edward Boswell

    Pennington, P.A. · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 10 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #22?

    Ranks #22 with 62.00: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (12/30). 4.60 points behind #21, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 12/30 (ranking avg 23.9)

    4.60 points behind #21 (Jennifer L. W. Seymore): Experience −6.

  23. No change

    Ryan Joshua Andrews

    Andrews Law Firm · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 13 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #23?

    Ranks #23 with 60.45: strongest in Local relevance (5/5) and Practice-area relevance (20/20); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (15.6/30). 1.55 points behind #22, mostly professional credentials.

    Strongest

    • Local relevance 5/5 (ranking avg 5)
    • Practice-area relevance 20/20 (ranking avg 20)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 15.6/30 (ranking avg 23.9)

    1.55 points behind #22 (Chase Edward Boswell): Professional credentials −3.8, Data quality −1.4.

    Not on record (scores 0, never estimated): website.

  24. No change

    Jessica Emeline Keeler

    Independent practice · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 7 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #24?

    Ranks #24 with 58.40: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (8.4/30). 2.05 points behind #23, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 8.4/30 (ranking avg 23.9)

    2.05 points behind #23 (Ryan Joshua Andrews): Experience −7.2.

  25. No change

    David Aaron Weisz

    Andrews Law Firm · Tallahassee, FL

    Verified
    • 6 years experience
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Bar status verified
    View profile
    Why #25?

    Ranks #25 with 57.20: strongest in Data quality (10/10) and Professional credentials (15/15); held back by Reputation (0/20) and Experience (7.2/30). 1.20 points behind #24, mostly experience.

    Strongest

    • Data quality 10/10 (ranking avg 9.7)
    • Professional credentials 15/15 (ranking avg 14.7)

    Held back by

    • Reputation 0/20 (ranking avg 0.2)
    • Experience 7.2/30 (ranking avg 23.9)

    1.20 points behind #24 (Jessica Emeline Keeler): Experience −1.2.

Data sources behind the scores

Every score on this page is calculated from facts backed by these sources. Each profile shows which source supports which fact and when it was last checked.

  • floridabar.org · Official / regulatory · 25 profile pages250 facts for 25 lawyers

Medical Malpractice market in Tallahassee

LexRanked tracks 25 lawyers and 5 law firms in medical malpractice law in Tallahassee, Florida. 25 of the lawyers have verified professional data. Data verified October 30, 2026.

Lawyers
25
Law firms
5
Verified professional data
25 of 25
Average rating
Withheldtoo few sourced ratings
Median review count
Withheldtoo few sourced counts
Median experience
26 years25 lawyers

Calculated by LexRanked from its own records on ; data verified . Ratings and review counts count only when backed by a source; figures from fewer than three profiles are withheld. All lawyers in Tallahassee

What sets these Tallahassee lawyers apart

Every lawyer in this ranking has a The Florida Bar license verified as eligible to practice, and every fact shown links to its source. The figures below come from each lawyer's Florida Bar profile.

Fact about the 25 ranked lawyers Figure
Years in practice 6 to 52 (median 26)
Languages besides English Spanish (3), Italian (1)
License status with The Florida Bar Eligible to practice, verified for every lawyer
Most common law school Florida State University College of Law (12 lawyers)

Who is included in this ranking?

Lawyers eligible to practice in Florida, with a Tallahassee office address and medical malpractice as a practice area on record. It compares 25 medical malpractice lawyers, using only facts with a cited source. The Florida Bar does not board-certify lawyers in medical malpractice, so the practice area is the one each lawyer lists on their Florida Bar profile, which The Florida Bar does not review. How we rank.

Florida rules to know

A Florida medical malpractice claim must be filed within 2 years of discovering the injury and never later than 4 years, after a presuit investigation with a medical expert opinion and a 90-day notice period.

Rule What it means
Filing deadline 2 years from the incident or from when it was or should have been discovered, and no later than 4 years from the incident; claims for a minor may be brought until the child's eighth birthday (Fla. Stat. § 95.11)
Expert opinion The claimant must investigate first and send a verified written medical expert opinion with the notice of intent (§ 766.203)
Notice of intent Before filing suit, the claimant must notify each prospective defendant of the intent to sue (§ 766.106)
90-day presuit period No lawsuit may be filed for 90 days after the notice; the defendant must then reject the claim, offer to settle or offer arbitration (§ 766.106)
Lawyer fees With a contingency fee, the patient keeps at least 70% of the first $250,000 and 90% of any damages above that, after costs (Fla. Const. art. I, § 26)
Court Where cases are heard
State court circuit Leon County is in Florida's Second Judicial Circuit

How to choose among these lawyers

Confirm the license, ask who will handle your matter, and get the fee terms in writing before you sign.

  1. Look up the lawyer in The Florida Bar's directory and check the bar number shown on their LexRanked profile.
  2. Ask whether the lawyer you meet will handle your matter personally, and how many matters like yours they have handled recently.
  3. Ask how they charge and what costs are extra, and get the agreement in writing.
  4. If you prefer to work in another language, check the languages listed on each profile.

Further reading

Sources for the rules above

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a medical malpractice claim in Florida?

Within 2 years from the incident or from when it was or should have been discovered, and no later than 4 years from the incident, under section 95.11. A claim for a minor may be brought until the child's eighth birthday.

What must happen before a medical malpractice lawsuit is filed?

The claimant investigates, obtains a verified written opinion from a medical expert and notifies each prospective defendant (sections 766.203 and 766.106). No suit may be filed for 90 days after the notice.

How much can a lawyer take from a medical malpractice award in Florida?

With a contingency fee, the patient keeps at least 70% of the first $250,000 and 90% of damages above $250,000, after reasonable costs, under article I, section 26 of the Florida Constitution.

What happens during the 90-day presuit period?

The doctor or hospital and its insurer review the claim and must respond by rejecting it, offering to settle or offering to arbitrate damages (section 766.106).

Which court handles cases in Tallahassee?

State court cases in Leon County are heard in Florida's Second Judicial Circuit.

Are there Spanish-speaking medical malpractice lawyers in Tallahassee?

Yes. 3 of the 25 ranked lawyers list Spanish on their Florida Bar profile. Each LexRanked profile shows the languages on record.

How is this ranking ordered?

By the LexRank score, calculated only from facts with a cited source: experience, practice-area relevance, awards on record such as board certification, professional credentials, data quality and location. Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Payment never changes a position.

Do client reviews affect the LexRank score?

Client reviews do not affect the LexRank score: neither star ratings nor the number of reviews is scored. Reviews are shown on profiles for information only, and Reputation counts only awards on record, such as board certification. How we rank

Which lawyers are verified?

25 of the 25 ranked lawyers have fully verified profiles: Donald Mark Hinkle, Maria A Santoro “Maria”, Hubert R Brown, Richard Berry Collins “Dick” and Lisa Barclay Fountain and others.

What is the difference between the top two lawyers?

Donald Mark Hinkle scores 80.25 and Maria A Santoro “Maria” 80.00, a gap of 0.25 points, mostly in reputation. Compare them side by side

About this ranking

Last updated
Methodology
LexRank v1.2 - deterministic, reproducible scoring
Editorial review
LexRanked editorial team,
Independence
Positions are never sold. Paid placements, if any, are labelled and do not affect scores.

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