Linnes Finney, Jr.
Partner

221 East Osceola Street
Stuart, FL 34994

(772) 283-8260
FAX: (772) 463-1205

E-MAIL: lf@williegary.com

 

Linnes Finney, Jr. has spent the last 24 years building an exemplary career in the legal profession. He is a partner with the Stuart, Florida law firm of Gary, Williams, Finney, Lewis, Watson & Sperando, one of the nation’s most distinguished, and his practice areas are Personal Injury, Product Liability, Commercial Litigation, Police Misconduct, Medical Malpractice and General Civil Litigation.

 

Mr. Finney was recently (August 2006) inaugurated as the 64th President of the National Bar Association, the nation’s oldest and largest bar association of color.  The organization’s network exceeds 40,000 African-American judges, lawyers, educators and law students.   As president, Mr. Finney has elected a theme of, “National Bar Association – Carrying the Torch, Leading by Example,” wherein he will assure that the organization continues to illuminate the path to an independent judiciary, provide the fair administration of justice as well as equal access to the legal system, expand the pipeline to the legal profession, and urge economic opportunities for all.

A native Georgian, Mr. Finney earned his B.S. from Georgia Southern University and his J.D. from the University of Florida (UF) in 1982.  His passion for the legal profession began early in his career, which was evidenced by him serving as President of the Black Law Students Association while a student at UF.  He later earned the UF College of Law Student Leadership Award.  Since that time, Mr. Finney has consistently given of himself by carrying out leadership and membership responsibilities with an array of organizations, including the Academy of Trial Lawyers of America, the Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, the Fort Pierce Teen Center Advisory Council, Alpha Health Services, Inc., the Fort Pierce Housing Authority Family Self-Sufficiency Program Coordinating Committee, the Florida Association for Community Action (FACA), and the Alcohol Drug Treatment Center. Further, Mr. Finney is a member of the Florida Bar Association and past chairman of Judicial Nominations and Procedures Committee.  He also served on and served as chair of the judicial nominating committees for the Florida Supreme Court (1996-2000) and the 19th Judicial Circuit (1992-1996).

Mr. Finney is greatly involved in his profession, and he is known as one to give of himself in many capacities to help further the cause of justice.  He is a life member of the NAACP and the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is a board member and trustee of the United Way of St. Lucie County, and a recent recipient of this organization’s Community Impact Award.  Mr. Finney’s other awards and honors include the Florida Bar, Pro Bono Service Award; the Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc.’s Robert Bryant Award; and Florida Head Start Association and Region IV Head Start Association’s Humanitarian of the Year.

Mr. Finney is actively involved in his church, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church in Fort Pierce, FL, where he has been a part of the Steward Board for more than 15 years.  He has also served as a youth mentor at the church.  Mr. Finney is married to Sonya’ Finney, and they are the proud parents of Chase and Clayton.

 

---

 

PRACTICE AREAS:           

Personal Injury, Product Liability, Commercial Litigation, Police Misconduct, Medical Malpractice and General Civil Litigation

EXPERIENCE:           

• Joined firm, 1982

EDUCATION:       

• Georgia Southern University, 1979

• University of Florida, College of Law, J.D. Degree, 1982

BAR & COURT ADMISSIONS:       

• Florida Bar, 1982

• Florida Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, 1991

• Certified Juvenile Arbitrator, 1991

• Federal Court, Middle District of Florida, 1994

PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT: 

• National Bar Association (President)

• Board of Directors, 1994 - present

• Region XI Director, 1994 - present

• Nominations and Elections Committee, 1994-present

• Academy of Trial Lawyers of America

• Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers

• The Florida Bar

• Executive Council, Trial Lawyers Section, 1995-present

• Board of Governors (non-voting representative) 1993-1994

• 19^th Circuit Judicial Nominating Committee, 1993-present

• Chairperson, 1995-present

• Vice-Chairperson, 1994-1995

• Judicial Nominations and Procedures Committee, 1994-1995

• Civil Justice Advisory Group/Pro Bono Committee for the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida

• Florida Chapter, National Bar Association, President, 1993-1994

• St. Lucie County Bar Association, President, 1993-1994

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: 

• St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce

• St. Lucie School District Speaker’s Bureau

• Fort Pierce Teen Center Advisory Council, President, 1990-Present

• St. Lucie County Head Start Policy Council, 1985-1988

• The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc.

• Various Select Committees 1990-Present

• By-Laws Committee Chair, 1988-1991

• Personnel Committee Chair, 1990-Present

• Board of Directors, 1988-Present

• The Housing Authority of Fort Pierce, Florida, Family Self-Sufficiency

• Program Coordinating Committee

• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Life Member)

• United Way of St. Lucie County, 1991-1994

• Alpha Health Services, Inc. (Substance Abuse Center)

• Board of Directors, 1990-1993

• Alcohol Drug Treatment Center, Volunteer Legal Services, 1990-1992

• Juvenile Alternative Services Program

• Volunteer Legal Advisor, 1992-1994

• Juvenile Arbitrator, 1992-Present

• Advisory Council, 1983-1984

• Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers’ People’s Law School Lecturer, 1989-1990

• Florida Association for Community Action (FACA), Inc. 1993-Present

AWARDS and HONORS                 

• The Florida Bar, Pro Bono Service Award, 1992

• The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc., Robert Bryant Award, 1991

• The University of Florida/College of Law, Student Leadership Award, 1982

• Georgia Southern University, Student Leader of the Year Award, 1975

• Florida Head Start Association, Humanitarian of the Year, 1993/1994

• Region IV Head Start Association, Humanitarian of the Year, 1993-1994

SOCIAL AFFILIATIONS:     

• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity (Life Member)

• Constitution & By-Law Committee, 1995-Present

• Southern Province, Board of Directors, 1995

• General Counsel, 1992-1995

• Fort Pierce Alumni Chapter

• Keeper of Records, 1990-Present

• Intake Chairman, 1982, 1987, 1990-Present

• Vice Polemarch, 1982, 1984, 1986-1988

• Polemarch, 1983, 1985

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS:     

• St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, Ft. Pierce, FL

• Steward Board, 1990-Present

• Youth Mentor, 1989-1992