James Michael Papantonio (born October 24, 1953) is an American torts lawyer, television presenter, radio talk show host and writer. He has been inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame.
As a trial lawyer, Papantonio co-hosts Ring of Fire, a nationally syndicated progressive weekly radio program, with Farron Cousins, where he is referenced as America's Lawyer.
Education
Papantonio graduated from DeSoto County High School, Arcadia, Florida.
He subsequently graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in advertising, and received his
Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law. He was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1982 and the bar of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 1983.
Law career
Papantonio is a senior partner in the Pensacola, Florida-based Levin Papantonio Law Firm, a
mass torts firm.
Within the lawyer community, Mike Papantonio is known for his work in mass torts, product liability,
personal injury, and
wrongful death cases, and has returned numerous verdicts of multi-million dollar
damages.
He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 1999,
In 2004, Papantonio helped launch a nationwide organization called Mass Torts Made Perfect, an organization for injury attorneys.
Published works
Papantonio's published works include:
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The Middleman - A Legal Thriller (2025)
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Suspicious Activity – A Legal Thriller (2024)
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Inhuman Trafficking – A Legal Thriller (2021)
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Law and Addiction – A Legal Thriller (2019)
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Law and Vengeance – A Legal Thriller (2017)
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Law and Disorder – A Legal Thriller (2016)
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Closing Arguments – The Last Battle (co-author) (2003)
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Resurrecting AESOP – Fables Lawyers Should Remember (2000)
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Clarence Darrow, The Journeyman – Lessons for the Modern Lawyer (1997)
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In Search of Atticus Finch – A Motivational Book for Lawyers (1996)
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Defenses You Can Count on in an Asbestosis Case
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How to Prove a Sick Building Case
Films and documentaries
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Oxy Kingpins (2021)
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The Devil We Know (2018)
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Beyond Pollution (2012)
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Warning: This Pill May Be Hazardous to Your Health (Yaz) (2011)
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Jesus Camp (2006)
Radio and video broadcasting
The radio broadcast
Ring of Fire began in 2004 and was syndicated by the now defunct Air America Radio until January 2010. Papantonio was also involved at Air America as a member of the Board of Directors, and as a co-contributor to the
New York Times bestseller,
Air America, the Playbook, a collection of essays, transcripts, and interviews by network personalities released in the run-up to the 2006 congressional elections.
[ "Best Sellers", New York Times, October 8, 2006.] Papantonio has appeared regularly as a contributor on Fox News,
MSNBC, and CNN.
His role on Ring of Fire was featured in the 2006 documentary Jesus Camp, in which he offers commentary on many of the scenes depicted.
On the weekly show America's Lawyer, Papantonio, a Methodism, often criticizes the Christian right. He has said that "I come from a pretty strong spiritual center, but it doesn't change the way I judge people. Simply put, the Sermon on the Mount makes much more sense to me than the frenzied rantings of America's new 'Christian right'. They have become an element of American politics that threatens our sense of decency as well as our democracy." Papantonio has called Republican politicians "an entire collection of ass clowns."[2]
Controversies
In March 2024, Papantonio, who is an organizer and founder of the conference Mass Torts Made Perfect, walked back on decision to invite actor
Mark Ruffalo as a speaker due to the fact that at the 96th Academy Awards Ruffalo expressed support for ceasefire after Israel's invasion of the Gaza a few months earlier.
Awards
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In 2011, Papantonio was awarded the Perry Nichols Award, the highest honor given by the Florida Justice Association, a lobbying organization for plaintiff lawyers.
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In 2014, the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Center for Social Justice of Temple University Beasley School of Law honored Papantonio for his outstanding contributions to social justice.
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In 2015, Papantonio was inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame.
External links
