Attorney W. Riley Allen
In both 2007 and 2008, Riley was named as one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America by Lawdragon Magazine, whose extensive research covered all areas of the law and attempted to identify, from more than a million nationwide, the leading 500 lawyers in the country. Only 22 lawyers in Florida were named to this prestigious list. Riley previously had been named as one the 500 Leading Plaintiffs' Lawyers in the country. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, one of the highest and most coveted ratings possible for legal ability and ethical standards, and is identified in its Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is also listed in Outstanding Lawyers in America and has been named as one of Florida's "Super Lawyers." Riley is listed in every major Who's Who publication available. He has been a long-standing member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, for those who have achieved more than sixty settlements or verdicts in excess of one million dollars. Most recently, he achieved a $13,000,000 result in a bad faith insurance case, which the insurance carrier could have resolved for $300,000 or less, had it acted appropriately.
Career
After independently financing his undergraduate and law school education through scholarships and employment, and graduating with honors, Riley began his career as an insurance defense trial lawyer with the very respected firm of Pitts, Eubanks & Ross, P.A. In 1985, after only three years, he did what he had always planned to do and founded the present firm. It was founded on the principle that "word of mouth" is the most credible way to build the reputation of any business. Riley's practice is devoted to complex civil litigation related to insurance, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, dangerous products, consumer fraud, and business matters. The results achieved speak for themselves. He has lectured throughout the State of Florida as a continuing legal education speaker on topics involving medicine, claims handling, business fraud, insurance, and settlement and litigation techniques. An accomplished and talented trial lawyer, he has also served as a trial competition judge on behalf of the American Association for Justice, the Florida Justice Association, and The Florida Bar.
Riley is admitted to practice throughout the State of Florida and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth and Eleventh Circuits, as well as before the United States Supreme Court. He is also admitted to practice in the State of Nevada. He is an honors graduate of the University of Central Florida and Florida State University, where he received his law degree. He has authored numerous publications, dating back to his undergraduate studies, and including, in the legal arena, "Insurance Litigation in Florida," "The Bad Faith Insurance Manual," and "How to Handle, Initiate, Litigate, Try, and Win the Complex Case." He has recently been recruited by a major publisher to author a definitive textbook on civil litigation and trial techniques. And, his professional writings have not been limited to the legal field, as he recently co-authored a publication in the field of neurology with John Rothrock, M.D., one of the most respected neurologists in the country and a Professor of Neurology at the University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB).
Giving back
Realizing the benefit of hard work, Riley has not relinquished his responsibility to give back to society. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he volunteered his time as a juvenile counselor. Immediately after becoming a lawyer, he began volunteering as a legal guardian for underprivileged and abused children. He has received numerous Awards of Merit from the Orange County Bar Association. In 1993, he was given the Award of Excellence; and, in 1997, he was named the recipient of the first-ever Guardian Ad Litem of the Year Award provided by the Orange County Bar Association. Since 1982, Riley has served as the legal guardian for more than 75 children.
In addition to being active in professional organizations, Riley has also been very active in charitable organizations, including the Orlando Brain Injury Support Group, the Florida Head Injury Foundation, the National Head Injury Foundation, the Salvation Army Bed and Bread Club, the National Stroke Association, The Good Samaritan Fund, the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, and numerous others. He has also chaired or co-chaired many fundraising activities for various charitable, religious, and educational organizations.
Personal
Riley and his wife, Mary Faith, have three sons: Dalton, Chase and Troy. Since they were old enough to participate, Riley has coached his boys and many of their friends in numerous sporting activities including, but not limited to, soccer, football, basketball, track and many water sports. He focuses on athletic development, but far more importantly, sportsmanship and enjoyment. He has also served multiple terms on the Vestry of his church and has presided as the Senior Warden of the Vestry for 12 different annual terms, where his boys also serve on the altar. Despite a busy professional and personal life, he continues to participate in many competitive sports, as he has done his entire life. He has also traveled the world (Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, and Nicaragua, for example) enjoying his passion of surfing. Surfing, particularly in third world countries, provides great "life" lessons and the opportunity to interact with and assist those far less fortunate, another long-standing commitment Riley has made with multiple return visits to help make a difference. And, surfing in big waves, though certainly requiring a level of fearlessness, fosters respect and a humble attitude while balancing enjoyment of sport with the attendant risks. This helps to fuel Riley's drive as a trial lawyer and is an asset that sets him apart.
