Our Lawyers
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Robert G. Thornhill Jr. Since 1975, Robert Thornhill has worked for the injured of Polk County, Hardee County, and Highlands County. A fifth generation Floridian, he graduated third in his class with high honors from the University of Florida School of Law. Mr. Thornhill, who lives in Winter Haven, Florida, was Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Florida and was first in his class at the United States Army Infantry Officer School. Mr. Thornhill is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts and United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. |
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Patrick G. Stoia Pat Stoia has 25 years of personal injury law experience. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University and the University of Tulsa Law School. Mr. Stoia is a resident of Lakeland, Florida, and a member of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. Mr. Stoia is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts. |
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Robert G. Thornhill III (Tri) Tri Thornhill was born and raised in Winter Haven. He is Florida Bar Board Certified in Civil Trial law which is the highest level of recognition by The Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. Tri is a member of Kiwanis Club of Lakeland. He is a volunteer for the Justice Teaching program which teaches the judicial system to middle school children. He is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Mr. Thornhill graduated second in his class from the University of Florida School of Law, was on Law Review, and received Order of the Coif. He was magna cum laude from Dartmouth College and second in his class from Winter Haven Senior High. Prior to working at Howell & Thornhill, Mr. Thornhill worked as a law clerk for Judge Federico Moreno, a judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Mr. Thornhill is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. |
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John L. Acken John Acken lives in Lakeland with his wife and children. He graduated from the University of Florida and Drake University Law School. He graduated with honors, was on Law Review, and was a member of the National Mock Trial team. Mr. Acken is a former Assistant Public Defender for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida where he served as a Felony Trial Division Chief Attorney. Mr. Acken is Board Certified by the Florida Bar as an Expert in Civil Trial Law. He is admitted to practice in all Florida, Maine, and New Hampshire state courts and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Mr. Acken is a member of the Florida Justice Association, the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, the Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association, the Polk County Trial Lawyers Association, and the Haines City Rotary Club. |
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Sherri Scarborough Sherri Scarborough was born and raised in Haines City and now resides in Winter Haven. Mrs. Scarborough is certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in Civil Trial Law, a distinction less than 2% of Florida Lawyers hold. She is the only female attorney in Polk, Hardee and Highlands County that is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law. Sherri is a member of the Winter Haven Rotary and the Winter Haven Women's Bar Association. She attends the Christ Community Church. Mrs. Scarborough is a former Assistant State Attorney for the 10th Judicial Circuit of Florida. She has tried more than 50 jury trials and over 30 trials before the court. She is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts. She graduated from Troy State University and Nova Law School in 1993. She is married, has two children and enjoys sports, fishing and spending time with her family. |
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Spencer Pastorin After serving in the United States Air Force, and obtaining his bachelor's degree at the University of Nebraska of Omaha, Mr. Pastorin then attended Nova University, where he obtained his law degree. Prior to joining Howell & Thornhill as a civil trial attorney, Mr. Pastorin worked as an Appeals Referee Supervisor with the Florida Department of Labor, and then became employed as an Assistant Public Defender in Polk County. As a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Pastorin has tried over 60 criminal jury trials. As a Civil Trial Attorney at Howell & Thornhill, Mr. Pastorin has tried jury trial cases against insurance companies and businesses for violations of State and Federal laws. Spencer also volunteers at Give Kids the World, and at the Kiwanis Club of Davenport-Four Corners. |
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Shawn A. Jiles Shawn A. Jiles graduated from West Liberty State College, which is located in West Liberty, West Virginia. Shawn attended law school at the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law in Lansing, Michigan. Shawn graduated from law school with honors and was a Managing Associate Editor of the Law Review. After law school, he relocated to Florida where he became an Assistant Public Defender for the 10th Judicial Circuit in Bartow. During that time, Shawn tried over 30 cases to jury verdict. Shawn, who lives in Davenport, is admitted to practice in all Florida state courts. Shawn enjoys playing golf, exercising, and reading. |
Our Investigative Team
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Dave Clark Dave Clark lives in Bartow and he is a certified legal investigator with over 30 years experience. For over 13 years, Mr. Clark was a Homicide Investigator with the Florida Highway Patrol. Mr. Clark still teaches accident reconstruction techniques at the College level. |
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Cliff Ford Cliff Ford lives in Auburndale and is an investigator with Howell & Thornhill. Mr. Ford works with the investigative team of Howell & Thornhill, P.A. The team photographs crash sites, vehicle damage, and injuries. Mr. Ford is also involved in the filming of "Day in the Life Videos," which are short videotapes that are used to show the insurance company the extreme pain after surgery or after a crash. Having been a victim of another's negligence, Mr. Ford is uniquely qualified to help document the suffering of Howell & Thornhill's clients. |
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Nancy Schiwitz Nancy Schiwitz has practiced as a registered nurse for 35 years. Ms. Schiwitz reviews medical issues and nursing home charts for Howell & Thornhill. Ms. Schiwitz has served as a supervisor of a surgical unit, director of quality assurance, and director of several nursing homes. She is certified in risk management and quality assurance. |
