David B. King [1941 – 2020]

Appellate Practice, Business Disputes, Civil Trial Practice, Complex Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Defense, Significant Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

View Bio

Biography

Mr. King is the founding shareholder of King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth, P.A. Board certified by The Florida Bar as a Civil Trial Lawyer since 1983, Mr. King devotes a significant portion of his practice to complex commercial litigation, legal malpractice defense, and personal injury and wrongful death cases, in both state and federal courts. Originally, from Cookeville, Tennessee, Mr. King graduated with an LL.B. from Vanderbilt University in 1965. While at Vanderbilt, Mr. King was on the Board of Editors of the Vanderbilt Law Review. After serving in the United States Marine Corps and completing a tour of duty in Vietnam, Mr. King moved to Orlando in 1968, joined the Orange County Bar Association and served on its Executive Council from 1977-1982, and as its President from 1980-1981. In 1986, Mr. King was Chair of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, and he served on the Board of Governors for The Florida Bar from 1988-1992, where he co-chaired the Disciplinary Review Committee overseeing lawyer discipline statewide. In May of 1994, Mr. King was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Orange County Bar Association’s highest award: the William E. Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award. In 1998, Mr. King was inducted as a Fellow into the America College of Trial Lawyers, the premier professional trial lawyer organization in America.

Bar Admissions

Florida, 1965
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court

Certifications

Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, The Florida Bar.

Education

Vanderbilt University School of Law, LL.B., 1965
Vanderbilt University Law Review, Member, Board of Editors, 1963-1965
Tennessee Technological University, B.S., 1963

Honors and Awards

AV Rated – Martindale-Hubbell
Recipient, Orange County Bar Association William E. Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award, 1994
Selected for inclusion in Chambers USA, Band 1, Leading Individuals in Commercial Litigation, 2010-2020
Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in Civil Litigation and Bet-the-Company Litigation since 1991
Recognized by Florida Super Lawyers as one of Florida’s Top 100 lawyers, 2007-2015
Recognized by Florida Super Lawyers as one of the Top 10 Attorneys in Florida, 2008
Recognized by Florida Trend Magazine as a member of the Legal Elite Hall of Fame, 2012-2020
Recognized by the American Board of Trial Advocates, Central Florida Chapter as Plaintiff's Trial Lawyer of the Year, 2017

Professional Associations and Memberships

American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
American Bar Association, Member
Federal Bar Association, Orlando Chapter, Member
American Board of Trial Advocates, Central Florida Chapter; President (1994-95)
Orange County Bar Association: Executive Council (1977-1982); President (1980-1981)

Representative Cases

Vielma v. Gruler, No. 18-15162, 2020 WL 1672778 (11th Cir. Apr. 6, 2020)
Estate of Faull v. McAfee, Case No. 6:13-cv-1746, 2019 WL 1253840 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 19, 2019)
Easter v. City of Orlando, 249 So. 3d 723 (Fla. 5th DCA 2018)
Aracena v. Gruler, 347 F. Supp. 3d 1107 (M.D. Fla. 2018)
Vielma v. Gruler, 347 F. Supp. 3d 1122 (M.D. Fla. 2018)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, No. 2012-ca-2842 (Fla. 2d Cir. Dec. 30, 2015) (judgment adopting CPS-4a, Florida Senate remedial plan proposed by Plaintiffs)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, 179 So. 3d 258 (Fla. 2015) (adopting CP-1, Congressional remedial plan proposed by Coalition Plaintiffs)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, 172 So. 3d 363 (Fla. 2015) (invalidating Congressional districts)
Bainter v. League of Women Voters of Florida, 150 So. 3d 1115 (Fla. 2014)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Data Targeting, Inc., 140 So. 3d 510 (Fla. 2014)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, No. 2012-ca-412 (Fla. 2d Cir. July 10, 2014) (judgment declaring Congressional redistricting plan unconstitutional)
MCO Airport Concessions, LLC v. Greater Orlando Aviation Auth., 508 Fed. App’x 920 (11^th 2013) (affirming order granting motion to dismiss)
Pierson v. Orlando Health et al., No. 6:08-cv-466, 2010 WL 14083391 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 6, 2010) (granting motion to dismiss defamation and conspiracy claims)
United States ex rel. Shurick v. Boeing, No. 6:07-cv-1765, 2008 WL 5054739 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 21, 2008) (granting motion to dismiss false claims act claim)

Born

Cookeville, TN

Married

Marilyn McDaniel King

Children

David B. King, Jr. (deceased), Michael Houston King, and T. Christopher King

Thomas Zehnder

Appellate Practice, Business Disputes, Civil Trial Practice, Complex Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Defense, Significant Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

View Bio

tzehnder@kbzwlaw.com

tel.407-422-2472

fax407-648-0161

Download vCard

Biography

A shareholder with King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth, P.A., Mr. Zehnder has practiced primarily as a commercial litigator in Orlando since he graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Law in 1995. Mr. Zehnder has represented both individuals and corporations in a wide variety of complex commercial matters in state and federal courts, in arbitration and on appeal. Throughout his legal career, Mr. Zehnder has been active in leadership positions with the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), first serving in the Young Lawyers’ Section, including as President in 2005-06. In 2011-12, Mr. Zehnder served as President of the OCBA, and in 2012 - 2013 he served as President of the OCBA Foundation. In 2006, Mr. Zehnder received the OCBA's highest honor awarded to a young lawyer: the Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award. In 2004, Mr. Zehnder received The Florida Bar's Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Award, a statewide service award presented by the Florida Supreme Court and The Florida Bar's YLD that recognizes extraordinary contributions in the provision of pro bono services.

Bar Admissions

Florida, 1995
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit

Education

University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, J.D. with Honors, 1995
Valparaiso University, B.S. in Business Administration with Finance Concentration, 1991

Honors and Awards

AV Preeminent Rating – Martindale-Hubbell
Recipient of Award of Excellence, The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, 2009
Recipient of the Orange County Bar Association's Lawrence G. Mathews, Jr. Young Lawyer Professionalism Award, 2006
Recipient of The Florida Bar's Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Award, 2004
Recipient of New Attorney Award of Excellence, The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, 2001
Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, multiple years including 2019
Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine, multiple years including 2021
Selected for inclusion in Florida Trend Magazine “Legal Elite,” multiple years including 2019

Professional Associations and Memberships

The Florida Bar Civil Rules Committee, Member (2010-2013)
Lawyer Advisory Committee on Rules for the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (2013-Present)
Orange County Bar Association: Immediate Past President (2013); President (2011-12); President-Elect (2010-2011); Treasurer (2009-2010); Secretary (2008-2009); Executive Council (2005-2013); Co-Editor of "The Briefs"(2007-2009)
OCBA Young Lawyers' Section: President (2005-2006); President Elect (2004-2005); Treasurer
(2003-2004); Board Member (2001-2006)
The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association: Board of Trustees (2005-2009)
Orange County Bar Association Foundation: President (2012 - 2013)
American Bar Association, Member
Federal Bar Association, Orlando Chapter, Member

Representative Cases

Vielma v. Gruler, No. 18-15162, 2020 WL 1672778 (11th Cir. Apr. 6, 2020)
Easter v. City of Orlando, 249 So. 3d 723 (Fla. 5th DCA 2018)
Aracena v. Gruler, 347 F. Supp. 3d 1107 (M.D. Fla. 2018)
Vielma v. Gruler, 347 F. Supp. 3d 1122 (M.D. Fla. 2018)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, No. 2012-ca-2842 (Fla. 2d Cir. Dec. 30, 2015) (judgment adopting CPS-4a, Florida Senate remedial plan proposed by Plaintiffs)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, 179 So. 3d 258 (Fla. 2015) (adopting CP-1, Congressional remedial plan proposed by Coalition Plaintiffs)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, 172 So. 3d 363 (Fla. 2015) (invalidating Congressional districts)
Bainter v. League of Women Voters of Florida, 150 So. 3d 1115 (Fla. 2014)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Data Targeting, Inc., 140 So. 3d 510 (Fla. 2014)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, No. 2012-ca-412 (Fla. 2d Cir. July 10, 2014) (judgment declaring Congressional redistricting plan unconstitutional)
LSQ Funding Group, L.C. v. EDS Field Services, 879 F. Supp. 2d 1320 (M.D. Fla. 2012) (granting summary judgment on breach of contract claim)
Pierson v. Orlando Health et al., No. 6:08-cv-466, 2010 WL 14083391 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 6, 2010) (granting motion to dismiss defamation and conspiracy claims)
United States ex rel. Shurick v. Boeing, No. 6:07-cv-1765, 2008 WL 5054739 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 21, 2008) (granting motion to dismiss false claims act claim)

Born

Yokohama, Japan

Married

Leigh Sigman Zehnder (JD ‘95)

Children

Ryan and Sarah

Fritz Wermuth

Appellate Practice, Business Disputes, Civil Trial Practice, Complex Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Defense, Significant Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

View Bio

fwermuth@kbzwlaw.com

tel.407-422-2472

fax407-648-0161

Download vCard

Biography

Mr. Wermuth, a shareholder with King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth, P.A., has over 15 years of legal experience in which he has handled complex civil litigation from various perspectives – as trial counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice, as a federal district court law clerk, and as a private practitioner. Mr. Wermuth’s practice focuses on litigating complex commercial and governmental disputes at the trial court and appellate levels. Mr. Wermuth has handled a broad array of tort, contract, and statutory claims, including breach of contract, government procurement (bid protest) disputes, tortious interference, defamation, deceptive and unfair trade practices, legal malpractice defense, Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO) defense, False Claims Act defense, discrimination, and claims under the Florida Constitution and United States Constitution. Mr. Wermuth has drafted dozens of successful dispositive motions in federal and state court actions.

Bar Admissions

Florida, 1999
District of Columbia, 2005
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit

Education

University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, J.D., 1999 Honors: Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Coif
University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Gainesville, Florida, B.A., History, 1996 Honors: Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Cambridge University, St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Judicial Clerkship

Hon. Gregory A. Presnell, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 2003-2005

Honors and Awards

AV Rated – Martindale-Hubble
Selected for Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, 2015-2018
Selected for Inclusion in Super Lawyers Magazine, multiple years including 2021
Selected for Inclusion in Orlando Magazine's Woodward/White Best Lawyers list, 2018
Selected for Inclusion in Florida Trend Magazine “Legal Elite,” 2019

Professional Associations and Memberships

Federal Bar Association, Orlando Chapter, National Delegate (2015), President (2014), First Vice President (2013), Member (2009-Present)
Orange County Bar Association, Member

Representative Cases

Estate of Faull v. McAfee, Case No. 6:13-cv-1746, 2019 WL 1253840 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 19, 2019)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, No. 2012-ca-2842 (Fla. 2d Cir. Dec. 30, 2015) (judgment adopting CPS-4a, Florida Senate remedial plan proposed by Plaintiffs)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, 179 So. 3d 258 (Fla. 2015) (adopting CP-1, Congressional remedial plan proposed by Coalition Plaintiffs)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, 172 So. 3d 363 (Fla. 2015) (invalidating Congressional districts)
Bainter v. League of Women Voters of Florida, 150 So. 3d 1115 (Fla. 2014)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Data Targeting, Inc., 140 So. 3d 510 (Fla. 2014)
League of Women Voters of Florida v. Detzner, No. 2012-ca-412 (Fla. 2d Cir. July 10, 2014) (judgment declaring Congressional redistricting plan unconstitutional)
MCO Airport Concessions, LLC v. Greater Orlando Aviation Auth., 508 Fed. App’x 920 (11^th 2013) (affirming order granting motion to dismiss)
MCO Airport Concessions, LLC v. Greater Orlando Aviation Auth., No. 6:11-cv-742 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 14, 2012) (granting motion to dismiss on discrimination claims)
LSQ Funding Group, L.C. v. EDS Field Services, 879 F. Supp. 2d 1320 (M.D. Fla. 2012) (granting summary judgment on breach of contract claim)
Pierson v. Orlando Health et al., No. 6:08-cv-466, 2010 WL 14083391 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 6, 2010) (granting motion to dismiss defamation and conspiracy claims)
United States ex rel. Shurick v. Boeing, No. 6:07-cv-1765, 2008 WL 5054739 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 21, 2008) (granting motion to dismiss false claims act claim)
Design Pallets, Inc. v. GrayRobinson P.A., 6:07-cv-655, 2008 WL 3200275 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 5, 2008) (granting summary judgment on RICO claims)
Sheils v. Kuhn, No. 6:08-cv-1704 (M.D. Fla. June 11, 2010) (granting summary judgment on securities, fraud, and RICO claims)

Born

Rockford, IL

Married

Julie Ann Wermuth

Children

Beatrice and Jack

Taylor Ford

Antitrust & Trade Regulation, Appellate Practice, Business Disputes, Civil Trial Practice, Class Action Defense, Complex Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Defense

View Bio

tford@kbzwlaw.com

tel.407-422-2472

fax407-648-0161

Download vCard

Biography

A shareholder with King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth, P.A., Mr. Ford focuses his practice on general litigation, with an emphasis on commercial and business disputes. Mr. Ford has represented corporations and individual clients in a variety of matters including breach of contract, securities, business torts, class actions, patents, real estate disputes, antitrust, e-discovery, banking, and fraud. In addition to his background in federal litigation and procedure, Mr. Ford has worked on all aspects of state court litigation, from discovery and motion practice, to preparing cases for jury and non-jury trial.

Bar Admissions

Florida, 2007
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

Education

Vanderbilt University Law School, Nashville, Tennessee, J.D., 2007 Moot Court Champion; Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law, Notes Editor
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, B.A. in Classics, Minor in Financial Economics, 2004 Honors: Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Judicial Clerkship

Hon. Gregory A. Presnell, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 2008-2010

Honors and Awards

Selected for Inclusion in Super Lawyers Magazine, multiple years including 2021

Professional Associations and Memberships

American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Member; Antitrust Section, Member
Orange County Bar Association, Member
Federal Bar Association, Orlando Chapter, National Delegate (2017), President (2016), Member (2010-Present)
American Finance Association, Member
Federalist Society, Litigation Section, Member; Corporations, Securities, and Antitrust Section, Member
Vanderbilt University Alumni Association, Member
Vanderbilt Law School Alumni Association, Member
Phillips Academy Alumni Association, Member

Born

Buckhannon, WV

Children

Caroline

Kimberly D. Healy

Appellate Practice, Business Disputes, Class Action Defense, Complex Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Defense

View Bio

khealy@kbzwlaw.com

tel.407-422-2472

fax407-648-0161

Download vCard

Biography

An associate with King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth, P.A., Ms. Healy focuses her practice on litigating business and commercial disputes at the trial court and appellate levels. Ms. Healy’s practice involves a broad array of tort, contract, and statutory claims, including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, deceptive and unfair trade practices, non-compete and trade secret actions, and legal malpractice defense. Ms. Healy also has experience with family law litigation, involving complex financial matters and parenting issues.

Bar Admissions

Florida, 2002
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

Education

University of Florida Levin College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, J.D., with Honors, 2002
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, B.A., with Honors, 1999

Honors and Awards

New Attorney Award of Excellence, The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association (2008)

Professional Associations and Memberships

Federal Bar Association, Orlando Chapter, Member
Orange County Bar Association: Member; Editor of “The Briefs” (2009-2010); Associate Editor of “The Briefs” (2008-2009)

Born

Pittsburgh, PA

Married

Todd Healy

Children

Megan and Kate

Robyn M. Kramer

Business Disputes, Civil Rights, Complex Commercial Litigation, Employment Law, Legal Malpractice Defense

View Bio

rkramer@kbzwlaw.com

tel.407-422-2472

fax407-648-0161

Download vCard

Biography

An associate with King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth, P.A., Ms. Kramer focuses her practice in complex commercial litigation at the federal and state court levels. Ms. Kramer’s practice involves tort and contract claims including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, deceptive and unfair trade practices, and legal malpractice defense. Upon graduating from Emory University School of Law, Ms. Kramer served as a federal judicial law clerk to the Honorable Gregory A. Phillips of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, gaining experience in various labor and employment, property, and civil-rights matters.

Bar Admissions

Florida, 2015
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

Education

Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia, J.D., 2015 Honors, Order of the Coif, Emory Law Journal, Online Editor
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, B.A., Criminology and Anthropology, 2012 Honors, Phi Beta Kappa

Judicial Clerkship

Hon. Gregory A. Phillips, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, 2016-2017

Professional Associations and Memberships

Federal Bar Association, Orlando Chapter, Member
Orange County Bar Association, Member (2017 - Present); Associate Editor, The Briefs (2018); Business Law Committee, Co-Chair (2018); Business Court Task Force (2018)

Published Works

Co-Author, Business Court: The End of an Era or an Opportunity for Reinvention, The Briefs, October 2018, Vol. 86 No. 8.

Born

Jupiter, FL

Dustin Mauser-Claassen

Business Disputes, Civil Rights, Complex Commercial Litigation, Employment Law, Legal Malpractice Defense

View Bio

dmauser@kbzwlaw.com

tel.407-422-2472

fax407-648-0161

Download vCard

Biography

Mr. Mauser-Claassen, an associate with King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth, P.A., focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation at the trial court and appellate levels in both state and federal court. His practice involves torts and contract claims including breach of contract, trade secrets and non-compete actions, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, deceptive and unfair trade practices, and legal malpractice defense. After graduating law school with high honors from the University of Florida, Mr. Mauser-Claassen served as a federal judicial law clerk to United States District Judge John Antoon II of the Middle District of Florida, gaining experience in complex federal practice, evidentiary hearings, jury and non-jury trials, and in a broad array of subjects including complex employment disputes, civil rights, privacy, trade secrets, trademarks, and complex attorney’s fees disputes.

Bar Admissions

Florida, 2015
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Education

University of Florida Levin College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, J.D., 2015, Magna Cum Laude; Order of the Coif; Florida Law Review, Executive Symposium Editor
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies – Environmental Science, 2011

Judicial Clerkship

Hon. John Antoon II, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 2015-2017

Honors and Awards

Rising Star, Florida Super Lawyers Magazine (2021)

Professional Associations and Memberships

Federal Bar Association, Orlando Chapter, President (Present); Treasurer (2019 - 2020); Young Lawyers' Director (2018 - 2019)
Member, Bench Bar Fund Committee for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida (Present)
Chair, Federal Judicial Relations Committee (Present)
Orange County Bar Association, Law Week Committee Member (2017 - Present)
Guardian Ad Litem (2017 - present)

Representative Cases

Vielma v. Gruler, No. 18-15162, 2020 WL 1672778 (11th Cir. Apr. 6, 2020)
Estate of Faull v. McAfee, Case No. 6:13-cv-1746, 2019 WL 1253840 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 19, 2019)
Aracena v. Gruler, 347 F. Supp. 3d 1107 (M.D. Fla. 2018)
Vielma v. Gruler, 347 F. Supp. 3d 1122 (M.D. Fla. 2018)

Born

Santa Ana, CA

Married

Megan Mauser-Claassen

Children

Quinn and Barrett

Bruce B. Blackwell [Retired]

View Bio

Biography

A fifth generation Floridian, Bruce B. Blackwell was raised in rural Marion County, graduated from Florida State University (FSU) with a B.A. in 1968, and served as an Officer in the United States Air Force from 1968-1972. In 1974, Mr. Blackwell graduated from FSU’s College of Law with Honors. Before entering private civil trial practice in 1981, Mr. Blackwell was an attorney for Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co., and later an antitrust attorney with AT&T. He was a founding shareholder of King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth, P.A., and devoted his practice to complex civil litigation. He has been admitted to practice in Florida, Georgia (presently inactive), and New York. Mr. Blackwell has served as President of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), as a member of the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar, overseeing the disciplinary system statewide, and as President of The Florida Bar Foundation and The Supreme Court Historical Society. He is listed in Best Lawyers, in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite Hall of Fame, and has received numerous local, statewide and national awards for his service to the legal profession. In 2003, Mr. Blackwell received the OCBA’s highest award, the William E. Trickel, Jr. Professionalism Award, and in 2011, he received The Florida Bar Foundation’s Medal of Honor, the highest award bestowed upon a Florida lawyer. In 2014, Mr. Blackwell retired from the active practice of law and currently serves as CEO/Executive Director of The Florida Bar Foundation.

Bar Admissions

Florida, 1975
Georgia, 1977
New York, 1980
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

Education

Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida, J.D. with Honors, 1974
Florida State University, B.A., 1968

Honors and Awards

AV Rated – Martindale-Hubbell
Recipient, American Jurisprudence Book Awards
The Florida Bar Award of Merit for Runner-up-Best Single Member Project Statewide, 1983
Judge J.C. "Jake" Stone Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, 1996
Friend of FAWL Annual Award, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, 1997
The Florida Bar President's Ninth Circuit Pro Bono Service Award, 1997
The Florida Bar Foundation President's Award, 2002
OCBA William E. Trickel Jr. Professionalism Award, 2003
American Bar Association’s (ABA) Grassroots Advocacy Award, 2008
Florida Council of Bar Association Presidents, Outstanding Voluntary Bar President Award 2008
Judge James G. Glazebrook Memorial Outstanding Member Award, 2008
The Florida Bar Foundation 34^th Medal of Honor, 2011
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, 2006-Present, 2009-2012 in the categories of Commercial Litigation, Bet the Company Litigation, and Litigation Real Estate
Selected for inclusion in The American Lawyer as a Top Commercial Litigator, 2006-2011
Recognized by the Orlando Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar”, 2006
Selected for inclusion in Florida Trend Magazine, 2004-2012, Legal Elite Hall of Fame, 2009-2012
Selected for inclusion in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine, 2007-2012

Professional Associations and Memberships

Orange County Bar Association: President (1987-1988); Executive Council (1983-1986); Member, Judicial Relations Committee (1992-1994); Gender Bias Committee Chair (1991-1993); Fair Judicial Campaign Practices and Co-Chair (1998-2001)
The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association: Board of Trustees (1984-1987)
American Bar Association, Member
The Florida Bar: Board of Governors (1994-1998); Supreme Court of Florida Pro Bono Service Committee (1995-1996); Annual Meeting Chair (1997); Access to Courts Committee Vice-Chair (1996-1997); Special Committee on Solo/Small Firm Practice Chair (1997-1998); Supreme Court Special Committee on Need for Add'l Courts of Appeals (1998-1999); Statewide Disciplinary Review Committee Co-Chair (1997-1998); Ancillary Business Law Firms Special Committee (1998-1999); Ninth Circuit Fee Arbitration Committee Chair (1993-1994); Mid-Year Meeting Chair (1986)
The Florida Bar Foundation: President (2007-2008); Board of Directors (1998 - Present); Secretary (2005-2006); Treasurer (2004-2005); Administration of Justice Committee and Executive Committee Chair (2000-2003);
Florida Supreme Court Historical Society: President (2010-2011)
Florida Academy of Trial Lawyers, Member
First Central Florida Inns of Court #123, Master and Counselor
Central Florida Corporate Counsel Association, President (1980-1981)
Grievance Committee Panel "D" Chair, Ninth Circuit, (1985-1986)
Florida State University Alumni Association, National President (1985-1986)
Florida State University College of Law Alumni Association, President-Elect (2005-2006)
Orlando Touchdown Club, Inc., President (1996-1997)

Born

Gainesville, FL

Married

Julie McMillan Blackwell

Children

Blair Allison Blackwell and Brooke Blackwell Castino

King, Blackwell, Zehnder & Wermuth, P.A.

Attorneys At Law

Named Top Small Litigation Firm in Florida by Super Lawyers

Dedicated to the practice of law

A lawyer’s law firm

Six lawyers, one commitment.

David B. King [1941 – 2020]

Thomas Zehnder

Fritz Wermuth

Taylor Ford

Kimberly D. Healy

Robyn M. Kramer

Dustin Mauser-Claassen

Bruce B. Blackwell [Retired]

Firm Overview

Areas of Practice

Complex Business and Commercial Litigation

We represent plaintiffs and defendants in complex business disputes and bet-the-company litigation

Appeals

We are often retained to handle high-stakes, complicated appeals in both state and federal court

Legal Malpractice Defense

We represent lawyers and law firms when they require legal services

Significant Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

We have recovered large, including multi-million dollar, verdicts and settlements for our clients

KING, BLACKWELL, ZEHNDER & WERMUTH, P.A.

Attorneys At Law