Ryan M. Barnett
Ryan is a California native from an active duty Air Force family and credits his father’s 28-year military aviation career for bringing him to the Gulf Coast in 2000. He maintains a broad based litigation practice and serves as general counsel to numerous local and regional businesses. His strong litigation background is coupled with the experience of having handled numerous state and federal appeals, including successful practice before the Florida Supreme Court. Ryan has taught as an adjunct professor of law at both the Pensacola State College and the University of West Florida.
Ryan has been selected by Florida Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” and “Super Lawyer” (extended to only two and a half percent of Florida lawyers each year) from 2012-present. He maintains the highest rating available from Martindale-Hubbell (AV) for legal ability and professional ethics. Ryan served as a United States Marine Corps Reserve infantryman from 1996 – 2000. He posts regularly on a wide variety of topics (most having nothing to do with the law) at www.ryanbarnett.com, and is also an FAA licensed pilot. He resides in Gulf Breeze with his wife and children. Ryan enjoys spending time with family outdoors, aviation, boating, reading, and restoring old homes.
“Our team is committed to personal attention, educating clients, and building a principle-driven practice.”
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death
General Civil Litigation
Employment / Labor
Corporate / Business
Aviation Law
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- Alabama
- Northern District of Florida
- Middle District of Florida
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Associations & Activities
- Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Board Member, past VPFirst Circuit’s Nominating Committee for the Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Awards, Committee Member
LEAP Class of 2011 (Leadership Pensacola)
Pensacola Area Chamber of Commerce
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Volunteer Attorney
United States Marine Corps Reserve, Rifleman
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Staff Counsel Division, Law Clerk
United States Marshals Service, Intern
Comparative Corporate Law (Carolina Academic Press, 2002), Larry Cata’ Backer, Assistant Editor
Pensacola Lighthouse Association, General Counsel
Manresa House of Retreats, Co-Captain Group 35
Education
- University of South Alabama, B.A., 2000
- Florida State University College of Law, J.D. 2003
- Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, 2001
Selected Cases
- Decker vs. University of West Florida, 85 So.2d 571 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012), case transferred, period for filing notice of appeal did not commence with University’s initial communication to student of findings.
- Wingate v. Wingate, 2012 WL 1071548 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012), reversing a summary judgment order relating to interference with an easement.
- Bank of America, N.A. v. Lane, 76 So.3d 1007 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011), among other issues, remanded with instructions to allow an amended Rule 1.540(b) motion.
- Majors v. State, 70 So.3d 655 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011), rev. denied by the Florida Supreme Court, 79 So.3d 745 (Fla. 2011), reversing denial of motion to suppress and convictions for trafficking in illegal drugs, possession of a firearm or ammunition by convicted felon, possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of cannabis, and resisting an officer without violence.
- Clark v. Ward, 51 So.3d 645 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011), successfully defense of premature appeal.
- Redditt v. Bellsouth Communications, 2009 WL 1659367 (N.D. Fla. 2009), successful defense of motion to dismiss in a federal District Court case where employee and his spouse were alleged to have been exposed to MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus).
- Davis v. Health Center of Pensacola, 906 So.2d 1062 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005), successful defense of appeal of denial of benefits.
