Practice Areas: Family Law, Medical Malpractice, Business Litigation view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1984
Education: University of Florida Levin College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2009, 2015 - 2023 
Free Consultation Saunders Law Group
480 South Broadway AvenueBartow, FL 33830 Phone: 863-533-6200 Email: Thomas C. Saunders Visit website
Details
Before founding his own law firm in Polk County, Florida, Thomas C. Saunders worked with the City of Tampa's City Attorney's Office and private law firms that provided legal services to plaintiffs and defendants in insurance cases. Saunders Law Group now provides business clients with litigation services and Polk County residents with assistance in family law, personal injury, and medical negligence and malpractice matters. The Saunders Law Group is located in Bartow, FL.
After earning his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1980, Mr. Saunders attended the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He was awarded his Juris Doctor in 1982, and he was subsequently admitted to practice law before the state courts in Florida. Mr. Saunders' three decades of legal experience and his track record of success in the courtroom prompted The Florida Bar to board-certify him in both business litigation and civil trial law. Board-certification is the highest evaluation provided by The Florida Bar, and it recognizes an attorney's experience, proficiency, knowledge and skill in a given legal area.
Mr. Saunders has been recognized many times and has received numerous awards during his remarkable career. He was recently installed as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA is an invitation-only organization of plaintiff and defense civil trial attorneys across the country dedicated to preserving the civil jury trial, promoting civility and integrity in the profession and helping younger attorneys achieve a higher level of trial advocacy.
Mr. Saunders has served as the chair of The Florida Bar Civil Trial Certification Committee and president of the Polk County Trial Lawyers Association Inc. Mr. Saunders was awarded the Pro Bono Service Award by the 10th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee in 2016, and he spends considerable time mentoring young attorneys while serving on the board of directors of the Willson American Inn of Court. Mr. Saunders has earned an AV* peer-review rating through Martindale-Hubbell, a measure of the high-esteem in which he is held by his fellow professionals.
*AV®, BV®, AV Preeminent® and BV Distinguished® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings fall into two categories – legal ability and general practice standards.
Bartow Office
480 S Broadway Ave
Bartow, FL 33830
Lakeland Office
500 S. Florida Avenue
Suite 400-4
Lakeland, FL 33801
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Practice areas
Family Law, Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff, Business Litigation, Business/Corporate, Civil Litigation: Defense, Civil Litigation: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFirst Admitted: 1984, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://www.saunders-law.com/attorneys/thomas-c-saunders/
- After a two-week trial, a Polk County homeowner was awarded a jury verdict totaling $903,000 for damages and loss of use of the home after suing the contractor who built the home. The home sustained damages resulting from improperly installed windows, stucco, HVAC units and a host of other problems.
- In a dispute with an insurance company regarding insurance coverage for damages awarded to a Polk County homeowner, the insurance company agreed to pay the homeowner $1 million for damages resulting from the construction of the home. An insured reached a settlement agreement with their insurance company after the insurance company initially refused to pay hospital and medical expenses associated with the birth of the insured’s newborn child. The insurer denied coverage based on its position that it was never notified of the birth of the newborn. After suit was filed and extensive discovery was taken, the insurance company agreed to pay the expenses, interest and attorney’s fees.
- Wrongful denial of coverage in homeowner’s policy for injuries to guest of homeowner thrown from golf cart off insured’s property; final judgment in favor of insured finding that injury was covered; confidential settlement providing both damages and attorney’s fees for wrongful denial of coverage.
- Wrongful denial of coverage in homeowner’s policy for injuries to child riding on golf cart: Policy limits paid together with confidential amount of attorney’s fees for wrongful denial of coverage.
- Verdict:Â $800,000Â against property insurer for hurricane damage to commercial property.
- Payment of claimed engine damage of $6,500 from jury trial; Carrier required by court to pay $120,000 in legal fees as a result of wrongful denial of coverage.
- Uninsured motorist coverage dispute: Carrier was required in jury trial to credit Plaintiff with $900,000 in available UM coverage against Carrier’s original position that only $10,000 of UM coverage was available; Carrier was also required to pay $188,000 in attorney’s fees for wrongful denial of coverage.
- Settlement: $2 million against property insurer for sinkhole damage to shopping center.
- Uninsured motorist coverage dispute: Carrier settled by paying 25 times its alleged UM coverage after suit was filed.
- Settlement at policy limit: Death of child in child care from collapsed crib — $300,000
- Verdict: $3 million for victim of molestation by pedophile
- Settlement: Death resulting from failure to treat neurological condition in hospital — $750,000
- Settlement: Failure to recognize and appropriately treat obstructed bowel, resulting in death — $750,000
- Settlement: Trip and fall at fair resulting in severe back injury — $850,000
- Settlement: Death in automobile/commercial truck accident — $3.1 million
- Settlement: Slip and fall on construction site, resulting in significant thoracic and lumbar injury — $1.7 million
- Failure to properly monitor glucose levels after cardiac surgery, resulting in brain damage — partial settlement of $2.3 million with some defendants and verdict of $6.5 million on remaining defendants
- Judicial Evaluation Committee, Member, 1993
- Polk County Trial Lawyers Association, Vice President, 1995-1996
- The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member
- Lakeland Bar Association, Member
- Florida Bar Association, Civil Trial Certification Committee, Chairman, 1996
- Polk County Trial Lawyers Association, Member, Board of Directors, 1992
- Judicial Nominating Commission of the 10th Judicial Circuit, Member, 1998-2000
- Willson American Inn of Court, Member, Executive Committee, 1994-1996
- Chairperson of the 10th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, 1999-2000
- Florida Bar Association, Vice-Chairman, Civil Trial Certification Committee, 1995
- The Florida Bar Association, Member, Civil Trial Certification Committee, 1993-1998
- 10th Judicial Circuit, Chairman, Bench Bar Committee, 1998-1999
- Willson American Inn of Court, Barrister, 1992-1998
- Polk County Trial Lawyers Association, President, 1996-1998
- Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
- Board of Directors of the Willson American Inn of Court
- Board Certified in both Civil Trial and Business Litigation Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
- Â University of Florida Levin College of Law, 1982
- University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1980
- Tenth Judicial Circuit Florida Bar Pro Bono Award, 2015
- Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award, 10th Judicial Circuit, 2016
- Listed as a Super Lawyer in "Florida Super Lawyers", 2008-2010
- AV rated by Martindale Hubbell
- Mr. Saunders was recently installed as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA is an invitation-only organization of plaintiff and defense civil trial attorneys across the country dedicated to preserving the civil jury trial, promoting civility and integrity in the profession and helping younger attorneys achieve a higher level of trial advocacy., ABOTA
- Listed, Florida Trend's Legal Elite, 2010
Office location for Thomas C. Saunders
480 South Broadway Avenue
Bartow, FL 33830
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2009, 2015 - 2023
Certificates and credentials
Business Litigation
Civil Trial