ActionReport
Volume 21 | Number 4 | Issue No. 561
‘‘
A Torch That Burns For Justice
‘‘
Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that
the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans.
O
­— President John F. Kennedy
n July 27, 2012, families from around the globe will
watch their televisions with great excitement and exhilaration as the Games of the XXX Olympiad are
kicked off in London. The Opening Ceremonies mark the official beginning of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, but an
important part of the Games’ history will have had already
taken place more than two months prior.
On May 10, 2012 at the Temple of Hera, in Ancient Olympia, actors dressed in the robes of the ancient Greeks lit the
Olympic Torch as it began its journey to the site of the London
Games. Over the next 70 days, the torch will have been carried from person to person until reaching its final destination
in East London’s Olympic Park. The carrying of the torch is
among the most recognizable symbols of the Olympic Games.
The flame symbolizes purity and the endeavor for perfection,
while its emission of heat and light serves to protect us from
cold and guard us from darkness. The passing of the touch has
also come to symbolize the legacy of greatness which passes
from one generation to the next.
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Executive Director’s Message
In the case of the Farmer family, the torch has been passed.
A LIGHT EMERGES
Before a packed house at the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami
on October 28, 2011, Florida Justice Association President
Fred Cunningham served as the master of ceremonies at the
FJA Founders Luncheon. Addressing his colleagues, Fred introduced titans in the field of consumer advocacy – trial lawyers of immense stature and reputation. Among the awards
presented that evening was the FJA Al J. Cone Lifetime
Achievement Award, which was awarded to former Chief
Judge of the 4th District Court of Appeal, Gary M. Farmer, Sr.
Serving on the 4th DCA for nearly two decades, Judge Farmer enjoyed the reputation of being a fine jurist, most identified for his exceptional writing skills. Judge Farmer was even
known to interject movie lines and show tunes lyrics into
his opinions. An impartial and fair jurist, Judge Farmer was a
member of the judiciary, always striving to ensure that the
courts remained open to all for fair redress of disputes. Few
judges had done more than Judge Farmer to keep Florida’s
courthouse doors open to children and families.
Following an inspirational video highlighting the Judge’s career, Fred deferred to FJA President-Elect, Gary Farmer, Jr. to
make the formal introductions for his father. Gary was different than most sons of a judge. He didn’t merely benefit from
his father’s illustrious career, but contributed to the success
of his father.
A FAMILY’S PURSUIT
OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Judge Farmer hails from Toledo, Ohio. While obviously a man
of strong intellect, Judge Farmer in his earlier years was not
particularly interested in school. Finally dropping out of high
school, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Korea.
Following his military service, Judge Farmer returned stateside and settled in Fort Lauderdale. It was there he met his
wife Jo Ann. The two started a family, welcoming a girl, Linda,
and a son, Gary Jr.
As years passed, Judge Farmer felt that he could better serve
the public and returned to school. He began attending classes
at a community college and later Florida Atlantic University in
Boca Raton. After receiving his college diploma, Judge Farmer
decided that he would attend law school. But this was a decision that would affect the entire family. Beginning at age six,
Gary, along with his mother and sister, joined Judge Farmer
in pursuing his legal education. The entire family relocated to
Judge Farmer’s childhood hometown of Toledo, Ohio, where
he had earned a scholarship to law school under the G.I. Bill.
Pursuing a new chapter in their lives, the Farmer family knew
that the years ahead would require sacrifice. Little did they
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know that the sacrifice would be so great.
When the Farmers arrived in Toledo, they were greeted with
an administrative error by the university. While housing was
originally intended to be provided to the family, a clerical mixup left the Farmers without a home. Looking to provide for
his family with scarce funds, Judge Farmer sought alternative
accommodations. In Ottawa Hills, an affluent suburb of Toledo, he found housing, and employment at the Toledo Tennis
Club. Recorded as the 15th oldest such facility in the United
States, the Toledo Tennis Club offered free room and board
to the Farmers in exchange for the family working as janitors
in the summers and caretakers during the winters.The scope
of employment wasn’t limited to Judge Farmer; the whole
family went to work. And while Gary fondly remembers the
nights when the family would visit Baskin-Robbins for their
reward after a job well done, the Farmers endured trying
times so that their father could achieve a higher education.
Judge Farmer’s law school experience was truly a family effort.
Judge Farmer recognizes the sacrifice made by his family.
Many years later, he would say in reference to his children,“I’ll
just say it one more time how wonderfully proud his mother
and I are of [Gary] and our daughter [Linda].”
While across town at the law school, Judge Farmer was learning to become a lawyer, but at the Toledo Tennis Club, Gary
was receiving his own education regarding the value of work.
Along with his entire family, Gary worked as a janitor during
the peak season, providing fresh linens to club members, preparing the locker room for patrons, and even cleaning toilets.
At a young age, Gary learned what it meant to provide for
his family.
It was in Toledo that Gary was first introduced to the law.
Following his coursework at a local Catholic institution, Gary
would take a bus to the law school where he would sit in the
back of the room of his father’s classes, there waiting for a
ride home. It was during these formative years that Gary was
first introduced to the meaning of the law and the importance of justice.
CHILDHOOD LOVE
TO LIFE PARTNERSHIP
The next pivotal event in Gary’s life came when he was fifteen years old. It was then that he met his future wife Stacey.
The year was 1980, and a teenage Gary Farmer had met the
woman who would later become his soulmate. Unable to
drive, the first date between Gary and Stacey was a double
date. Using his already developed skills of persuasion, Gary
had convinced a friend with a car to drive. Years later, Gary
received his license and had a car of his own. Even this cre-
Executive Director’s Message
ated challenges. Gary remembers times with Stacey when the
car would overheat, and the two would be forced to pour
water into the radiator. And while far from the perfect courtship, Gary readily admits, “She stuck with me.”
Gary spent his college years at Florida State University, his
alma mater of which he remains an über fan. Following his
degree from FSU, Gary decided he too would seek a higher
education in the area of law. Gary followed in his father’s
footsteps, returning to Toledo, Ohio. Gary became the second generation of Farmers to attend the University of Toledo
College of Law, gracing the same classrooms he visited as a
child, but now as a future attorney seeking a legal education.
offered the chance to return home to relax, Hannah would
insist on staying with her father and would partake in meetings where important FJA business was addressed. Like Gary
as a youngster supporting his father, it appears that the apple
hadn’t fallen far from the tree in the case of Hannah.
And Gary’s youngest daughter, Abigail, has grown over the
years into her own person as well, having the love of her
father while also earning his utmost respect. Abby is “my
fighter,” says Gary. “There is nothing Abby can’t do when she
puts her mind to it.” It seems evident that it is only a matter
of time before the next Farmer takes up arms for the noble
cause of justice in Florida.
Just as when his family supported his father while in law
school, Gary didn’t get through law school alone. Stacey
accompanied him to Toledo, working at a flower shop to
put Gary through school. While Gary played a role in his
father’s pursuit of a legal education, it was Stacey who
later played that role in Gary’s law school education.
Following his graduation from law school, Gary and
Stacey were about to begin the most important role of
Gary’s life.
A LEGAL CAREER BEGINS
Gary left law school and took his first job with the Florida
Attorney General’s office. As an eminent domain attorney, Gary represented the state’s Department of Transportation in takings cases. From there, Gary moved to an
established insurance defense firm. Gary used his time in
insurance defense to hone his skills as an attorney and
to become a better lawyer. Eventually, he made the move
to the side of justice, becoming one of the preeminent
consumer advocates in the State of Florida.
A FAMILY IS BORN
Following law school, Gary and Stacey decided to start a family. It was the addition of two daughters that completed Gary’s
life and forever changed him for the better.
Gary treasures his eldest daughter Hannah, whom he calls his
“protégé.” The two enjoy an incredibly strong bond. During
the 2012 Legislative Session when her friends were visiting
exotic locations for their spring break, Hannah joined her
father in Tallahassee to lobby the Legislature. And even when
For the past decade, Gary has been a fierce advocate for consumers who have been harmed. He has taken on insurance
companies, HMOs and even tobacco companies, always fighting for the “little guy” to ensure that justice is served. Gary’s
work on behalf of injured patients has led to new laws and
causes of action for policyholders wrongfully denied coverage by their HMOs. Gary also took on the tobacco industry
whose deceptive marketing practices victimized countless
numbers of consumers. And the big pharmaceutical companies were not immune to Gary’s relentless pursuit of justice.
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Executive Director’s Message
Gary took on big drug companies who had intentionally
hid dangerous side-effects of their products from consumers. Gary has also been a leader in the area of class
actions, recognized by the South Florida Legal Guide as the
“Top Lawyer” for his work in class action litigation.
Gary Farmer has been a soldier in the battle for justice in
Florida. While big corporations seek to escape their legal
responsibilities, the people of Florida can count on Gary
Farmer to stand up for the little guy and making sure that
justice is served.
Gary’s efforts have hardly gone unnoticed. His own father admires the work his son does on behalf of wronged
consumers, saying “He is an example of somebody who
believes in a cause, works for that cause, does not seek
leadership just to have the title, to have the honor, but
seeks it for the purpose of using it to do the good that
can be done.” Judge Farmer continued, “That is why he is
here; not for the honor of it, but because he believes this
is his mission. And thank God it is, because he is the right
person for it.”
A CONSUMER
ADVOCATE IN TALLAHASSEE
But Gary’s life changed forever in 2005 when another
Broward attorney directed him toward a higher calling.
Ed Zebersky, who at the time was President of the Florida
Justice Association, recruited Gary to join the FJA and
take up arms for the cause of justice. Gary accepted the
challenge and never looked back.
Following his first trip to Tallahassee, it was evident to
Gary that the big corporations were well represented
in the Halls of Power at our State Capitol. Unfortunately,
consumers are often left with little or no voice on their
behalf. The Florida Justice Association has served as the
leading advocate for the state’s consumers for over half a
century, and Gary quickly found his home within the FJA.
Each year, the Florida Legislature holds its Legislative Session. For 60-days, legislators consider hundreds of bills
and many pieces of legislation directly affecting the citizenry and the civil justice system. Scores of FJA members
convene in the State’s Capital to lobby the Legislature and
ensure that Florida’s consumers have a voice in the process. Among those members who visit Tallahassee,
few if any log more miles or more hours than Gary
Farmer. During the 2012 Legislative Session, Gary
spent 38 out of 60 days away from his practice and
away from his family, in Tallahassee fighting to protect the civil justice system on behalf of the people
of Florida and the FJA.
Gary’s dedication to the cause of justice is evident
to all those who work with him. Past FJA President
Fred Cunningham recognized Gary’s unique fervor
for the cause of justice, even noting that Gary had
once jokingly described himself as a “legislative sociopath.” Fred stated, “I have never met anybody in
this organization who is as passionate about our issues as Gary Farmer.” Fred joked, “On an intensity
scale of 1 to 10, Gary is a 47.”
Judge Farmer noted of his son, “[Gary’s] dedication
to the law extends beyond his own practice to the
work on the betterment of this organization and
the citizens of Florida.”
PASSING HIS OWN TORCH
While Gary Farmer is widely viewed as one of the
top recruiters for the Florida Justice Association,
he doesn’t limit his outreach to attorneys. Gary has
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Executive Director’s Message
been very active in educating Florida’s young people on
the importance of the judiciary, the civil justice system and
the law.
Gary, who carries a pocket Constitution with him wherever he goes, has become very active in the Justice Teaching
program, founded by former Florida Supreme Court Chief
Justice R. Fred Lewis.The purpose of this fine program is to
pair legal professionals with every elementary, middle and
high school in Florida so young people can learn and understand the basic principles underlying our constitutional
institutions and principles.
Gary has spent much of his time with 5th graders, educating them on the importance of the Constitution, the Bill
of Rights, and the Judiciary. A favorite academic exercise of
Gary’s is conducted through a game called “The Invaders.”
Students are told to imagine that aliens from space have invaded Earth and have ordered Americans to limit the Bill of
rights from ten to five. Students are separated into groups
to come up with their priorities. Perhaps not surprisingly,
the right to trial by jury or the right to counsel is rarely
selected by students as among the top five rights bestowed
by our founders.The exercise continues with Gary explaining how the different rights of the Constitution work together, and how many of the other rights would be unattainable without the right to counsel or the right to trial by
jury. The purpose of the program is to show young people
the importance of the judiciary.
A NEW GENERATION SHINES BRIGHT
That evening at the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami, Gary accordingly directed the spotlight to his father, the great former
judge of the 4th District Court of Appeal. As he received the
FJA Al J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award, Judge Farmer
took the podium and made his remarks, recognized by the
crowd for his greatness.
Judge Farmer, while his son stood by, demonstrated the truth
of the words of world-renowned Rev. Ralph Sockman. Pastor
Sockman once said, “What makes greatness is starting something that lives after you.”
Judge Farmer is a great man whose inspiration and dedication
to the law gave Florida a rich history of jurisprudence, but he
also gave us our current president, Gary Farmer, Jr.
From his role as an attorney to his leadership within the The torch has been passed, and Gary Farmer’s light shines
Florida Justice Association to his activism with Justice bright.
Teaching, Gary Farmer has demonstrated an extraordinary
commitment to the law, to the civil justice system and to
the concept of justice itself.
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