Charles T. Wiggins

Mr. Wiggins is a partner in the firm’s litigation group and represents companies and individuals in tort claims and business disputes. He also handles criminal cases in state and federal court. He is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Civil Trial Law, and has tried more than 75 civil and criminal jury trials.

Mr. Wiggins has defended a wide variety of personal injury and wrongful death claims involving product defects, industrial accidents, premises liability, automobile/truck accidents and nursing home claims. He has also successfully prosecuted and defended many types of business disputes in the fields of banking, real estate development, energy and health care.

Mr. Wiggins is a member of the Florida Bar, and he is admitted to practice before all Florida state courts. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

Mr. Wiggins received his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in 1991 from Florida State University. He received his J.D. in 1994, with honors, from the University of Florida College of Law. Before joining Beggs & Lane, he was a felony prosecutor with the Office of the State Attorney.

Mr. Wiggins is AV peer-review rated for high ethical standards and preeminent legal ability in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.

Education

University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida

  • J.D. (With Honors) – 1994

Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL

  • B.S. (Magna Cum Laude) – 1991
  • Major: Public Relations
Bar Membership
  • Civil Trial Law, The Florida Bar, 2008
Representative Cases
  • Blue 1, LLC v. Gulf Power Company, 327 So. 3d 1207 (Fla. 1st DCA 2021):  Defeated landowner’s claim for attorneys’ fees in eminent domain case.
  • Brookie v. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., 213 So. 3d 1129 (Fla. 1st DCA 2017):  Obtained summary judgment in premises liability claim against beverage distributor.
  • Croley v. Gulf Power Company (Bay County, Florida): Obtained a defense verdict at a jury trial for a utility company in a personal injury case alleging that the utility negligently energized a townhome.
  • Estate of Stallworth v. Baptist Manor (Escambia County, Florida): Obtained defense verdict for a nursing home after a four-day jury trial. The plaintiff alleged that the nursing home allowed the resident to develop pressure sores on the resident’s body.
  • King v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., 2014 WL 784264 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014):  Obtained summary judgment for health insurance carrier in dispute over policy.
  • Baggett v. Gulf Power Company , 56 So. 3d 768 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011):  Obtained summary judgment for a utility company in a case involving the drowning deaths of three individuals on the site of the utility’s generating plant.
  • Stevens Family Ltd. Partnership v. Paradise Island Ventures, LLP, 2009 WL 3177568 (N.D. Fla. 2009):  Summary judgment entered in favor of client in real estate transaction.
  • Taminco, N.V. v. Gulf Power Co., 322 Fed. Appx. 732, 2009 WL 883994 (11th Cir. 2009):  Summary judgment entered in favor of client in dispute over energy services agreement.
  • Bason v. Waffle House (Washington County, Florida): Directed verdict at a jury trial in favor of the plaintiff’s employer on the grounds of workers’ compensation immunity.
  • Ballard-Cannon Dev. v. Sandman Properties, 933 So. 2d 1251 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006):  Directed verdict in favor of client in breach of contract claim.
  • Feraci v. Grundy Marine Constr. Co., 315 F. Supp. 2d 1197 (N.D. Fla. 2004):  Obtained summary judgment for client in catastrophic injury claim on grounds of workers’ compensation immunity.
  • Santa Rosa Island Authority v. Pensacola Beach Pier, Inc., 834 So.2d 261 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002):  Obtained reversal of trial court order in dispute over choice of vendor for public pier.
Professional Associations
  • Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association, Member
  • American Bar Association, Member, 1996 – Present
  • The Florida Bar, Sections on Trial Lawyers, Criminal Law, Member, 1995 – Present
  • Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases, 2012 – 2015
  • First Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, 2009-2012
Past Employment
  • Office of the State Attorney, First Judicial Circuit, Assistant State Attorney, 1995 – 1997
Honors and Awards
  • Florida Super Lawyers 2023-2024
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