Rodriguez, Joseph E.

Lorraine Robinson was born and raised in Clearwater. Her friends call her "Lorrie" and she invites you to as well! Lorrie's interest in trial law surfaced very early in her life when, at 12 years of age, she read an exciting biography about early 20th century criminal defense attorney Earl Rodgers, who later was the inspiration for the fictional character Perry Mason. From that point forward, Lorrie knew she was going to be a lawyer and to her that meant a "trial lawyer."
Her early interest was confirmed and deepened as she took her first speech and debate class; later participating on debate teams through out her high school and college years loving every minute of it! Her most formative experiences in law school occurred during the summer of 1977 when she clerked with the Clearwater State Attorney's office and then in 1978 when she interned with the Public Defender's office in West Palm Beach.

Within a week after her graduation from law school in March 1979, she returned as a lawyer to start work at the Public Defender's office in West Palm Beach. It was there she learned the ropes of trial practice over the course of the following 10 years. Over those years, she tried well over 100 serious felony cases before Palm Beach county juries including several first degree murder trials. Towards the end of her career as a Public Defender, she served as Chief of Felonies supervising approximately 25 felony attorneys while continuing to handle and try serious cases that needed her attention.

In 1989, Lorrie was approached with an opportunity to enter civil practice with an established firm handling commercial litigation and personal injury cases. She accepted the opportunity to take on the challenge of civil trial law. In 1992, she returned to the Tampa Bay area to be of assistance to her mother. She accepted a position with a Tampa firm where she continued her practice in the area of commercial litigation and personal injury. Lorrie joined Perenich Caulfield Avril Noyes & Perenich in 1998 as an associate bringing more than 20 years of personal injury experience to the firm.

Lorrie is a member of the Clearwater Bar Association and the Florida Justice Association. She formerly served as President of the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. She has taught at numerous seminars and in educational settings on Internet and computer usage as well as presentations to paralegals, nurses, and other health care professionals. Presentations have included: "Travels in Cyberspace" at St. Petersburg Junior College; "Internet and the Law" and "Health Care, Hospital Law and Nursing Home Law" for The People's Law School, an educational program sponsored by the Clearwater Bar for the general public; a segment on legal-ethical issues for nurses presented to an advanced nursing class at the USF College of Nursing; a six hour seminar on "Legal/Ethical Issues for Health Care Professionals: A Legal Perspective", St. Petersburg Junior College.

In 2001, she was recognized by the Florida Bar as a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney, a distinction held by a very small percentage of attorneys, in recognition of her knowledge and experience in civil trial practice. She is admitted to practice before all Florida state courts and to the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida and Southern District (including Trial Bar). She currently focuses her practice in all areas of personal injury law including workers compensation and social security disability claims.

In her time away from work, Lorrie loves sharing time with her family and friends, listening to music, reading, enjoying the outdoors at one of our beautiful parks, taking a spin on a bike with her 9 year old niece and watching her adorable black cocker spaniel "Ricky" run down the hallway in the morning as he anticipates his breakfast! She has been involved in many charitable activities over the years including a number of years devoted to the SPCA which will always hold a special place in her heart because of her love for animals. Her major charitable involvement currently is as a member of the Vestry for Church of the Resurrection in Tampa, a missionary outreach of the Anglican Church of Rwanda. Her church sends a mission team to Rwanda each year to assist with HIV Aids Clinics, nursing and medical education, and to provide other support both financial and hands on along with building bonds of friendship. In her years of experience, Lorrie has been fortunate to handle all types of personal injury matters. The opportunity to seek justice and meaningful help for a wrongfully injured person feels like a calling to her whether the case is small or large.