Petra L. Justice is a shareholder in the appellate department at Banker Lopez Gassler P.A. in Tampa, Florida. She represents clients in complex civil litigation, focusing on aviation, products liability, and appellate matters. Drawing on her experience as trial counsel in both state and federal courts, she provides strategic support to trial teams, assisting with evidentiary issues, complex legal motions, and record preservation.
Her extensive trial background enables her to anticipate and address legal issues at every stage of litigation, from pre-trial motion practice through appeal. Ms. Justice regularly drafts and argues complex motions, including summary judgment motions, Daubert challenges, motions in limine, and post-trial motions. She works closely with trial teams to ensure that every case is positioned for success both at trial and on appeal.
Representative Experience
•Banker Lopez Gassler P.A., Tampa, FL
Shareholder, December 2013 to Present
Associate, November 2008 to November 2013
•Fowler White Boggs Banker P.A., Tampa, FL
Associate, August 2008 to October 2008
•Office of the State Attorney, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Clearwater, FL
Certified Legal Intern, January 2008 to May 2008
•Chief Judge Robert Morris, Jr., Sixth Judicial Circuit, Clearwater, FL
Judicial Intern, Summer 2007
•Office of the United States Attorney, Middle District of Florida
Legal Intern, Summer 2006
•Office of the State Attorney, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Tampa, FL
Victim Assistance Program Legal Intern, Summer 2003
Presentations and Publications
Presentations
•Moderator, Insights from Your Aviation Clients: Get the Inside Scoop on Substantive and Business Issues and Beyond, DRI Annual Aviation Committee Meeting, October 2015
•Co-Presenter, Product Inspections, DRI Products Liability Conference, Las Vegas, NV, February 2015
•Moderator and Co-Presenter, 5 Hour Law and Ethics Update Presentation, Mercury Insurance, St. Petersburg, FL, May 2014
•Moderator, Various Topics, Mercury Insurance, St. Petersburg, FL, December 2013
•Presenter, Effective Use of Animations in Aviation Cases, DRI Annual Aviation Committee Meeting, Chicago, IL, October 2013
•Presenter, Spoliation of Evidence and E-Discovery, HCBA 16th Annual Bench Bar Conference, Tampa, Florida, October 2012
•Presenter, Spoliation of Evidence, Hillsborough County Paralegal Association Conference 2010, Tampa, FL.
•“Spoliation of Evidence,” Rimkus 6th annual CE seminar for claims handlers and other insurance professionals, Orlando, Florida, March 2011
•“Chinese Toxic Products from Toys to Pet Foods to Drywall,” Co-Authored by Nava Ben-Avraham, Terry Ford, Jeffrey James, Michele Johnson and Petra Justice. Presented by Frank H. Gassler at the Annual Meeting of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Hot Springs, Virginia, July 2009.
Publications
•Contributing Author to Firm’s First 5 Hour Law and Ethics Update, Winter 2014
•Why Non-Final GARA Denials Deserve Certiorari Review: “When Your Money Is Gone, That Is Permanent, Irreparable Damage To You”, Co-Authored with Erica Healey, 42 Stetson L. Rev. 457 (2013).
•Contributing Author, DRI Products Liability Seminar Case Law Update. Winter 2010.
•Author, Applying the Economic Loss Rule in Aviation Actions Based on Injuries to Third-Parties, DRI Aviation Committee’s Publication, Skywritings, Fall 2010.
•Author, Amendments to Florida’s Standard Civil Jury Instructions, Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Publication, Lawyer, June 2010.
•Author, Admitting Public Records at Trial, American Bar Association, Journal of the Trial Evidence Committee, Proof, Vol. No. 17, issue 5, Fall 2009.
•Contributing Author, Chinese Toxic Products from Toys to Pet Foods to Drywall. Presented by Frank H. Gassler at the Annual Meeting of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Hot Springs, Virginia, July 2009
Community Involvement
•Stetson University College of Law, Advocacy Skills Trainer (Spring 2010)
Assistant Coach of the 2010 National Trial Competition Championship Team
Distinctions
•The Best Lawyers in America, 2016-2026
•Florida Super Lawyers, 2019-2020
•Florida Rising Star , 2012-2018
•Best Advocate Award, 16th Annual National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Trial Competition
•Best Appellate Brief, Research and Writing II, Spring 2006
•Book Award, Research and Writing II, Spring 2006
•International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award, presented to one person at graduation for Overall Excellence in Advocacy, Evidence, and Trial Practice
