Jim Wilkes

For the American football player, see Jim Wilks.
For other people with the same name, see James Wilkes (disambiguation).
Jim Wilkes
Born (1950-11-06)November 6, 1950
Tampa, Florida
Nationality American
Alma mater University of South Florida, Stetson University College of Law
Occupation Lawyer
Known for Advocacy of nursing home residents
Website http://www.wilkesmchugh.com

Jim Wilkes (born November 6, 1950) is an American lawyer. Born in Tampa, Florida, he is known for his advocacy on behalf of nursing home residents who have been victims of abuse.[1]

Wilkes received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Florida and his Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1983 and founded the law firm of Wilkes & McHugh, P.A. in 1985.

Jim Wilkes gained national recognition for handling nursing home abuse and neglect lawsuits and his law firm, Wilkes & McHugh, P.A. was recognized by The National Law Journal as one of the top 20 go-to law firms in the nation for its work in the area of nursing home abuse and neglect.[2] He has been featured in People Magazine,[3] as well as on television shows such as Dateline,[4] 48 Hours[5] and CBS Evening News.[6]

He has been both praised and criticized for his aggressive representation of his clients. One profile cast him as either “Angel or Anti-Christ” saying he was an angel to plaintiffs but a “demon” to nursing home operators (Arkansas Times, December 7, 2001) and was once called a “migratory predator” by the director of the Alabama nursing home association.Long-Term Living Magazine wrote that Wilkes could be “described as a ‘holy terror’ for nursing home administrators everywhere…” in an article that named him one of the top 10 most influential people in the industry.[7]

He is licensed to practice law in eight states including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee and is a member of the American Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice,[8] (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America).

Cronan, Carl (02/11/2011). "Bedside Advocate." Gulf Coast Business Review.
Over the last 26 years, Jim Wilkes has built a reputation as a vanguard against nursing home abuse and neglect. It's a job he would rather not do, but he vows to do it for as long as he is able.[9]

Beyond the practice of law

Wilkes’ notoriety extends beyond the courtroom. For over two decades he has been a fixture in the halls of government in several state capitals and in Washington D.C., and has worked to protect the legal rights of the elderly. It is in this arena where he has been the most outspoken advocate for preventing abuse before it starts.[10][11] That is why, in part, he created a full-time advocacy group, The Coalition to Protect America’s elders, now known as Families for Better Care.[12] The group serves as a voice for nursing home residents and advocates for change to our nation’s long-term care delivery system. In recognition of the effectiveness of this advocacy group, the former Executive Director of Families for Better Care was elected to serve as the president of the nation’s largest and oldest nursing home resident advocacy group, The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care.[13]

Wilkes was recognized as among the first Americans to make a significant donation to the 2004 tsunami relief in Southeast Asia, donating to the effort to aid orphan children whose parents were taken by the disaster.[14] Following his tour of tsunami-ravaged areas, he was met, in "small-world"[15] fashion by the entourages of the then-Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Colin Powell as they commenced their efforts to bring attention to the disaster.

Jim Wilkes also serves as a personal mentor and legal advisor to two nationally-recognized sports champions. As featured in the New York Times, Jim Wilkes has been an advisor and friend to former boxing super middleweight champion Jeff Lacy and junior middleweight champion Ronald Winky Wright.[16][17] Wilkes was nominated for the Al Buck Manager of the Year for 2004-2005 by the Boxing Writers Association of America.[18]

Wilkes is also involved in the music industry as a performer and business manager. He launched Streamsound Records, along with long-time producer Byron Gallimore.[19][20] The roster includes Jaida Dreyer, who released her debut album I Am Jaida Dreyer in early 2013, Austin Webb and Dakota Bradley.[21] Streamsound Records is based in Nashville, TN.[22]

Wilkes also released several musical compilations ranging from country/rock to jazz standards and top 40. His albums include Then & Now,[23] Bittersweet,[24] and Beyond the Blue.[25] Wilkes is also a featured artist on the website, (under discography), of multi-platinum musical producer Ron Oates.[26]

Sources

  1. ↑ http://www.businessobserverfl.com/section/detail/bedside-advocate/
  2. ↑ McAree, Dee: "Carving Out a Lucrative Niche". National Law Journal, July 26, 2004
  3. ↑ Charles, Nick & Sider, Don: "Make Them Pay, Attorney Jim Wilkes Takes Neglectful Nursing Homes to Court for Their Carelessness". People Magazine, November 11, 1999
  4. ↑ Datline: "Video Cameras in Nursing Homes". NBC, August 1, 2000
  5. ↑ 48 Hours: "Saving Mom & Dad". CBS, July 30, 1998
  6. ↑ CBS Evening News: "Nursing Homes in Trouble". CBS, May 18, 2000
  7. ↑ http://www.ltlmagazine.com/article/ltcs-10-most-influential-people
  8. ↑ American Association for Justice
  9. ↑ "Bedside Advocate". Gulf Coast Business Review, February 11, 2011
  10. ↑ "The Rise of Malpractice in Long-Term Care: An Attorney's View of Clinical Care". American Geriatrics Society's National Convention
  11. ↑ "Interdisciplinary Planning as a System to Achieve Resident Standards of Care". Senior Services Network's Senior Services Seminar
  12. ↑ Families for Better Care
  13. ↑ National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
  14. ↑ Smith, Brad: "Local Lawyer Sees Tsunami Devastation", Metro Section, Page 1. Tampa Tribune, January 12, 2005
  15. ↑ Kennedy, John and Mahlburg, Bob: "Bush Sees Familiar Face in Thailand", Section B, Page 5. Orlando Sentinel, January 23, 2005
  16. ↑ Berkow, Ira: "BOXING; Fighter and Lawyer Are Hard to Beat as an Unlikely Team", Section D, Page 7. New York Times, August 2, 2005
  17. ↑ Cotey, John C.: "Fortune Finds Way to Fame", Section C, Page 1. St. Petersburg Times, August 3, 2005
  18. ↑ Boxing Writers Association of America.
  19. ↑ "McGraw producer Gallimore forms label", Country Standard Time, February 21, 2012
  20. ↑ "New Nashville Label, Streamsound Records, Launched", Radio-Info.com, February 21, 2012
  21. ↑ Cotey, John C.: "Fortune Finds Way to Fame", Section C, Page 1. St. Petersburg Times, August 3, 2005
  22. ↑ Boxing Writers Association of America.
  23. ↑ Wilkes, Jim: "Then & Now". Stevan Pippin, Tough & Tender Records in association with Windhaven Productions
  24. ↑ Wilkes, Jim: "Bittersweet". Stevan Pippin, Mainstar Entertainment 2000
  25. ↑ Wilkes, Jim: "Beyond the Blue". Stevan Pippin, Mainstar Entertainment 2005
  26. ↑ Ron Oates. Website

Other sources

Douherty, Geoff (1999-03-29). "Mr. Nursing Home Lawsuit / Wild Wild Wilkes". St. Petersburg Times. pp. 1, sec. A. 

Reincheld, Aaron (2004). Part-time Student Awarded Largest Stetson Scholarship Ever. Stetson Lawyer. p. 32. 

"Florida Justice Association's President's Award , 1997; Florida Justice Association's John E. Krupnick Award for Perseverance, 2005; and the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform's Special Appreciation Award, 2006". 

Smith, Doug (2001-12-07). "Angel or Anti-Christ.". Arkansas Times. 

Miller, Adam (2001-01-01). "Angels of Death.". Law.com. 

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