Accepts Credit Cards

(Main Office)

Statement of Practice

Personal injury (medical malpractice, wrongful death, slip and falls, dog bites, auto accidents, boat accidents), Real Estate Law (litigation, development law, foreclosures, land use, 1031 Exchanges, construction litigation, commercial and residential real estate closings, foreclosures, deeds), Construction Litigation, Association Law (claim of lien, general counsel, collections), Business and Corporate Law (incorporations, operating agreements, management agreements, partnerships, contracts), Criminal Law (DUI/DWI, theft, drug charges, white collar crimes, misdemeanors/felonies, violation of probation), Family Law (pre-nuptial/post-nuptial agreements, divorce, child custody, modifications), Collections, Insurance Law (consumer rights and bad faith claims), Bankruptcy Law (creditor and debtor), Municipal Law, Litigation, Appeals, General Civil Litigation and Mediations.

Representative Clients:

The firm serves as counsel to many businesses and companies throughout the Panhandle such as Whitney National Bank
Peoples First Community Bank
Pelican Real Estate & Development, Inc.
Dune-Allen Realty, Inc.
Dune Title Company, LLC
Destin Area Chamber of Commerce
Lagniappe Development, LLC
Re-Max Coastal Properties, Inc.
Compass Bank
Boswell Builders, Inc.
Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union
Rosemary Beach Property Owners Association, Inc.
Walton County, a political subdivision of the State of Florida
Midland Insurance Group. The firm represents numerous condominium and homeowners associations as well as developers and condominium owners.

Rate Information

Fixed Hourly Rates
Fixed Fees Available
Accepts Major Credit Cards

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express

Address

4477 Legendary Drive, Suite 202
Destin, FL 32541, (Okaloosa Co.)

Phone

Phone: 850-650-0599
Fax: 850-650-4402

Website

http://www.pleatperry.com

Office Hours

Monday: 07:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Tuesday: 07:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Wednesday: 07:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Thursday: 07:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Friday: 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM

PARTNERS

David Brand Pleat (Partner) born Bethesda, Maryland, September 15, 1959; admitted to bar, 1985, Maryland; 1993, District of Columbia; 1995, Florida. Education: Duquesne University (B.A., 1981); University of Baltimore (J.D., 1985). Mr. Pleat, founding partner of the firm, graduated from Duquesne University in 1981 (B.A.). He attended law school at the University Of Baltimore (J.D. 1985) and was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1985. He served as a law clerk for the Honorable J. James McKenna, Circuit Court Judge, Montgomery County, Maryland, following admission to the Bar. In 1993, he was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar, and in September 1995, he was admitted to the Florida Bar. Mr. Pleat practiced for ten years as a litigator in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas. He relocated to Florida and has practiced in Florida since 1995. He has extensive litigation experience in a variety of state and federal courts. He has litigated cases in the areas of personal injury (wrongful death, complex medical malpractice, auto accidents); real estate (foreclosures, litigation, developments, closings); condominium and homeowner's association law (litigation, foreclosures, collection work, general counsel); business and corporate law; and general civil litigation matters. In addition to being a member of two state and the District of Columbia bars, he is also admitted to practice in two federal district courts. Member: Okaloosa-Walton County Bar Association; The Florida Bar (First Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee, 2008-2011); Florida Justice Association; US District Court Northern District of Florida; Destin Chamber of Commerce (Chair, 2007). Practice Areas: Litigation; Personal Injury; Wrongful Death; Real Estate; Condominium Association Law; Automobile Accidents and Injuries; Dog Bites; Motor Vehicle Accidents and Injuries; Motorcycle Accidents; Appellate Practice; Corporate Law; General Practice; Civil Litigation; Trial Practice; Condominium Development; Condominium Law; Homeowners Association Law; Real Estate Collections; Real Estate Foreclosure; Real Estate Litigation; Real Estate Partnerships; Real Estate Sales; Real Property Development; Civil Practice; Business Law; Business Formation; Business Litigation; Buy-Sell Agreements.Email: David Brand Pleat

Amy A. Perry (Partner) born Shreveport, Louisiana, August 24, 1965; admitted to bar, 1990, Georgia; 1999, Florida. Education: Louisiana Tech University (B.S., cum laude, 1987); Emory University School of Law (J.D., 1990). She is a senior partner with the Destin law firm of Pleat & Perry, P.A. She graduated from Louisiana Tech University, cum laude, in 1987. She attended Emory University School of Law (J.D. 1990) and was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1990. From 1991 to 1992, Ms. Perry practiced in Atlanta, Georgia as an Estate & Gift Tax Attorney with the Internal Revenue Service. From 1992 to 1999, Ms. Perry worked for the IRS, Office of Chief Counsel where she tried cases before the United State Tax Court and gave advice within the Internal Revenue Service on collection, general tax and criminal tax matters. She relocated to Florida in 1999. She was also admitted to The Florida Bar in that same year. Ms. Perry's primary practice areas include real estate law (developer matters, closings, litigation); condominium and homeowner's association law (claim of liens, foreclosure, collections, general counsel); personal injury; business/corporate law; and general civil litigation matters. Ms. Perry has also been a Supreme Court Certified Mediator since 2004. In addition to being a member of two state bars, Ms. Perry is also admitted to practice in two federal district courts and the United States Tax Court. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce (Board Member, 2009), Feline Friends of Destin, Inc. (Board Member, 2003-2008), Habitat for Humanity in Okaloosa County, Inc. (Chairman, 2007; Board Member 2003-present), the Association for Conflict Resolution, and various individual state and county bar associations. Certified Mediator, Supreme Court. Member: Okaloosa-Walton County Bar Association; The Florida Bar; State Bar of Georgia; United States Tax Court; United States District Court-Northern District of Florida; United States District Court-Northern District of Georgia. Practice Areas: Litigation; Real Estate; Tax Law; Condominium Law; Business Law; Personal Injury; Condominium Association Law; Condominium Development; Real Estate Contracts; Real Estate Development; Real Estate Foreclosure; Real Estate Mediation; Real Estate Litigation; Accidents; Bodily Injury; Personal Injury Mediation; Wrongful Death; Mediation; Civil Appeals; Appellate Practice.Email: Amy A. Perry

William J. Ritchie (Partner) born 1961; admitted to bar, 1990, Florida; U.S. District Court, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Louisiana. Education: University of Southern Mississippi (B.M.Ed., 1984); University of Alabama at Birmingham (M.P.H., Public Health, 1989); Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., 1989). Mr. Ritchie has also been admitted pro hoc vice in the Supreme Court of Mississippi and the Supreme Court of Alabama. He has extensive experience as a trial lawyer in the areas of civil and criminal litigation, both in the state and federal court systems. He has litigated cases in the area of general civil litigation; family law (pre-nuptial/post-nuptial agreements, divorce, child custody, modifications); environmental law; real estate; bankruptcy law (creditor and debtor); criminal law (DUI/DWI, theft, drug charges, white collar crimes, misdemeanors/felonies, violation of probation); sexual harassment cases; and general civil litigation matters. Mr. Ritchie is a member of the Okaloosa-Walton Bar Association and Walton County Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Ritchie is also active in the American Cancer Society, Freeport Relay For Life (Advocacy Chair, 2008), Walton County Chamber of Commerce (Coastal Area Council and Freeport Area Council) and the Freeport Rotary (2007). Member: Okaloosa-Walton Bar Association; The Florida Bar; Criminal Defense Lawyers. Practice Areas: Family Law; Criminal Law; Child Custody; Child Support; Bankruptcy; Bankruptcy Chapter 7; Bankruptcy Chapter 11; Bankruptcy Chapter 13; Creditor Bankruptcy; Debtor Bankruptcy; Assault and Battery; Criminal Defense; DUI/DWI; Expungements; Felonies; Misdemeanors; Traffic Violations; Alimony; Divorce; Post Divorce Modification; Postnuptial Agreements; Premarital Agreements; Restraining Orders; Separation Agreements; Paternity; Name Changes; Marital Agreements; Domestic Violence.Email: William J. Ritchie

ASSOCIATES

Ryan O. Garrity (Associate Counsel) born Spain, 1972; admitted to bar, 2002, Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S., 1995); Florida State University (J.D., 2002). Fyan O. Garrity graduated from the University of Florida in 1995. He attended law school at Florida State University (J.D., 2002) and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 2002. Mr. Garrity is admitted to the United States District Court Northern District of Florida and the United States Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Florida. Mr. Garrity joined the firm in January, 2009. Mr. Garrity served as Associate Counsel for First American Title Insurance Company until 2005. Mr. Garrity's practice focuses on real estate and corporate matters, including title insurance, local developmental law matters and construction contract and lien issues. Mr. Garrity is capable of monitoring acquisitions, special projects and Federal and State statutory compliance issues, related to a client's business operations in each state that it transacts business. Mr. Garrity also has experience in underwriting and claims functions related to real estate litigation and in lobbying the Florida legislative branch on issues vital to Real Estate. Mr. Garrity is currently a member of the Freeport Area Counsel, Freeport Little League Board of Directors/Member, Destiny Worship Center and the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. Member: The Florida Bar. Practice Areas: Municipal Law; Bankruptcy; Creditor Bankruptcy; Consumer Bankruptcy; Business Law; Joint Ventures; Limited Liability Company Law; Buying and Selling of Businesses; Buy-Sell Agreements; Business Start-Ups; Business Planning; Business Organization; Business Litigation; Business Formation; Business Dissolutions; Closely Held Business Law; Construction Law; Construction Contracts; Construction Defects; Construction Claims; Construction Liens; DUI/DWI; Bank Foreclosures; Real Estate; Conveyancing; Condominium Law; Community Association Law.Email: Ryan O. Garrity

Andrew Wood (Associate) born 1974; admitted to bar, 2004, Florida. Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.S., Psychology, 2000); Florida Coastal School of Law (J.D., 2003). Mr. Wood was a member of the Law Review while at Florida Coastal. He practiced in both Jacksonville, Florida, and the Destin/Fort Walton Beach area. He is admitted to practice in both the Northern and Middle District Federal Courts. Mr. Wood focuses his practice on general civil litigation, homeowner and condo association law, real estate, construction defect, personal injury and family law. Mr. Wood is a member of Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Board of his homeowners association. Mr. Wood is married to a fellow attorney and has two sons. Member: Okaloosa-Walton County, Jacksonville and American Bar Associations; The Florida Bar. [With U.S. Navy, 1992-1995]. Practice Areas: General Practice; Real Estate; Condominium Association Law; Condominium Law; Homeowners Association Law; Real Estate Foreclosure; Real Estate Litigation; Construction Defects; Construction Law; Construction Litigation; Personal Injury; Automobile Accidents and Injuries; Motor Vehicle Accidents and Injuries; Slip and Fall; Wrongful Death; Family Law; Divorce; Domestic Violence; Marital Agreements; Paternity; Separation Agreements; Spousal Support; Uncontested Divorce; Business Law; Contracts; Insurance Defense; Mortgage Foreclosure.Email: Andrew Wood

Winter E. Spires (Associate) born 1980; admitted to bar, 2006, Florida; 2009, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida. Education: University of Florida (B.S. Human Resource Development and Business Administration, with honors, 2002); Florida State University College of Law (J.D., 2006). Ms. Spires grew up in the Panhandle area in Marianna, Florida. Her practice focuses on commercial transactions, criminal law, collection law, family law, landlord/tenant disputes and general civil litigation. Ms. Spires is a member of The Florida Bar (Family Law Section, Children's Issues Committee), the American Bar Association, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and the Emerald Coast Emerging Leaders. Ms. Spires also participated in Destin Forward, a program designed for future leaders, in 2007-2008. Ms. Spires also volunteers for the Ronald McDonald House. Member: Okaloosa-Walton County Bar Association; The Florida Bar; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Real Estate; Collections; Commercial Collections; Family Law; Divorce; Marital Agreements; Spousal Support; Separation Agreements; Restraining Orders; Postnuptial Agreements; Premarital Agreements; Paternity; Alimony; Criminal Law; Assault and Battery; Burglary; Criminal Defense; Drivers License Suspension; DUI/DWI; Expungements; Felonies; Misdemeanors; Traffic Violations; Condominium Association Law; Condominium Law; Homeowners Association Law; Real Estate Collections; Real Estate Foreclosure; Real Estate Litigation.Email: Winter E. Spires