education

Mercer University School of Law (J.D., 2000)
Alcorn State University (B.A., 1997), summa cum laude

related practices

related industries

bar admissions

Florida

court admissions

Florida State Courts
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Penelope A. Dixon

Shareholder

Tampa

T: 813.229.4335

F: 813.229.4133

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Penelope Dixon's primary practice area is in civil litigation, commercial litigation, and products liability. She has extensive experience in areas such as products liability, pharmaceutical and medical device mass tort litigation, commercial foreclosures, commercial litigation, and automotive litigation.

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Representative Matters
- McNeil-Miller et al. v. Ford Motor Company, et al.; Hawthorne v. Ford Motor Company, et al. Represented Ford Motor Company in a consolidated rollover products liability action. Plaintiffs, a 19-year old paraplegic, 18-year old suffering from alleged brain injuries and his 8-month old son (ages at the time of the accident) claimed defective handling and stability and restraints in an Explorer. After a three week trial, a state court jury rendered a unanimous defense verdict despite their claims.
- McDonald v. Ford Motor Co., et al. Represented Ford Motor Company in a catastrophic injury case. A 5-year old child was alleged to have suffered enhanced injuries as a result of an alleged improper anchoring system for a child car seat. Plaintiff's jury demand was in excess $20 million dollars. After a three week trial, the jury returned a full defense verdict in less than half a day.

Publications

01.06.2012	Client Alert: “Changes to Removal and Remand Procedures for Civil Actions” (January 6, 2012).
10.07.2007	Co-Author, "Removal After Lowery v. Alabama Power Co.: A Whole New Bag of Tricks," FDLA's The Trial Advocate Quarterly (Fall 2007).
04.01.2006	Co-Author, “Removal,” FDLA's Trial Advocate Quarterly (Spring 2006), and FDLA's The Defense Speaks (April 2006).
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Speaking Engagements
- “Social Media and Consumer Product Incident Databases: Navigating Your Legal Practice and Your Clients through the Sea of Social Discourse,” American Bar Association, 11th Annual Women in Products Liability CLE Seminar, New York City, NY (November 2010)
- “Year-in-Review,” at the ABA Section of Litigation’s Environmental, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committees Joint CLE Seminar (January 28-30, 2010)
- "Expert Discovery," The Florida Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee and the Young Lawyers Division, Basic Discovery 2008, Tampa, FL (May 9, 2008)
- "Client Development 101 in the 21st Century," 8th Annual Women in Products Liability Meeting, New Orleans, LA (October 2007)
- "Trial Techniques for the 'Bet the Company' Case," American Bar Association, Tort & Trial & Insurance Practice Section, 2007 Emerging Issues In Motor Vehicle Products Liability Litigation, Phoenix, AZ (March 2007)
- "Making the Right Pitch - How to Make it to the Big League by Avoiding a Rain Delay," ABA Environmental, Mass Torts, & Products Liability Litigation Committees Joint CLE Seminar, Snowbird, UT (January 2007)
- "Improving Your Federal Practice," George Edgecomb Bar Association (November 2006)
- “Business Development Practice Management, & Personal Satisfaction in The First 10 Years: What Young Lawyers & Their Mentors Can Do Now,” 7th Annual Women In Products Liability Meeting, Las Vegas, NV (September 2006)
- “Trial Errors through the Eyes of the Appellate Bench,” 5th Annual Women In Products Liability Meeting, New York City, NY (November 2004)
- “Take Stock in Children College and Careers Fest,” Hillsborough Community College, Tampa, FL (April 26, 2003 and April 24, 2004)
Professional Recognition
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Recognized as a 2011 “Most Powerful and Influential Women” award recipient by the National Diversity Council
- Selected by Florida Super Lawyers as a 2010 Florida Rising Star
- Selected as one of Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2008 Up & Comers Awards
- Recognized for support by Florida State Conference NAACP Area IX Legal Redress Initiative (April 2005)
- National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Woman Law Student Award
- Mercer University Moot Court Board
Professional and Civic Activities
- American Bar Association
  Section of Litigation
  Products Liability Committee
  Pharmaceutical Subcommittee
  Women in Products Liability Subcommittee, Regional Meeting Planning Committee
  Consumer Products Subcommittee, Co-Chair and Regional Meeting Planning Committee
  Young Lawyers Division (2000-present)
- The Florida Bar (2000-present)
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
  Young Lawyers Division (2000-present)
- National Bar Association (2000-present)
  Commercial Law Section
  Young Lawyer Division
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
  Hillsborough County Chapter, Legal Redress Committee, Chair (2003-2006)
- George Edgecomb Bar Association (2000-present)
  Banquet Committee (2002)
  Scholarship Committee (2003)
  Social Committee, Co-Chair (2003, 2004)
- Hillsborough Reads
  B.C. Graham Elementary School, Volunteer Tutor (2002-2003)
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tampa Bay
  Bowl for Kids Sake (2002, 2003)
- American Diabetes Association
  America’s Walk for Diabetes, Team Member (2003-2007)
- Leadership Tampa Class (2008)
- 13th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee
News

01.18.2011

Penelope A. Dixon Named 2011 Most Powerful and Influential Women by the National Diversity Council

07/02/2007

Penelope A. Dixon Selected for Leadership Tampa 2008