In 1961, Fred began practicing in the law firm of Levin & Askew (now known as Levin Papantonio) in Pensacola.
  The firm was founded by his brother David and Reubin Askew, who eventually would go on to become a two-term governor of Florida and candidate for President of the United States.

Fred began his legal career in family law, but once a client explained that her husband said he would kill her divorce lawyer, he chose to switch to general civil law.
  His first case involved an insurance dispute over a residential fire claim.
 The case ended up before a jury.
Fred won the case and decided he wanted to become a trial lawyer.

In the late 1960s, Fred handled a case involving the wrongful death of a child who had taken the antibiotic Chloromycetin.
 Fred won the case.
 While the compensatory damages were not large, the judge allowed Fred to pursue a punitive damage claim which ended up playing a role in the drug being pulled from the market in the United States for most uses.

Fred received national attention with the case of Thorshov v. L&N.  On November 9, 1977, Dr. Jon Thorshov, a thirty-eight-year-old physician, his wife, his four-year-old daughter, and his one-year-old son were at their home in Pensacola when a freight train operated by L&N derailed near their home and released anhydrous ammonia.
 The family attempted to escape their home, but were overcome by the fumes.
 Dr. and Ms. Thorshov died, and both children sustained serious physical injuries.
 In 1980, Fred received a jury verdict for the family in the amount of $18 million.
   As a result of the verdict, US magazine did a story on Fred in its swimsuit preview issue.
On the cover were Randi Oakes from CHiPs, Morgan Fairchild from Flamingo Road, and Donna Mills from Knots Landing.
Inside was a half-page picture of Fred Levin standing in front of an L&N railcar under the headline, "I'll Sue."

To date, Fred has received more than thirty jury verdicts in excess of $1,000,000 (six in excess of $10,000,000).
At various points in his career he has held the national record for jury verdicts involving the wrongful death of a child, the wrongful death of a housewife, the wrongful death of a wage earner, and the largest personal injury verdict in the state of Florida.
 He has been listed in every edition of Best Lawyers in America; is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates; and was inducted into The National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2009.
In 1961, Fred began practicing in the law firm of Levin & Askew (now known as Levin Papantonio) in Pensacola.   The firm was founded by his brother David and Reubin Askew, who eventually would go on to become a two-term governor of Florida and candidate for President of the United States.
Fred began his legal career in family law, but once a client explained that her husband said he would kill her divorce lawyer, he chose to switch to general civil law.   His first case involved an insurance dispute over a residential fire claim.  The case ended up before a jury. Fred won the case and decided he wanted to become a trial lawyer.
In the late 1960s, Fred handled a case involving the wrongful death of a child who had taken the antibiotic Chloromycetin.  Fred won the case.  While the compensatory damages were not large, the judge allowed Fred to pursue a punitive damage claim which ended up playing a role in the drug being pulled from the market in the United States for most uses.
Fred received national attention with the case of Thorshov v. L&N.  On November 9, 1977, Dr. Jon Thorshov, a thirty-eight-year-old physician, his wife, his four-year-old daughter, and his one-year-old son were at their home in Pensacola when a freight train operated by L&N derailed near their home and released anhydrous ammonia.  The family attempted to escape their home, but were overcome by the fumes.  Dr. and Ms. Thorshov died, and both children sustained serious physical injuries.  In 1980, Fred received a jury verdict for the family in the amount of $18 million.    As a result of the verdict, US magazine did a story on Fred in its swimsuit preview issue. On the cover were Randi Oakes from CHiPs, Morgan Fairchild from Flamingo Road, and Donna Mills from Knots Landing. Inside was a half-page picture of Fred Levin standing in front of an L&N railcar under the headline, "I'll Sue."
To date, Fred has received more than thirty jury verdicts in excess of $1,000,000 (six in excess of $10,000,000). At various points in his career he has held the national record for jury verdicts involving the wrongful death of a child, the wrongful death of a housewife, the wrongful death of a wage earner, and the largest personal injury verdict in the state of Florida.  He has been listed in every edition of Best Lawyers in America; is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates; and was inducted into The National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2009.
Fred Levin