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Fax (850) 577-0095
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William D. Hall, III

Of Counsel
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Mr. Hall focuses his practice on administrative and civil litigation, primarily involving Florida state agencies and regulated entities. He has represented numerous private and public clients, with particular experience handling cases involving state procurements/bid protests, state licensing, and administrative rules/rulemaking. Hall has also served as lead counsel on numerous state and federal trial court cases involving business disputes and other civil matters. He is an experienced appellate litigator who has successfully argued a number of cases at state Courts of Appeal.

Beyond litigation, Mr. Hall often works with clients regarding ongoing administrative and legal compliance matters. Specifically, he and his colleagues in Tallahassee work regularly with state regulators regarding necessary approvals, waivers, crafting pertinent administrative guidance, and otherwise striving to ensure their clients can operate with peace of mind in the most efficient and equitable regulatory environment possible.

Hall uses his knowledge and experience to assist clients applying for state licensure or submitting bids for a state procurement. He strives to ensure that his clients are best positioned to defend the award of a license or contract, or to challenge the denial of a license or contract. He is well-versed in reviewing and analyzing published specifications, advising whether any challenge many be necessary to such specifications, helping clients conform their applications or bids to an agency’s criteria or parameters, and other actions.

Prior to entering private practice, Hall served as the chief attorney for the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering within the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. In that role, he served as the chief legal advisor and lead litigator for almost every regulatory matter involving the state’s racetracks and jai lai facilities and their associated cardrooms and casinos. Additionally, Hall managed a team of attorneys, advised the division director on legal matters, reviewed and commented on proposed legislation, and participated in the promulgation of administrative rules.

Prior to serving in that role, Hall was an assistant state attorney in Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit where he represented the state in dozens of criminal jury trials. These cases ranged from misdemeanors such as driving under the influence and domestic battery to complex felonies such as murders and sex crimes.


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Representative Experience

Administrative:

  • Blue Sky Emergency Management v. Dept. of Management Services (20-5570BID) – Successfully defended client’s intended award in a bid protest proceeding. Challenger’s administrative petition was dismissed without a hearing.
  • Metro Treatment of Florida, L.P. v. Dept. of Children and Families (DOAH Case No. 20-4323) – Successfully argued that the agency policy in question was not an invalid unadopted administrative rule.
  • Lifestream Behavioral Center, Inc. v. Dept. of Children and Familes (DOAH Case No. 20-4322) – Successfully defended the award of a methadone medication-assisted treatment center license against the allegation that a competing applicant should have been selected.
  • Gateway Retail Center v. Dept. of Children and Families (DOAH Case No. 20-2660BID) – Successfully defended a state lease award in a bid protest proceeding.
  • Securus Technologies, Inc. v. Dept. of Corrections (DOAH Case No. 19-126BID) – Successfully defended the award of the prison phone system contract in a bid protest proceeding.
  • Dewar Nurseries, Inc. v. Dept. of Health. (DOAH Case No. 18-4463) – Obtained a state medical marijuana license for our client through settlement after challenging the agency’s denial of such a license.
  • Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation v. Jacksonville Kennel Club, Inc. (Division of Administrative Hearings Case No. 16-10009) – Successfully argued that a certain form of card game was being played at Florida pari-mutual wagering facilities in a manner that violated Florida law.
  • West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation (DOAH Case No. 15-6773, 15-6774) - Successfully argued that applications for new summer jai lai permits were properly denied.

Circuit Civil:

  • Southern Poverty Law Center, Inc. v. Dept. of Corrections (Leon Count Circuit Court Case No. 2020 CA 923) – Successfully defended against allegations of a violation of Florida public records laws.
  • Kenmare Commons Homes Association, Inc. et al. v. Huck (Leon County Circuit Court Case No. 2019 CA 2697) – Obtained summary judgment for clients regarding enforcement of home owners’ association covenants
  • Surterra Holdings, Inc. and Surterra Florida LLC v. City of Orlando (Orange County Circuit Court Case No. 2018-CA-2639) – Challenged a city ordinance which precluded our client from opening a medical marijuana dispensary. Obtained the desired result via settlement within days of filing our complaint.

Federal:

  • Jim Bonfliglio Campaign v. Detzner (Northern District of Florida Case No. 4:18cv527-MW/CAS) – Intervened in the recount of a state legislative race on behalf of the governor-elect to ensure that it did not prevent the certification of the election for governor.
  • Disability Rights Florida, Inc. v. Palmer (Northern District of Florida Case No. 4:18cv342-RH/CAS) – Obtained summary judgment for client on all but one issue. Opposing party dismissed its remaining count with prejudice before trial.

Appellate:

  • Barnett v. Dept. of Financial Services (303, So. 3d 508; Florida Supreme Court Case No. SC19-87) – Part of a team of attorneys that successfully argued that a District Court opinion regarding the Florida statute limiting recovery on tort claims against the state should be affirmed
  • Securus Technologies, Inc. v. Dept. of Corrections (Florida First DCA Case No. 1D19-1533) – Successfully argued that an award in a bid protest proceeding should be affirmed.
  • Louis Del Favero Orchids, Inc. v. Dewar Nurseries, Inc., et al. (290 So. 3d 464; Florida First DCA Case No. 1D19-1811) – Successfully argued that a third-party challenge to a settlement through which our client obtained a state medical marijuana license should be dismissed.
  • Liner Source, Inc. v. Dewar Nurseries, Inc., et al. (290 So. 3d 165; Florida First DCA Case No. 1D19-1777) – Successfully argued that a third-party challenge to a settlement through which our client obtained a state medical marijuana license should be dismissed.
  • Dept. of Health, et al. v. Bayfront HMA Medical Center (238 So.3d215; Florida First DCA Case No. 1D17-2174) – Successfully argued that a trial court order for a temporary injunction should be reversed.
  • Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, Inc. v. Dept. of Health, et al. (257 So. 3d 647; Florida First DCA Case No. 1D17-2215) – Successfully argued that an agency order approving an application for a new trauma center should be approved in part. The court determined the only remaining issue to be moot based on recent legislation.
  • Dept. of Health, et al. v. Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, Inc. et al. (259 So. 3d 247; Florida First DCA Case No. 1D17-1713) – Successfully argued that an order invalidating administrative rules relating to the designation of Florida trauma centers should be reversed.
  • West Flagler Associates, Ltd. v. Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation (219 So. 3d 149; Florida Third DCA Case No. 3D16-2311) – Successfully argued that the denial of applicants for summer jai alai permits from a Florida pari-mutual wagering operator should be affirmed.

Professional and Civic Activities

  • Awesome Tallahassee
    • Board Chair
  • Big Brothers, Big Sisters
  • Florida Bar
    • Diversity and Inclusion Committee
    • Leadership Academy, Class V
    • Second Circuit Grievance Committee "B"
      • Chairman, 2016 - 2017
  • Florida State University Student Bar Association
    • President, 2008-2009
  • Leadership Florida Connect, Class 10
  • Leadership Tallahassee, Class 31, Graduate
  • Legal Aid Foundation
    • Board Member
    • President, 2014 - 2015
  • Tallahassee Bar Association
    • Board Member, 2011-2012 and 2014-2015
    • Young Lawyers Section
      • President, 2012-2013
      • Board Member, 2009-2014
  • Young Actors Theatre
    • Board President

Education

  • Juris Doctor: Florida State University College of Law, Tallahassee, Florida, 2009
    • Moot Court Team Member
    • Recipient of Certificate for Distinguished Pro Bono Service
  • Bachelor of Arts: University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 2005

Bar Admissions

  • Florida
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida

Recognition & Awards

  • Honored as Big Brother of the Year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend, 2019
  • Recognized with the Thomas M. Ervin, Jr., Distinguished Young Lawyer Award, 2015
  • Named to the list "Florida's Legal Elite Up & Comers" in the Government/Non-Profit field of law in Florida Trend magazine, 2015, 2019-2020

Publications

  • "The State of Indian Gaming in Florida," Indian Gaming Lawyer, Co-Author, April 19, 2018

Key Legal Services

Primary Industries