Thomas Lee Toone

Attorney at Law

Personal

Born on October 28,1947 in Kermit, Texas
Beer & Toone, P.C.
76 East Mitchell Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85012-2330
(602) 263-0900
Fax:  (602) 263-0917
E-mail Thomas L. Toone

Education

University of Texas at Austin, Juris Doctor (1973)
University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Arts, Zoology/Pre-Med (1970)

Work and Professional History
Trial Attorney/Shareholder
1980 - Present
Beer & Toone, P.C.
1975 - 1980
Beer & Kalyna, P.C.
Trial Attorney/Associate
1973 - 1975
State of Texas, Secretary of State
Elections Attorney
1973 - 1976
State of Texas, State Senate 
Committee Counsel
1970 - 1973
Army Reserve National Guard
Judge Advocate

Bar Affiliations

1973    State Bar of Texas
1976    State Bar of Arizona
1976    U.S. District Court of Arizona
1981    U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
1982    U.S. Supreme Court

Legal Specialization
1995 – Present Certified by the State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation

Professional Associations and Honors

Memberships

American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow)
American Board of Trial Advocates (President, Phoenix Chapter, 2002-2004)
Arizona's Finest Lawyers (Member)
Maricopa County Bar Association (President 2000-2001; Board of Directors 1995-2002)
International Association of Defense Counsel
Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
Defense Research Institute
Aviation Insurance Association
Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association
National Transportation Safety Board Bar Association (Founding Member)
American Bar Association
Arizona Bar Foundation (Fellow)

Publication Listings

Martindale-Hubbell: rating AV since 1982
The Best Lawyers in America
"Valley's Best 125 Attorneys," Phoenix Magazine
Who's Who in American Law (Marquis)
Southwest Super Lawyers 2007 (Personal Injury Defense)
Best of the U. S.

Teaching Positions

Faculty, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (Western Region)
Faculty, Crash Survival Investigation Advanced Course (Tempe, Arizona)
Faculty, 2000 IADC Trial Academy (University of Colorado, Boulder)

Professional Appointments
1989 - Present Judge Pro Tempore, Maricopa County Superior Court
1989 - Present Served as a court-appointed settlement judge and/or as private mediator or arbitrator in over 1,300 cases

Practice Experience

Jury and non-jury trials for wrongful death, personal injury and property damages, including claims involving aircraft crashes (commercial and private airplanes, gliders, ultralights, helicopters, balloons), airport and airline liability, products liability, pesticides, bailment and contract disputes, auto accidents, and insurance coverage/bad faith litigation.  Litigation experience in professional malpractice (medical practitioners, insurance agents and adjusters), toxic torts, real estate and commercial transactions, premises liability, bankruptcies and receivership proceedings, and administrative law, primarily dealing with FAA enforcement proceedings.  Appellate practice experience before Arizona Court of Appeals, Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  Appointed as judge pro tempore of the Maricopa County Superior Court since 1989.  Served as settlement judge, arbitrator or mediator in over 1,300 cases in Maricopa County. 

Community Involvement

Verde Vaqueros of Scottsdale (Trail Ride charity group)
President 1991-1992, 2000-2001

Sheriff's Mounted Posse of Maricopa County
President 2008