As a lead partner with one of the largest and most successful plaintiff's law firm in the United States, Gregorio Francis is nationally known as a champion for the people. His colleagues refer to him as an extraordinarily skilled litigator and astute businessman who is driven by his love for his community and justice for those he represents. Beneath his smooth, silk demeanor, lies an intensely focused competitor whose success can only be matched by his generosity and kindness.
As is often the case in America, success is rooted in complex soil. Gregorio Francis (Greg) was six years old when his parents left Panama to start a new life in the United States. The move was the result of his stepfather, John Thompson, having been stationed in Panama as a Navy sailor. While there, he met the love of his life, Annette, whom he married and brought to the United States. Although born in South Carolina, Thompson had already acquired roots in Orlando before going to Panama. The cultural influence of having being born abroad, then growing up in the Richmond Heights community provided Greg a unique perspective and foundation.
After coming to the United States, Greg was enrolled at Pineloch Elementary, where he completed his elementary education before moving on to Westridge Middle School and Oakridge High School. Early in his education, Greg was identified as having unique problem solving skills. As a result, he was placed in the gifted program, which required him to travel to a different school biweekly in elementary school. In junior high and high school, the gifted program required him to follow a separate curriculum from other students to expand his educational perspective. At the time, he was not particularly pleased about being identified as "gifted" not only because he was an athlete who excelled at football and track. His athletic life made him "different" from his academic peers, while his studious side had the same effect in sports circles. In retrospect those sparks of contradiction ignited a drive in Greg that still burns on high today.
After graduating from high school in 1986, Greg attended the University of Florida in Gainesville. During Greg's undergraduate years, he was involved in a number of leadership organizations including Savant UF and Florida Blue Key. Savant recognizes students with proven leadership abilities. Florida Blue Key is the oldest and most prestigious leadership honorary in the State of Florida. The student leaders inducted into Florida Blue Key are selected in accordance with a very strict process; they are the cream of the crop at the University of Florida. Today, the organization remains powerful and politically active. Many former governors of the State of Florida, famous politicians, and business leaders were members of Florida Blue Key during their collegiate years and accessed that network for much of their careers. During the time when Greg was inducted into Blue Key, there were approximately 200 students in Blue Key out of a total student population of 36,000 at the University of Florida. Only two of those chosen, at the time, were black students.
Upon receiving his bachelor's degree in 1991, he enrolled in the law program at the University of Florida, as a Virgil Hawkins Fellow. He graduated from law school in 1994. While in law school, Greg served as a Justice on the Board of Masters, the "Supreme Court" for students at the University of Florida. During his final year of law school, he was the Chief Justice on the Board of Masters, placing him in the position of deciding which cases to be heard.
Greg's decision to become a lawyer stems back to his childhood in Richmond Heights. He explains, "A lot of kids had the promises of their futures cut short. My best friend ended up with a life sentence for murder and the girl across the street faced similar fate. I grew up in an environment where you had to make potentially life altering choices on a daily basis. The consequences of those choices, which I witnessed others make, left a mark on me. Some made serious mistakes and deserved punishment, while others made rather juvenile indiscretions which were blown out of proportion, yet resulted in them being categorized, leaving them trapped. It was a proving ground where I saw both justice and injustice play out over and over in the streets and playgrounds. I was determined to follow a path that would some day put me in a position to make a difference - to be a voice for the voiceless.
Greg's greatest influence was his grandfather who raised ten kids on a salary of a dock worker for the Panama Canal. He did not have a college degree, yet he was a man of great integrity who left a permanent imprint on Greg's soul. As for his mother, Greg said, "My mother just refused to let me fail. One of her sayings was, 'If better is possible, good isn't good enough.' She always pushed me to go forward to look beyond my current circumstances to dream of things I wanted to be and do--she was a constant endless reservoir of encouragement. My wife, Keisha, now assumes that role. She's someone that provides never ending inspiration and support. She provides sound advice when I face complex decisions."
After law school, Greg went to work for a law firm that specialized in medical malpractice defense. There he represented doctors and hospitals and also defended cities and counties for personal injury causes of action. Soon he became a partner in that firm. After the six years of practice, he joined Morgan & Morgan. At the time that he joined Morgan & Morgan, he was welcomed with open arms; but it was also explained to him, while he could do well there, he will never be an equity shareholder, because that's not how the business plan was set up. After five years, as a result of the abilities he demonstrated both in the courtroom, as well as his ability to bring in new cases, he became an equity shareholder at the firm of Morgan & Morgan, P.A.. Currently, Greg is part of the Executive Management Committee of shareholders, who oversees the day to day management of the firm and expansion into different markets. Morgan & Morgan, P.A. is one of the largest personal injury firms in the United States with more than 120 attorneys nationwide.
Being an attorney has been a rewarding challenge for Greg. In one of his cases, where he served as co-counsel with Johnny Cochran, Jr. a scared young man attempted to flee from police. During the chase, the police alleged that he reached into his waistband so they shot him in the back and killed him. He was later found to be totally unarmed. Greg stated, "He should not have had to die that way. I feel it is my calling to stand up for those, like this unarmed man, who sadly faced such injustice."
Greg is currently litigating a case on behalf of a number of Black farmers, "Pigford II". It involves farmers who have been wrongly discriminated against for many years by the United States Government. The government now has acknowledged that there was discrimination and seeks to compensate the farmers for the discrimination. Greg said, "One can do well AND do good at the same time. 'Pigford II' is a case where I can do a lot of good for thousands of farmers and their families who have suffered discrimination for many years."
"I'm also currently representing a family of immigrants whose child allegedly suffered malpractice. She is now blind, partially deaf and will never be able to take care of herself. The fact that her parents were not born here does not mean that child's plight should not be heard and addressed. "
On May 16, 2009, Greg was inducted honorary member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. This is a testament to his respectability in the community.
On his way to building his illustrious career, Greg has aligned himself with the community, as well. Currently, he is General Council for the Lay-ministry of the African American Episcopal Church where he represents all the non-ministerial members of the AME Church--about three million people. After this appointment, 100 Black Men came calling and asked him to join their organization. He also serves on the Board of the Nap Ford Charter School, which educates mainly inner city kids. In addition, he is on the Board of the Nehemiah Educational and Economic Development Inc., which administers grants for AIDS patients in the Eatonville and Apopka area. Moreover, he recently was appointed to the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) for the Ninth Judicial Circuit, which serves Orange and Osceola Counties (The JNC is the group that interviews and sends the names for consideration by the governor for open judge seats).
On May 16th, Francis was inducted as an honorary member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. This is a testament to his respectability in the community and one of the high points in his life.
And now, after five years, as a result of the abilities Greg has demonstrated both in the courtroom as well as his ability to bring in a tremendous amount of cases, he became an equity shareholder at the firm of Morgan and Morgan--a happy ending to part one of a story that's just begun. Greg has a brilliant future ahead of him. He is definitely one to watch.
On a personal note, Francis and his wife have one daughter and one son, Grier and Gregorio, II.
