James Rinaman Marks 50 Year of Service Milestone

Marks Gray P.A., a 111-year-old Jacksonville-based law firm, is celebrating the half-century career of the firm's longest standing attorney, IADC Emeritus Member James C. Rinaman, Jr. On June 2, 2010, Rinaman marked 50 years of service to the firm since joining the practice in 1960.

"A career spanning 50 years is itself a remarkable accomplishment," said firm President, Gerald W. Weedon. "On top of that, to practice one's entire career with the same firm is rare. Marks Gray has been honored by Mr. Rinaman's 50 years of service.”

Many things have changed at Marks Gray and in the legal profession since 1960. Mr. Rinaman has seen the firm double in size, complete two office relocations, two name changes, advance from typewriters to computers and transition from window air-conditioning units to central A/C.

During his half-century of practice to date, Mr. Rinaman has distinguished himself as an trial advocate, community leader, military officer, and servant of the bar.

Mr. Rinaman earned his bachelor’s degree in 1955 from the University of Florida and received his L.L.B. in 1960. Since joining Marks Gray, Mr. Rinaman’s practice has focused on business, insurance, administrative and governmental law, commercial litigation, and products liability defense, professional malpractice and other tort claims. He is a Florida board certified civil trial lawyer and civil mediator and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for personal injury and commercial litigation.

Throughout his career, Mr. Rinaman has been committed to service to the bar. He has served as president of the Jacksonville Bar Association, the Florida Bar, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, and the Association of Defense Trial Lawyers. He was a founding member and chair of Lawyers for Civil Justice, Inc. and the Florida Volunteer Lawyers Resource Center.

Mr. Rinaman was counsel for the Duval County Legislative Delegation in 1965 and 1967 and for the president of the Florida Senate, John E. Mathews, in 1969.

In 1966, Mr. Rinaman served on the Local Government Study Commission of Duval County as chair of its public utilities task force and as a member of the charter drafting committee for Jacksonville Consolidates Government. In 1967, He was chief counsel for the delegation for passage of the charter. Mr. Rinaman was general counsel for the Consolidated City of Jacksonville under Mayor Hans G. Tanzler, Jr. from 1969 to 1971 and was a member of the board of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority from 1971 until 1980.

Mr. Rinaman was a founding member and later president of Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. and Leadership Jacksonville, Inc. In 1983, he was chairman of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and he has also served as president of the Jacksonville chapter of the March of Dimes and the Northeast Florida chapter of the American Red Cross.

Mr. Rinaman was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1955 until 1957and served with the Florida Army National Guard from 1957 until he retired as a Brigadier General in 1992. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and the Florida Cross.

Mr. Rinaman and his wife Gloria were married on August 9, 1958, and have four grown children, James III, Mark, Christine and Karen, and 10 grandchildren.