HomeFloridaJacksonvilleWilliam Carl Gentry

William Carl Gentry

Jacksonville, FL54 years experienceAdmitted 1971

About William Carl Gentry

William Carl "W.C." Gentry is Of Counsel at Coker Law in Jacksonville, Florida, with over 45 years of experience in complex personal injury litigation. A Board-Certified Trial Lawyer and Jacksonville native, he has handled some of Florida's most high-profile cases involving public health, safety, and education.

Gentry earned his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Florida College of Law in 1971 and his B.A. in Political Science from Jacksonville University in 1969. He is a Diplomat of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a Master Emeritus of the Chester Bedell American Inn of Courts, and a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator.

His most notable achievement was successfully representing the State of Florida against the tobacco industry, which culminated in a multi-billion dollar settlement and major public health benefits. He served as Past President of the Florida Justice Association, was a founding board member of Trial Lawyers Care (providing pro bono services to 9/11 victims), and served on the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission from 2006 to 2020.

Practice areas

Education

University of Florida College of Law
B.A. in Political Science, 1971
Jacksonville University
Undergraduate, 1969

Bar admissions & credentials

State Bar of Florida, admitted 1971
Florida Justice Association (Past President)
American Board of Trial Advocates (Diplomat)
Chester Bedell American Inn of Courts (Master Emeritus)
American Bar Association
Jacksonville Bar Association
Trial Lawyers Care Inc. (Founding Board Member 2001-2003)
Federal Judicial Nominating Commission (2006-2020)

Awards & recognition

Board-Certified Trial Lawyer - The Florida Bar
Jacksonville Lawyer of the Year (2009)
Perry Nichols Award for Outstanding and Distinguished Service in the Pursuit of Justice (1999)
Career Leadership Award - Florida Justice Association (1994)
Best Lawyers in America (since 1st Edition, 1986)
Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating (since 1976)
Diplomat - American Board of Trial Advocates
Master Emeritus - Chester Bedell American Inn of Courts
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator

Other attorneys at Coker Law Jacksonville

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Proven verdicts and settlements from other Jacksonville firms

Pajcic & Pajcic
Pajcic & Pajcic
$1 billion · Nassau County Jury Returns $1 Billion in I-95 Crash That Killed UNF Freshman Connor Dzion
Rubenstein Law Personal Injury Lawyers
Rubenstein Law Personal Injury Lawyers
$56 million · Billion-Dollar Tobacco Verdict Upheld at $56 Million After SJC Review
Terrell Hogan
Terrell Hogan
$11.3 billion (state share of settlement) · Florida Recovers $11.3 Billion from Tobacco Industry in Landmark Medicaid Settlement
Fasig Brooks Law Offices
Fasig Brooks Law Offices
$5.46 million (gross; 45% comparative negligence applied) · Neighbor's Unguarded Angle Grinder Costs Man His Sight: $5.46 Million Verdict in Gadsden County
AndersonGlenn LLP
AndersonGlenn LLP
$261 million · The $261 Million 'Take Care of Maya' Verdict Against Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Trimmed to About $213 Million by the Trial Judge, Then Reversed in Full by Florida's Second District Court of Appeal in October 2025, With a Narrower Retrial Now Ahead After the Florida Supreme Court Declined Review