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My first visit to legendary attorney Fred Levin’s Pensacola, Florida home felt like something out of this world. Like going to visit a king in his castle.
Fred called his home “the carriage house,” and it’s among the most exquisitely appointed places I’ve ever seen. Not because of its opulence — the home itself is not ostentatious on approach — but the inside is a monument to a life well lived and an enviable career.
Like everyone who knew him, I was sad to hear of Fred’s passing. Fred and his son, Martin Levin, have been great friends to Top Class Actions for a number of years, and we mourn his loss.
But we’ve got great memories of a unique human being who helped us and so many others.
Those who know him even a little bit know Fred exuded southern charm, and I supposed upon receiving an invitation to dinner at “the carriage house” that naming houses is a thing they do in the south.
Top Class Actions had been meeting with partners at Levin Papantonio all day, and I was thrilled at the chance to get to know the man who helped create a firm that became a legal giant; the guy who BEAT the tobacco companies. So the invitation to dinner was special already.
The ride over ended up being special, too.
Fred sends his personal Mercedes-Maybach to pick me up from the Holiday Inn Express where we were staying. Behind the wheel is his good friend and right arm, Phillip Morris. Yep, a beautiful, luxurious ride that has more options in the back seat than a massage chair (and yes it has that as well.)
We arrived after a short drive to a beautiful two-story home. It wasn’t a huge mansion, like I expected, but a very nicely built home that was very upscale and classy. Phillip told me to walk right in and head to the bar.
Delicious aromas emanated from the kitchen. I wandered that way,
“What’s for dinner?” I asked Levin’s personal chef.
“You’re having Fred’s favorite! You’ll find out soon enough!” the chef said before she shushed me away and pointed me towards the bar. It ended up being the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. More southern charm, this time on a plate.
Strolling through the hallway toward the bar was like walking through a museum. I passed pictures of Fred with presidents, dignitaries, and celebrities. The impressive who’s-who gallery of photos was flanked by fascinating historical memorabilia that Fred liked to collect.
Then I entered the bar. Wow. Another work of art.
Fred and his son had created a full bar, with anything you could ever want to drink — bourbons, whiskeys, scotches, vodkas, rums — a set amid show-stopping custom woodwork. My goodness, the floors, the bar, and even the ceiling were handcrafted. (What I didn’t know when I walked in was that Fred’s son Martin basically carved it. He isn’t just a preeminent lawyer, he also moonlights as a master craftsman and loves working with wood.)
That wasn’t all.
There, in the bar, lit up, was a beautiful convertible Rolls Royce, formerly owned by Aristotle Onassis, the shipping tycoon that married President John F. Kennedy’s widow, Jackie.
That Rolls Royce had transported Aristotle and Jackie between Monte Carlo and Paris. Fred had heard it was available, picked it up, and had it completely restored.
The experience at “the carriage house” was more than impressive.
It’s hard to not feel small around a guy like Fred Levin. A legend. A titan in the industry. I’m not afraid to say that I felt small in the wake of this man’s accomplishments.
But that’s the thing about Fred Levin, he, himself did not make you feel small. Quite the opposite. He was warm and engaging. Anyone could talk to Fred. Southern charm.
I mean anyone. Fred genuinely wanted to help people and didn’t patronize you.
What’s more: If Fred was going to help you, he was going to help you. Call him any time.
That night at dinner, Fred was genuinely interested in Top Class Actions. He told me that he was impressed with my business and that made me feel tremendous. And it was true. Fred continued to support us for a long time and enjoyed seeing how consumers could benefit from a company like ours. We connected on that.
My impression of Fred is that he was a man who had it all and was living his best life. He had been there and done that, and he was enjoying the fruits of his labor. He also liked giving back. Heavy into philanthropy and helping others.
His relaxed life didn’t stop him from working. He was still going into the office every day, listening if you needed him to and offering advice to those around him.
He had good stuff to share. I remember the best piece of advice Fred ever gave me.
“Follow through with your word” is what Fred told me. “If you tell someone that you’re going to do something you do it. That applies whether it’s an employee or an adversary; whether it’s your janitor or your executive team, you better dog-gone do it if you say you’re going to do it.”
We all know Fred followed through. He did for me and Top Class Actions. I’m keeping that piece of advice close to my heart.
–Scott Hardy
Scott Hardy is President and CEO of Top Class Actions.
