Meet the Team

Learn More About Thomas, Holladay & Claiborne

Duane E. Thomas, Attorney

Duane and his staff have earned a reputation throughout North Central Florida for tough and thorough representation in all types of accident cases. Although Duane has been blessed in his law practice and has affected the lives of many people, his greatest joy is in spending time with his family. He enjoys staying active with his beloved children and grandchildren.

Educational and Professional Background

Duane is a 1966 graduate of Columbia High School, where he was the Student Body President and played linebacker and fullback for the Tigers. After high school, Duane began pursuing his lifelong dream of becoming an attorney by attending LCCC and the University of Florida. From 1969 to 1971, Duane spent two years in Argentina as a missionary for the LDS Church and became fluent in Spanish. In 1972, Duane received his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in Business Finance. In 1975, Duane received his law degree from the University of Florida, where he graduated with High Honors, 4th in his class, and was admitted to the Florida Bar. Thirty-four years later, Duane is at the very pinnacle of his legal career. In 1986, Duane was elected County Attorney of Columbia County, Florida, and served two years as such. After a very diverse legal experience in the early part of his career, Duane has focused the last 22 years of his law practice in the areas of personal injury, auto accidents, workers’ compensation, and social security disability. Duane represents hundreds of people each year in recovering monetary damages for their injuries from auto accidents, workplace injuries, and premises liability cases.

Family and Community Involvement

Duane E. Thomas is a native of Lake City, FL. Duane and his beautiful wife Karen have seven children and seven grandchildren. Duane and Karen remain active in their church. Duane is also a lover of old cars, and his hobby is his well-restored classic 1965 Pontiac GTO.

Daniel T. Holladay, Attorney

Daniel Holladay grew up in Orlando, Florida but spent much of his childhood visiting family in Lake City, FL, where his family goes back for many generations. It was those childhood visits with local family and community, along with other professional opportunities in Lake City, that led Daniel to join The Law Offices of Duane E. Thomas in 2019.

Education and Professional Background

Daniel received his Bachelor's Degree, in Education, from Brigham Young University and then went on to earn his Law Degree Cum Laude from The University of Florida Levin College of Law. He began his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney for the Fifth Circuit of Florida, where he gained valuable litigation insight. He then went on to serve as a law clerk in the Third Circuit Court of Florida in Lake City, FL, which provided him with a keen knowledge of how the Judiciary functions. Daniel has had a plethora of legal experiences throughout his career that has provided valuable experience for his career advocating for injured people. Daniel has chosen his focus on personal injury law because it allows him to advocate for clients who, most often, have suffered harm through no fault of their own. He takes pride in pursuing the best possible outcome for all of his clients.

Family and Community Involvement

Daniel actively serves in the leadership of his local church and speaks Samoan fluently, a skill he developed after serving a two-year mission in Samoa as a young adult. He is a proud Eagle Scout and enjoys surfing and wakeboarding, but he is always happiest when he is with his wife and two children.

Daniel Holladay grew up in Orlando, Florida but spent much of his childhood visiting family in Lake City, FL, where his family goes back for many generations. It was those childhood visits with local family and community, along with other professional opportunities in Lake City, that led Daniel to join The Law Offices of Duane E. Thomas in 2019 and is now the managing partner of Thomas, Holladay & Claiborne.

Education and Professional Background

Daniel received his Bachelor's Degree, in Education, from Brigham Young University and then went on to earn his Law Degree Cum Laude from The University of Florida Levin College of Law. He began his legal career as an Assistant State Attorney for the Fifth Circuit of Florida, where he gained valuable litigation insight. He then went on to serve as a law clerk in the Third Circuit Court of Florida in Lake City, FL, which provided him with a keen knowledge of how the Judiciary functions. Daniel has had a plethora of legal experiences throughout his career that has provided valuable experience for his career advocating for injured people. Daniel has chosen his focus on personal injury law because it allows him to advocate for clients who, most often, have suffered harm through no fault of their own. He takes pride in pursuing the best possible outcome for all of his clients.

Family and Community Involvement

Daniel actively serves in the leadership of his local church and speaks Samoan fluently, a skill he developed after serving a two-year mission in Samoa as a young adult. He is a proud Eagle Scout and enjoys surfing and wakeboarding, but he is always happiest when he is with his wife and two children.

Austin Claiborne, Attorney

Austin Claiborne is an Equity Partner for our law firm. With a mind for problem-solving and a track record of success, Austin is exactly who you want litigating your auto accident or premises liability case.

Education

Austin earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology from the University of Florida, and went on to become a double-gator by earning his Juris Doctorate from UF’s Levin College of Law.


During law school, Austin won 5 different CALI Excellence for the Future Awards by earning the highest grade in the class for Torts, Accounting, Property Law, Poverty Law, and Trial Team. Austin served as a Teacher’s Assistant in Advanced Trial Practice, and served as the Chair of Education for the Florida Trial Team. As an advocate for the Florida Trial Team, Austin earned a National Championship at the 2019 White Collar Crime Invitational at Georgetown, along with numerous other individual and team awards.

Professional Background

Austin began his legal career by primarily handling family law and criminal law cases. This allowed him to continue to hone his skills in the court room. Eventually, Austin was drawn to personal injury litigation to help people fight back against big insurance companies and corporations.

 

Austin has helped countless injury victims win their case through either pre-suit settlements, or by litigating in court as necessary. He has secured multiple seven-figure results for his clients, and continues the daily fight for full and fair recovery.

 

Austin gives back by serving as an award-winning coach for the Florida Trial Team, as well as serving as a guest judge for UF’s appellate advocacy programs.

Family and Community Involvement

Austin has lived in the North Central Florida area for over a decade. You can often find him and his family at a local park or walking trial, such as Alligator Lake Park or Falling Creek Falls Park. The family also enjoys spending time in Florida’s waterways, like Ichetucknee Springs, the springs along the Suwannee River, or the beaches in Jacksonville. Austin is a proud Eagle Scout who is always ready to lend a helping hand to a friend, neighbor, or stranger.

Bar Admissions

Florida

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida

Consultation – Lake City, FL – The Law Offices of Duane E. Thomas, PLLC

To speak with our attorneys and request a free consultation, call our office at (386) 755-5014 in Lake City, FL.

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