About Us

The Villages legal team at Whittel & Melton brings decades of experience as personal injury, criminal, and employment lawyers, proudly helping all types of clients who are on the hunt for effective counsel that emphasizes value-driven results. Our founding partners Robert G. Whittel, Esq. and Jason M. Melton, Esq. have been practicing in Florida courts for the majority of their careers and are members of esteemed professional and bar associations. They remain on the forefront of evolving trends in personal injury and criminal defense trends, and are active thought leaders contributing regularly to thevillageslaw.com blog.

Whittel & Melton founded the firm with the intention of focusing specifically on The Villages, a sprawling master planned 55+ community in central Florida that spans Sumter, Lake and Marion counties. Situated between Ocala and Leesburg, The Villages is a highly desirable community due to its proximity to both the Orlando and Tampa International Airports. Founded by Harold Schwartz and later developed by his son, Gary H. Morse, The Villages was designed as a retirement community for active adults seeking comfortable, high-end living options that are filled with amenities and opportunities to stay active.

With recreational areas, swimming pools, golf courses, and more, The Villages is now home to over 120,000 residents aged 55 and over, with strict rules governing the minimum age of anyone permitted to live on its premises. With such a large population and diverse geography and amenities, The Villages functions much like its own city - and as such, legal issues that would face any large community do arise.

Notably, The Villages residents can easily find themselves at the center of a traffic accident or offense that has the ability to irrevocably alter their life. According to the Florida Integrated Report Exchange System, accidents in the area are increasing each year, with fatalities reaching as many as 76 lives claimed in 2016. Distracted driving, driving under the influence, and the presence of scores of pedestrians and golf carts (it’s estimated that some 50,000 golf carts can be found within The Villages city limits) exacerbate the incidence of serious car accidents in The Villages, and increase the likelihood that a lawsuit will occur. Other incidents, such as slip-and-fall claims, nursing home neglect, medical malpractice and more often occur.

Similarly, with an active older adult population, The Villages is often an epicenter of elder abuse and sexual harm. Though most residents and their caretakers do plenty to protect themselves and respect each residents’ wishes and experiences, elder abuse is certainly present within the community. Caretakers who work within The Villages may find themselves involved in a allegation of criminal conduct or sexual abuse against their charges, which represents a grave and lifestyle-threatening challenge for the accused. Those facing allegations of criminal or sexual abuse are in need of experienced, shrewd counsel that can vigorously defend both their innocence and their honor.

When you work with our attorneys at Whittel & Melton, you work directly with us throughout the entirety of your case. Our strategy is simple and effective: minimize any risk to you while focusing on maximizing your return. We want to provide real solutions that will solve the legal issues you are facing. We will explore all of your options and help you plan the best course for achieving success.

Our Villages Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are dedicated to providing our clients with the legal resources and expertise they need during a crucial time in their lives. We take great pride in our commitment to our clients and the level of legal representation we provide. Our staff has achieved many great successes for our clients over the years, which we believe is a direct result of the high caliber legal services we are devoted to providing.

Because of our commitment to the pursuit of justice for victims and defendants alike, Whittel & Melton was founded to service this dynamic community’s ever-evolving legal needs. By focusing on The Villages community, we have come to uniquely understand the area’s legal system, identifying the best courses of action for each individual case. We view this community as an extension of our own, and take pride in addressing its legal needs with experience, enthusiasm, and relentless effort. If you are currently facing a difficult issue related to your interaction with The Villages community, do not hesitate to contact us to learn more about our services. We are your trusted legal ally no matter the situation you may find yourself in.