We have limited our areas of practice to Personal Injury/Wrongful Death and Criminal Defense intentionally, so we can provide the most professional representation possible. Because our clients consider us friends, they often call us about other legal matters. In those cases where our services do not apply, we gladly help locate an attorney for them. An attorney, like us, they can trust completely and have confidence will represent their needs to the utmost.

We offer stability in a time when that seems to be lacking. Craig Laporte has been a member since 1985, and Brian Mulligan, since 2001. Frances Werner-Watkins joined the LMW team in 2013. Most of our staff have been with us for more than 10 years, demonstrating the stability we offer. Our attorneys and staff are active in charitable organizations, community events, churches and school activities, demonstrating our commitment to make the place we live better.

Our Mission Statement

“Laporte, Mulligan & Werner-Watkins provides outstanding legal representation with honesty, stability and professional integrity while maintaining a reputation for compassion and a caring attitude.”

Personal service is one of our mantras. When a new client retains us, by the second visit they will be known by name. Unlike many of the “mills” so common in today’s legal environment, we are a small law firm whose goal is to provide personal service. Each client gets to know their attorney and legal assistant personally, and will have the same contacts throughout their case. Our attorneys and staff promptly return calls and remain available to answer questions.

We always offer a free consultation on all legal matters. If we can’t help you, we will tell you. If we believe we can be of assistance, we will let you know that as well. You will always leave the free consultation with more knowledge about your situation than when you arrived in our office. There is no pressure to hire us, but once you do our goal is to take the weight off your shoulders by handling all aspects of your case.

Brian and Frances are both former prosecutors in the Sixth Judicial Circuit and have done nothing but actively represent criminal defendants since they left the State Attorney’s Office. They are in court daily and are well known by the prosecutors, the Court personnel and other defense attorneys. The fact they are frequently asked by other attorneys to represent their important clients or client’s family, expresses the confidence the legal community as a whole places in them.

Our Vision Statement

“To be West Pasco County’s pre-eminent law firm handling personal injury and criminal defense cases as a result of outstanding client satisfaction.”

Craig is a former law enforcement officer who started practicing law in 1983, joining the firm in 1985. Since then he has limited his practice to representing injured people against insurance companies, large corporations and/or negligent persons. He does not represent any insurance companies. He handles cases from beginning to end. When necessary he litigates those cases unlike many PI firms that will settle a case, but won’t actually file a lawsuit on their client’s behalf. He also handles appeals and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Our goal is to complete our representation of clients in a manner that results in their keeping in contact with us. We regularly receive letters and cards from our former clients, just to keep us up to date on how their life is going, long after we have closed their “file.” We never want to lose their respect or friendship.

We have limited our areas of practice to Personal Injury/Wrongful Death and Criminal Defense intentionally, so we can provide the most professional representation possible. Because our clients consider us friends, they often call us about other legal matters. In those cases where our services do not apply, we gladly help locate an attorney for them. An attorney, like us, they can trust completely and have confidence will represent their needs to the utmost.