John S. Garner brings decades worth of litigation experience to Scialdone Law Firm, specializing in commercial dispute resolution & trial preparation. He combines naval experience on large & small combatants to effectively achieve the best & most efficient results for both large corporate clients & the family next door. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Garner was retired as a Naval Officer completing two tours to the Persian Gulf on a forward deployed minesweeper & a lengthy tour assigned to a cruiser out of Subic Bay. Mr. Garner obtained his J.D. in Law from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA in 1995, & his L.L.M. in Admiralty in 1997. After completing his formal education, Mr. Garner began working as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Black from Jan 97 - 98 (D.N.M.). As first & second chair in numerous trials before the state & federal courts of Louisiana, Mississippi & Texas, he obtained several favorable verdicts, while extending practice areas to family & criminal law.

Ira is recognized by both his colleagues and judges as one of the top matrimonial attorneys in New York. He has been listed as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” since 2008 and has received a Preeminent Rating for the past fifteen years for both legal ability and ethical standards (“AV”) in the Martindale Hubbell directory of attorneys. Ira has been named in the New York Times Magazine and New York Magazine “Super Lawyers” section as among the top attorneys in the New York Metropolitan Area since 2006. Ira entered private practice in 1978 initially as a commercial litigator. In 1985 Ira formed his own firm, primarily focusing on Family Law. Since that time Ira has been a frequent lecturer at the Bar Association and Continuing Legal Education programs. Ira has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at St. John’s Law School teaching a course in trial advocacy. He received his J.D. in 1974 from Temple University Beasley School of Law, and his B.A. in 1971 from University of Pennsylvania.

Area of Practice: Probate, Trust & Guardianship Litigation Earning his J.D. from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California. With more than 30 years of legal experience and 18 years focusing his practice in the most complex areas of litigation representing high net worth individuals and/or institutions involving guardianship, probate, estate, and trust matters. A long standing member of the Palm Beach County Bar Association. Served as the chairperson of the Probate and Guardianship Practice Committee. He is also a member of the CLE Estate and Probate Law Committees. Admitted to the Florida Bar and is currently a member of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section; the Probate Law and Procedure Committee; the Trust Law Committee; and the Probate and Trust Litigation Committee.

Mr. Gartland was born in Newtown, Connecticut, and moved to the Southwest Florida area when he was a child with his parents and younger brother Colin. Since then, Mr. Gartland has always called and considered southwest Florida his home. After graduating from Port Charlotte High School, Mr. Gartland attended Florida Gulf Coast University (“FGCU”) where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Forensic Studies and Criminal Justice, graduating with academic honors. Mr. Gartland then attended the University of Cincinnati where he received his Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice with academic distinction. Mr. Gartland then attended the esteemed and prestigious University of Florida, Levin College of Law in Gainesville, Florida – where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 2018. While in law school, Mr. Gartland was a member of and participated in trial team, served as president of the Law Student Transfer Organization, received the Wildcard Award for oral advocacy, obtained a certificate of concentration in Criminal Justice, and a pro-bono award for his philanthropic work volunteering while in law school. During his time at UF Law Mr. Gartland took numerous courses centered around litigation, negotiation, advocacy, and trial. During his academic career at UF Mr. Gartland also worked as a certified legal intern (“CLI”) with the Law Offices of Kathleen A. Smith, Public Defender, for the Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Florida in Fort Myers to gain trial experience before graduating from law school. After graduation and passing the Florida Bar Exam. Mr. Gartland began his legal career as an associate attorney at Swope, Rodante P.A., in Tampa, where he represented and assisted individuals and families who had been injured or killed because of greed, carelessness, and negligence. While at Swope, Rodante P.A., he assisted in the litigation and trial of a personal injury case that resulted in a top 25 trial verdict for the State of Florida in 2019, with a jury award of over $3.83 million dollars. Mr. Gartland continued to realize success as a litigation attorney at Gunter Firm in Fort Myers where he litigated, negotiated, and settled numerous employment, breach of contract, and personal injury type matters, claims, and cases. In April of 2021, Mr. Gartland joined The Pendas Law Firm’s Fort Myers office to continue to develop and hone his litigation and trial skills. During his time at The Pendas Law Firm Mr. Gartland succeeded in resolving more than $8,000.000.00 dollars’ worth of cases, claims, and legal matters for his clients. During his time at The Pendas Law Firm, Mr. Gartland organized and spearheaded the Pendas Law Firm Disaster Relief Center in the aftermath following Hurricane Ian wherein food, water, supplies, and information was given out and disseminated to individuals and families in need after the storm to help them start their respective post-storm recoveries. In the first quarter of 2024, Mr. Gartland joined the litigation team at Garvin Injury Law, bringing with him his wealth of experience and successes in compassionately and zealously representing individuals and families who have been injured or killed because of someone’s greed, carelessness, or negligence. Mr. Gartland takes a client-centered approach to the personal injury process, which begins at the time that a client retains the Firm and continues all the way up and through the trial process. Mr. Gartland works tirelessly and aggressively to be a light for his clients during what can often be the darkest time of their respective lives. As a result of Mr. Gartland’s relentless pursuit of justice for his clients the legal industry in Florida has taken notice. In 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, Mr. Gartland was named to the prestigious “Top 40 Under 40” list by The National Trial Lawyers Association in the State of Florida, for his work in plaintiff side civil litigation. In 2023, Mr. Gartland served on the executive board of the Lee County Bar Association, the Lee County Bar Association Foundation, and was also the President of the Young Lawyers Division of the Lee County Bar Association (a/k/a “Lee YLD”). Mr. Gartland’s drive, dedication, compassion, legal acumen, and no-quit attitude have culminated with him being named as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in 2023 and 2024, an honor bestowed upon less than 2.5% of all lawyers in the State of Florida.