Duane E. Triplett
Duane E. Triplett is a trial attorney who has over a decade of experience in civil and criminal litigation. He began his collegiate academic career at Western Kentucky University for two years. At Western, Mr. Triplett studied journalism and business as well as having the privilege of being accepted into Phi Eta Sigma, an academic honor society. Mr. Triplett then transferred to the University of Florida where he continued his studies in journalism, telecommunications and business. While at Florida, he worked as a production assistant at both the University's television and radio stations. Mr. Triplett graduated from Florida with honors and had the privilege of becoming a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, an organization recognizing its members for outstanding academic achievement. Mr. Triplett continued his higher education by studying law at the University of Florida, receiving his Juris Doctorate in 1998.
Mr. Triplett began his legal career at the Public Defender's Office in Marion County, Florida representing indigent clients charged with criminal offenses. While at the Public Defender's Office, Mr. Triplett personally litigated hundreds of criminal cases ranging from county ordinances and misdemeanors to serious felonies. In the Spring of 2001, Mr. Triplett left the Public Defender's Office to enter private practice where, for the first few years, his primary legal practice rested with Driving Under the Influence and other traffic related offenses. Soon Mr. Triplett was asked to take command of several more branches of the firm which resulted in litigating cases in the legal areas of disability, dependency and personal injury.
After several years in private practice Mr. Triplett decided to return primarily to criminal litigation by joining the Office of the State Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Gainesville, Florida. Mr. Triplett sought out to become a prosecutor in order to complete his criminal litigation experience, becoming well-rounded in the field by both defending and now prosecuting criminal offenses. As an assistant state attorney, Mr. Triplett prosecuted hundreds of felony cases at both the trial and appellate levels. While with the State, Mr. Triplett's responsibilities included prosecuting sex crimes against children and working with the Drug Task Force in prosecuting drug cases, including turning and using confidential informants to make sales and possession cases as well as trafficking in illegal narcotic cases. Mr. Triplett was also appointed the Supervisor of the Misdemeanor and Traffic Division where he trained and supervised younger prosecutors beginning their legal careers. Mr. Triplett now brings his civil and criminal experience to The Chestnut Firm to represent and help its clients in every aspect of litigation.
Education
- Western Kentucky University
- University of Florida
- University of Florida, Levin College of Law
Professional Memberships
- Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
- American Trial Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
- National Bar Association
- Phi Eta Sigma
- Golden Key National Honor Society
Recognition & Awards
- NAACP Appreciation Award
- Book Award (best in class) for Trial Practice, University of Florida, Levin College of Law