Representing clients in products liability claims appeals to what Ruth Wagner calls her "social worker" side, allowing her to help individuals fight large companies.

Ruth has participated in trials involving wrongful death, products liability, personal injury claims against airlines, and automobile accident claims.

She worked as a public school teacher and a marketing director after completing undergraduate studies at the University of Arkansas, then returned to the University for her law degree. She opened a personal injury and products liability practice in Tampa in 1986 and served of counsel to a major Washington, D.C. law firm before joining Wagner, Vaughan & McLaughlin in 1992. Ruth became a shareholder in 1995.

Ruth is a sustaining member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and has served on a half-dozen ATLA committees. In addition, she has been actively involved in local, state and national bar associations, as well as the Civil Justice Foundation, which provides grants to small grass roots consumer groups.

She serves on the majority council of EMILY's List, which provides funds to women seeking political office. She was also a member of key presidential campaign committees during both the 1992 and 1996 national elections.

Ruth's other after-hours love is the performing arts. She and her husband Bill helped found the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and co-produced a 1990 production of Inherit the Wind.