John Elliott Leighton
Free Consultation
Work in Leighton Law, P.A.
Top Rated Family Law Attorney in Miami, FL
Medical Malpractice, Sex Crimes, Car Accidents, Product Liability
1401 Brickell Avenue, Suite 900, Miami, FL 33131
About John Elliott Leighton
Practice Areas
- Medical Malpractice
- Sex Crimes
- Car Accidents
- Product Liability
Education
- University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, 1985Juris Doctor, with honors
- Honors: Trial Competition Team
- Honors: Jurisprudence Instructor, 1983 - 1984
- Honors: Who's Who Among American Law Students, 4th ed., 5th ed.
- Honors: Recipient, American Jurisprudence Awards for Torts and Civil Procedure
Show More - University of Florida, 1982Bachelor of Arts, with honors
- Honors: President, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honorary Fraternity
- Honors: Florida Blue Key; Who's Who Among Students in American Universities/College
- Honors: Student Senate Majority Leader
- Honors: Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity
Representative Cases
- Buirley v. Aluma Systems, 494 So.2d 1156 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1986)
- Johnston v. Halliday, 516 So.2d 84 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1987)
- Amore v. G.D. Searle & Co., 748 F.Supp. 845 (S.D. Fla. 1990)
- White v. Am-Sprad Metals, Inc., 583 So.2d 769 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991)
- Rivas v. Freeman, 940 F.2d 1491 (11th Cir. 1991)
- Publix Super Markets, Inc. v. Jeffery, 650 So.2d 122 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1995)
- Floval Oil Corp. v. Munoz, 679 So.2d 286 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1996)
- Barnes v. City of Coral Gables, 149 F.3d 1195 (11th Cir. 1998)
- Doe v. HGI Realty, Inc., 254 Ga.App 181 (Ga. App. 2002)
- Doe v. HGI Realty, Inc., 561 S.E.2d 450 (Ga. App. 2002)
- Adventist Health System/Sunbelt v. Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury, 865 So.2d 561 (Fla. 5th DCA, en banc 2004)
- Adventist Health System/Sunbelt v. Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury, 882 So.2d 384, rev. den. (Fla. 2004)
Classes and Seminars
- Lecturer, Deposition Techniques - Lay and Expert Witnesses, American Association for Justice, 2007
- Lecturer, Using Computer Animation in Civil Cases, 59th Annual Melvin Belli Seminar, 2006
- Lecturer, Fundamentals of a Hospital Chart - What's There and What's Not, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2006
- Lecturer, Insurance Issues in Inadequate Premises Security Cases, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2006
- Lecturer, Winning Through Discovery, Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, 2006
- Lecturer,Creating the Silver Lining: Techniques for Opening Statement, New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association, 2006
- Lecturer, Trying Cases in Trying Times: Jury Selection in Today's Environment, Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys, 2006
- Moderator, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Annual Convention, 2006
- Speaker, Civil Remedies for Criminal Acts, National Center for Victims of Crime Victim Advocate Training Program, 2006
- Lecturer, Inadequate Premises Security, PESI Premises Liability Seminar, 2005
- Lecturer, Comparing Fault - Current Status of Efforts to Include Perpetrators on Verdict Forms...Restatement Approach; Legislation; Case Law; Comparison to Crashworthiness Doctrine, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2005
- Course Chair and Lecturer, Litigating Nursing Home Cases Seminar, ATLA/National College of Advocacy, 2005
- Program Chair, Collateral Sources Seminar, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 2005
- Lecturer, Opening Statement, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 2004
- Lecturer, Jury Selection, National Crime Victim Bar Association Annual Conference, 2004
- Lecturer, Liability for Failure to Admit (EMTALA), Discharge and Transfer, Holding the Hospital Accountable Seminar, ATLA/National College of Advocacy, 2004
- Lecturer, Screening, Selecting and Investigating Inadequate Security Cases: What to Look For Before Taking A Case, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2004
- Lecturer, 57th Annual Melvin Belli Seminar, 2004
- Lecturer, Apportionment of Fault, Premises Liability: Inadequate Security Cases, ATLA/National College of Advocacy Teleseminar, 2004
- Lecturer, Jury Selection: Negligent Security, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, 2004
- Lecturer and Course Co-Chair, Effective Settlement Techniques, Litigating Nursing Home Cases, ATLA/National College of Advocacy, 2004
- Co-Chair, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2004
- Lecturer, Opening Statements and Today's Special Considerations, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Fall Convention, 2003
- Lecturer, Apportionment of Fault in Inadequate Security Cases, National Crime Victim Bar Association, 2003
- National Conference: Rights, Recourse & Recovery: Civil Litigation for Victims of Crime, 2003
- Lecturer, Creating and Reinforcing the Trial Story: Presenting the Expert Witness, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, 2003
- Speaker, Linguistic Minorities, National Employment Lawyers Association, Annual Convention, 2003
- Co-Chair, Litigating Nursing Home Cases, National College of Advocacy, 2003
- Co-Chair and Moderator, Litigating Catastrophically Injured Infant Cases, National College of Advocacy, 2003
- Co-Chair and Moderator, Weekend With The Stars Annual Seminar, National College of Advocacy, 2002
- Lecturer, Effective and Efficient Use of Internet Discovery, Advocacy Track, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, 2002
- Lecturer, How Daubert Can Help and Hurt Your Case, Annual Jazz Fest Seminar, National College of Advocacy/Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2002
- Lecturer, Handing the Jury a Package - The Art of a Closing Argument - Lecture and Demonstration, South Dakota Bar Association, 2002
- Lecturer and Teaching Faculty, Essentials of Civil Litigation Trial College, National College of Advocacy, 2001
- Lecturer: Opening Statement and Computers and Technology in the Courtroom
- Course Chair and Lecturer, Screening Nursing Home Abuse Cases, Litigating Nursing Home Cases, National College of Advocacy/Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2001
- Lecturer, The Boob Tube: Making Videotaped Evidence Interesting, Advocacy Track - Trial Psychology and Persuasion, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, Montreal, Canada, July, 2001
- Lecturer, Expert Testimony: How to Deal With Daubert/Kumho Challenges, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, Montreal, Canada, July, 2001
- Course Chair, Litigating Nursing Home Cases, National College of Advocacy/Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Houston, TX, April, 2001
- Course Chair and Lecturer, Finding, Selecting and Handling Expert Witnesses, Premises Liability: Inadequate Security and Violent Crimes, National College of Advocacy/Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Miami, FL, March, 2001
- Course Chair, Misdiagnosis, Mistreatment and Malpractice in the Nursing Home, Failure to Diagnose and Treat Diseases, National College of Advocacy, Waikiki, Hawaii, Feb., 2001
- Lecturer, The Nursing Home Industry vs. Government and Advocates: Legislation, Litigation and Bankruptcy, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Winter Convention, New Orleans, LA, February, 2001
- Teaching Faculty and Lecturer, Finding and Using Experts and Negotiation and Settlement Techniques, Medical Trial Skills College, Association of Trial Lawyers of America/National College of Advocacy, 2001
- Teaching Faculty and Lecturer, Essentials of Civil Litigation Trial College, National College of Advocacy, National Judicial College, October 13, 2000 - October 20, 2000
- Lecturer, Backyard Hazards: Pools, Trampolines and Other Recreational Dangers, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, 2000
- Keynote Speaker, Recognizing and Evaluating Nursing Home Cases, Monroe County Bar Association Luncheon Meeting, 2000
- Lecturer, Demonstration of an Opening Statement: Setting the Stage, Litigating Nursing Home Cases, National College of Advocacy, 2000
- Program Chair, Cooperative Association of Medical Malpractice Attorneys, 2000
- Lecturer, Courtroom vs. Movie Set: Choreographing Your Case, Rediscovering the Magic: Taking Back Control of the Courtroom, Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, 1999
- Lecturer, Apportionment of Fault: How To Deal with Placing The Perpetrator on the Verdict Form in Inadequate Security Cases, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, 1999
- Lecturer, Combatting Evidentiary Attacks on Expert Testimony: How to Deal With Daubert, Doubleheader Seminar: Litigating Catastrophically Injured Infant Cases and Inadequate Security and Violent Crimes Seminar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1999
- Lecturer, Litigating Product Liability Cases, Federal Civil Litigation in Florida Seminar, Lorman Education Services, 1998
- Course Chair and Lecturer, Discovery and Rambo Litigation, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, 1998
- Lecturer, Investigating, Preparing and Litigating the Inadequate Security Case, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Premises Liability Seminar, 1998
- Lecturer, Overcoming Tort Reform, How To Practice Law in the Age of Tort Reform: Getting Leaner, Smarter & Tougher, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, 1998
- Lecturer, Countering the Seat Belt Defense, Jazzfest Seminar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1998
- Lecturer, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Hornbook Series: Inadequate Premises Security, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Winter Convention, 1998
- Course Chair, Moderator and Lecturer, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Educational Program, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, 1997
- Course Chair, Moderator and Lecturer, Inadequate Security Education Program, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, 1997
- Course Chairman and Lecturer, Terror in the Sky: Security Aboard Airplanes and in Airports, Mega Seminar: Premises Liability: Inadequate Security and Violent Crimes, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1997
- Course Chair and Moderator, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section Educational Program, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Winter Convention, 1997
- Course Chair and Moderator, Inadequate Security Education Program, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Winter Convention, 1997
- Lecturer, Demonstrative Evidence in Settlement and Mediation, Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, Boston, MA, July, 1996
- Course Chair, Premises Liability: Inadequate Security & Violent Crimes, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Scottsdale, AZ, February, 1996
- Moderator, From Classroom to Courtroom, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, New York, NY, July, 1995
- Lecturer, Preparing, Litigating and Trying the Negligent Security Case, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway & Premises Liability Section, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, New York, NY, July, 1995
- Lecturer and Moderator, Drafting Pleadings and Discovery, From Classroom To Courtroom: Trial Techniques for the New Lawyer, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Redondo Beach, CA, February, 1995
- Lecturer, Comparative Fault/Joint and Several Liability: Comparing the Fault of the Criminal Perpetrator with the Negligence of the Premises Owner, Premises Liability: Inadequate Security & Violent Crimes, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Las Vegas, NV, October, 1994
- Moderator and Chair, Classroom to Courtroom, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, Chicago, IL, July, 1994
- Lecturer and Moderator, Drafting Pleadings and Discovery, From Classroom To Courtroom: The New Lawyer's Start Up Kit, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Miami, FL, Feb., 1994
- Lecturer, Depositions: Strategy and Demonstration, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Winter Convention, San Diego, CA, January, 1994
- Lecturer, Anticipating, Addressing and Defeating Defenses and Exclusions, Premises Liability for Violent Crimes: Legal Issues and Practical Solutions, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Atlanta, GA, November, 1993
- Lecturer, Proving and Disputing Damages, National Business Institute, Miami, Florida, September, 1993
- Lecturer, Preparing For Trial: The Last 10 Days, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA, August, 1993
- Lecturer, Preparing, Developing, and Trying the Tough Negligent Security Case, Annual New Orleans Jazzfest Seminar: Liability, Causation and Damages, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, New Orleans, LA, April, 1993
- Lecturer, Drafting Pleadings and Discovery, From Classroom To Courtroom: The New Lawyer's Start Up Kit, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Los Angeles, CA, February, 1993
- Lecturer, Cross Examination, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, Washington, D.C., July, 1992
- Lecturer, Damages, National Business Institute, Miami, FL, February, 1992
- Lecturer, Real and Necessary Trial Preparation: Preparing for Trial Without Reinventing the Wheel, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Winter Convention, Boca Raton, FL, Jan., 1992
- Lecturer, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, Toronto, Canada, July, 1991
- Lecturer, Jury Selection, Recovering for Psychological Injuries: What You Don't Know Can Hurt Your Client, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, San Francisco, CA, November, 1990
- Lecturer, Trial Advocacy, National Business Institute, Miami, FL, November, 1990
- Lecturer, Determining and Proving Damages, National Business Institute, Miami, FL, July, 1990
- Lecturer, Winning the Product Liability Case Through Discovery, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, Warm Weather Seminar, Freeport, Bahamas, February, 1990
- Lecturer, Movies and Videotapes, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Demonstrative Evidence Seminar, San Francisco, CA, May, 1989
- Lecturer, Offer/Demand for Judgment/Settlement - How, When, and Why, Winning Cases Without Trial, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nov., 1988
- Lecturer, Top 10 Things to Look (and Look Out) For in Evaluating Inadequate Security Cases, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Annual Convention, 1996
Qualifications
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida Trial Bar
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
Other Affiliations
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Sustaining Member)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Inadequate Security Litigation Group, 1996 - Present (Co-Chairman)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Inadequate Security Litigation Group, 1994 - 1996 (Treasurer)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section, 1996 - 1997 (Chairman)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section, 1995 - 1996 (First Vice Chair)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Nursing Home Litigation Group)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Professional Negligence Section
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2001 - 2005 (Co-Chair, Communications, Computers and Law Office Technology Committe)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2003 - Present (Vice Chair, Press Advisory Board Committee)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 2003 - Present (Exchange Advisory Committee)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Medical Negligence Information Exchange Group)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America (Birth Trauma Litigation Group)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1992 - 1995 (Founding Co-Chairman, National Trial Advocacy Competition Committee)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1993 - 1995 (Co-Chairman, Law Student Services Committee)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1994 - 1995 (Permanent Endowment Committee)
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Trial Magazine (Editorial Manuscript Reviewer)
- National College of Advocacy (Faculty Member)
- National College of Advocacy, 2000 - 2004 (Member, Board of Trustees)
- National College of Advocacy, 2000 - 2003 (Board of Trustees, Executive Committee and Secretary)
- Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
- Academy of Trial Advocacy (Charter Member)
- Academy of Trial Advocacy (Vice Chairman)
- Academy of Trial Advocacy, 1989 (Member, Florida Tort Claims Study Commission)
- The Florida Bar, Trial Lawyers Section (CLE and Civil Procedure Rule Committees)
- Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers
- American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, 1987 - 1988 (Vice Chair, Product, General Liability and Consumer Law Committee)
- Cooperative Association of Medical Malpractice Attorneys (Charter Member)
- Dade County Trial Lawyers Association, 1987 - 1991 (Board of Directors)
- Dade County Bar Association
- Monroe County Bar Association
- Miami Beach Bar Association
- Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, U.K. (Overseas Member)
- International Personal Injury Network (Charter Member)
- National Crime Victim Bar Association (Charter Member)
- B'nai B'rith Bench and Bar
- Cuban American Bar Association
- Florida Association of Women Lawyers
- Temple Beth Am, 2004 - Present (Board of Directors)
- Committee of 100 Cocoplum Civic Association, 2001 - 2002 (Vice President)
- Miami Council for International Visitors, 2001 - 2003 (Board of Directors)
Past Positions
- Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine, New York City, Summer Associate, 1984
Fraternities and Sororities
- Alpha Epsilon Pi
- Omicron Delta Kappa
Articles
Published Works
- Litigating Premises Security Cases, Thomson-West Publishing, Vol. 1 and 2, 2006
- Expert Witnesses in Medical Malpractice Cases Do Not Need Further Regulation, Daily Business Review, June 29, 2006
- Victim Advocate, Apportionment of Fault in Inadequate Security Cases, Vol. 4 No. 2, Fall, pp. 3-6, 2003
- Prepare For Trial, But Win At Settlement , Trial, Vol. 39 No. 6, June, pp. 26-28, 2003
- A World of Words Comes To Court (Linguistic Minorities), Trial, Vol. 38, No. 8, August, pp. 20-27, 2002
- Apportionment of Fault in Inadequate Security Cases, Trial, (Co-author), Vol. 37 No. 13, December, pp. 18-25, 2001
- Fighting New Defenses in Inadequate Security Cases, Trial, Vol. 35, No. 4, April, pp. 20-25, 2000
- The Negligent Security Case: A Primer, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Motor Vehicle, Vol. 5 No. 1, Winter, pp. 1-8, 1999
- Are Children Caught in the Seat of Disaster? Child Restraint Systems and Product Liability Cases, Trial, Vol. 34, No. 3, March, pp. 54-64, 1998
- Identifying and Evaluating Inadequate Premises Liability Cases, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Motor Vehicle, Quarterly, 1996
- Chapter 11: Medical Experts: Coordination of Witnesses, Litigating Spinal Cord Injuries: Law, Medicine, and Economics, (Co-author), John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1995
- Preparing and Trying Inadequate Security Cases, Trial Lawyers Quarterly, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Vol. 25 No. 24, Summer, 1995
- Cited in Persuasive Jury Communication: Case Studies From Successful Trials, Chapter 10: Persuasion in a Premises Security Case, Shepard's/McGraw-Hill, 1995
- The Recall Process: Removing Defective Juvenile Products from the Market, Product Liability Law Reporter, Vol. 10, pp. 72-73, May, 1991
- Make Sure New Toys Will Be Safe Toys, South Florida Parenting, December, 1991
- Market Share and Concerted Action Theories, (Co-author), Tort & Ins. L.J., 369-401, 1990
- Punitive Damages - Plaintiff's View, Product Liability Practice Guide, Matthew Bender & Co., Vol. 2, Chapter 18, 1988
- Motorcycle Products Liability, (Co-author), Trial,, November, pp. 32-41, 1988
- Product Liability: Commentary and Cases, (Co-author), Callaghan & Co., Monthly Column, 1985-87
- Products Liability/Commentary & Cases, "Market Share Liability: Too Much or Too Little", Vol. 1, No. 1, 1986
- Market Share Liability: The Need for a Uniform Market Share Liability Act, Trial, November, pp.83-89, 1985
- Why Police Officers Can't Recover For Injuries Due To Someone Else's Negligence (Co-author), Heat, Police Benevolent Association, November, 1985
- Punitive Damages in Florida, Final Report of the Florida Bar Commission on Tort Litigation, 1984
- The Negligent Security Case: A Primer, Association of Trial Lawyers of America Motor Vehicle, Vol. 5 No. 1, Winter, pp. 1-8, 2000
Office Info
Other Colleagues
- Personal Injury, Wrongful Death
Nearby Lawyers
- Medical Malpractice
- Sex Crimes
- Car Accidents
- Product Liability
- 0.5 mile away
- 24.9 miles away
- 0.5 mile away
- 0.5 mile away
The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law.