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John Elliott Leighton

John Elliott Leighton

Leighton Panoff Law, P.A.: Serious Lawyers for Serious Cases.
  • Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Products Liability ...
  • Florida
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Biography

Nationally recognized personal injury trial lawyer representing only victims in serious injury and death cases throughout Florida. Repeatedly selected as a Top 100 Florida SuperLawyer, Best Lawyers in America, "Florida Legal Elite" (Florida Trend Magazine), "Top Lawyer" (South Florida Legal Guide) and "Orlando Legal Elite" (Orlando Style magazine). Offices in Miami and Orlando to cover the state of Florida. Mr. Leighton has won some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Florida, including $49.3 million and two $24 million verdicts. Mr. Leighton recently received the Daily Business Review 2015 “Verdicts Hall of Fame Award” for his wrongful death verdict He is often retained by lawyers from around the country to try their catastrophic cases, and has handled cases in Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky and New York. He is a national lecturer and author of the leading text book "Litigating Premises Security Cases" (West Publishing, 2006).
Many of Mr. Leighton’s cases are high profile or have wide reaching social implications. Several cases have resulted in policy or procedure changes on the part of the businesses or governmental entities sued. He is often called upon by local and national media to comment on legal issues, including NBC’s Today show, CNN, Inside Edition, and many other news programs.
He is Past President of the National Crime Victim Bar Association and authors the leading text in the field, Litigating Premises "Security Cases." Having served as Chairman of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section, Mr. Leighton currently chairs the association’s Inadequate Security Litigation Group and for 7 years sat on the Executive Committee of the National College of Advocacy Board of Trustees. He is past the Chairman of the Academy of Trial Advocacy, an invitation-only association of some of the nation’s leading catastrophic injury trial lawyers.

Practice Areas
Personal Injury
Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death
Medical Malpractice
Birth Injury, Medical Misdiagnosis, Pharmacy Errors, Surgical Errors
Products Liability
Drugs & Medical Devices, Motor Vehicle Defects, Toxic Torts
Insurance Claims
Bad Faith Insurance, Business Insurance, Disability Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Motor Vehicle Insurance, Property Insurance
Legal Malpractice
Additional Practice Areas
  • Premises Security and Violent Crime
  • Traumatic Brain Injuries
  • Car Accidents
Fees
  • Free Consultation
  • Contingent Fees
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Florida
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
Managing Partner
Leighton Panoff Law, P.A.
- Current
Founding partner of statewide personal injury and wrongful death trial law firm. The firm has two offices (Miami and Orlando) to serve clients throughout Florida. We help people who have suffered serious injury or a death of a loved one.
Senior Partner
Leesfield Leighton & Partners
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Trial lawyer handling catastrophic personal injury and death cases throughout the United States.
Summer Associate
Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine
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Summer Associate for large New York-based international law firm. Worked in Litigation and Corporate departments. Worked on corporate takeover, major bond default litigation, product liability and commercial cases.
Education
University of Florida
J.D. (1985) | Law
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Honors: American Jurisprudence Awards for Torts and Civil Procedure, Who's Who Among American Law Students, Dean's List/President's List, J.D. with Honors
Activities: Florida Law Review (Editor), Trial Competition Team, Jurisprudence Instructor, Faculty - Teaching Fellows Program
University of Florida Logo
University of Florida
B.A. (1981) | Political science/criminal justice
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Honors: B.A. with honors, Deans List, President's List, Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges
Activities: Florida Blue Key, Omicron Delta Kappa (President), Student Senate majority leader, Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity (graduate advisor)
University of Florida Logo
Awards
Best Lawyer in America: Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice and Product Liability
Best Lawyers
Florida SuperLawyers
Florida Superlawyers
Best Lawyers, personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability
Best Lawyers in America
Selected 2008-2018
Top 100 SuperLawyer
Florida Superlawyers
Selected 2006-2018 to SuperLawyers
Top Lawyers in South Florida
South Florida Legal Guide
Selected 2003-2018
10/10 "superb" highest rating
Avvo.com
A-V Preeminent rating
Martindale-Hubbell
Florida Legal Elite
Florida Trend Magazine
Orlando Legal Elite
Orlando Style Magazine
Selected 2014-2017
Verdict Hall of Fame - Wrongful Death
Daily Business Review
Professional Associations
AMERICAN LAW INSTITUTE
Member
- Current
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American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
member
- Current
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Academy of Trial Advocacy
Chairman
- Current
Activities: Invitation-only association of catastrophic injury trial lawyers
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National Crime Victim Bar Association
Board of Advisors, charter member
- Current
Activities: Work with trial lawyers who represent crime victims in civil litigation; organize and speak at education programs; attend board meetings; recruit new members; conduct civil justice training programs throughout Florida.
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Cooperative Association of Medical Malpractice Attorneys
Charter Member
- Current
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American Association for Justice (formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America)
Chairman, Inadequate Security Litigation Group
- Current
Activities: Chaired litigation group comprised of trial lawyers representing plaintiff only from around the country; developed continuing legal education programs, seminars and conventions; drafted and edited newsletters; created listserver; presided over meetings.
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Florida State Bar  # 507921
Member
- Current
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National Crime Victim Bar Association
President
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National College of Advocacy
Executive Committee
-
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Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Chairman, Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section
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Activities: Chaired largest section of the trial lawyer bar, organized continuing education programs, ran meetings, chaired programs, drafted and edited section newsletters, lectured nationally.
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American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section
Vice Chair, Product, General Liability and Consumer Law Committee
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Publications
Articles & Publications
A Farewell to (fire)Arms? Thoughts on the Tipping Point for the New American Revolution
Daily Business Review
10 Tips to Prevent Child Sex Abuse …and why publicizing sex abuse cases is good for society
South Florida Legal Guide
Brain Injuries Aren’t Just For NFL Players: Recognizing Traumatic Brain Injuries
South Florida Legal Guide
How Negligent Security Cases Save Florida’s Economy
South Florida Legal Guide
5 Most Common Medical Mistakes and How You Can Avoid Being a Medical Mistake Victim
South Florida Legal Guide
Ten Tips to Avoid a Deadly Vacation: Surviving Resorts, Cruise Ships & Hotels is No Accident
South Florida Legal Guide
Driving While Distracted (DWD): Have we made any progress and how do we stop this hazardous behavior?
South Florida Legal Guide
Enough Already! How to Eliminate Driving While Distracted (DWD)
South Florida Legal Guide
Staying Alive in The Hospital: 10 Tips to Avoid Becoming a Medical Mistake Statistic
South Florida Legal Guide
Identifying and Screening Strong Negligent Premises Security Cases
Attorney at Law magazine
Why You Are Safer On The Highway Filled With Drunk Drivers Than In A Hospital
South Florida Legal Guide
How To Improve Parasailing Safety Through Economic Disincentives
South Florida Legal Guide
Time for a Different Approach to Regulate Parasailing
South Florida Sun Sentinel
Corporate and Institutional Liability for Sexual Assaults and Sexual Abuse
South Florida Legal Guide
Driving While Distracted: The New DUI
South Florida Legal Guide
Litigating Premises Security Cases
West
Prepare for Trial, But Win At Settlement
Trial magazine
Apportionment of Fault in Inadequate Security Cases
Trial magazine
Are Children Caught in the Seat of Disaster? Child Restraint Systems and Product Liability Cases
Trial magazine
Litigating Spinal Cord Injuries: Law, Medicine, and Economics - Medical Experts
John Wiley & Sons
Speaking Engagements
Demonstration of Cross Examination of a Defendant, Superlawyers CLE, Miami, FL
Dade County Bar Association
Reducing Institutional Sexual Abuse Through Litigation, Annual Seminar, Chicago, IL
Melvin M. Belli Society
Depositions and Discovery, Basic Basics Seminar, Miami, FL and Tampa, FL
The Florida Bar
Jury Selection in the 21st Century: This Isn’t Your Father’s Jury Anymore, Weekend With The Stars Seminar, New York, NY
American Association for Justice
Negligent Security: People+Premises+Data, Heating Up - Security Seminar, Miami, FL
Daily Business Review/Leighton Lecture Series
Rules of the Road for Security and Violent Crime Cases, American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Montreal, Canada
American Association for Justice
How Are Generation X and Y Jurors Different and How Do They See Premises Security Cases?, National Conference, Anaheim, CA
National Crime Victim Bar Association
Selecting Juries in Inadequate Security Cases, Winter Convention, Boca Raton, FL
American Association for Justice
Proving Mild Traumatic Brain Injury at Trial, Annual Seminar, Los Angeles, CA
Melvin M. Belli Society
Safe or Scary? Negligent Security in Schools, Colleges, and Day Care, American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Los Angeles, CA
American Association for Justice
Terrorism and Negligent Security Cases: The Next Big Thing, National Conference, Philadelphia, PA
National Crime Victim Bar Association
Jury Selection in Premises Liability Cases, Workhorse Seminar, Orlando, FL
Florida Justice Association
Hotels, Resorts & Amusements: Litigating Security Cases, American Association for Justice Annual Convention, Boston, MA
American Association for Justice
Certifications
Board certified Civil Trial Specialist
Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization
Board Certified Trial Specialist
Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization
Websites & Blogs
Website
Website
Blog
Resort Injury Lawyer Blog
Videos
Story on John Leighton's $49.3 million verdict for child rape case Local10 News 11 17 2017 $49mill verdict teacher rape

Story on John Leighton's $49.3 million verdict for child rape case

News coverage of the $49.3 million verdict obtained by Leighton Law's John Elliott Leighton and Max N. Panoff for the rape of a 16 year old student by her math teacher inside the school classroom. WSVN Fox 7 News Nov 15, 2017

News coverage of the $49.3 million verdict obtained by Leighton Law's John Elliott Leighton and Max N. Panoff for the rape of a 16 year old student by her math teacher inside the school classroom.

Following Hurricane Irma in 2017, over a dozen senior citizens died at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills.  John Leighton represented the family of Albertina Vega, and filed the first lawsuit against the responsible parties. CBS4 Hurricane Irma Legal action in nursing home deaths

Following Hurricane Irma in 2017, over a dozen senior citizens died at the Rehabilitation Center at Hollywood Hills. John Leighton represented the family of Albertina Vega, and filed the first lawsuit against the responsible parties.

The tragedy of over a dozen deaths at a Hollywood Florida nursing home is brought to light in the first lawsuit filed by Leighton Law, P.A. and John Leighton. NBC6 Lawsuit Filed in Nursing Home Death Investigation as Police Say AC Was Not Fully Working NBC

The tragedy of over a dozen deaths at a Hollywood Florida nursing home is brought to light in the first lawsuit filed by Leighton Law, P.A. and John Leighton.

Hialeah Police mistake costs a man his health and a woman her life NBC 6: Man Injured in Accident With Hialeah Police Officer Wants Answers

Hialeah Police mistake costs a man his health and a woman her life

Lawsuit filed against school board for teacher raping student on his desk inside school. NBC6 News: CRR v Miami-Dade School Board Suit

Lawsuit filed against school board for teacher raping student on his desk inside school.

Today Show interview following parasailing tragedy in Florida; a call for new regulations to protect victims like Amber May White, who was killed.  Her family was represented by John Elliott Leighton, who along with Amber's mother Shannon Kraus spearheaded new safety legislation that was passed in Florida. Today Show: Amber May

Today Show interview following parasailing tragedy in Florida; a call for new regulations to protect victims like Amber May White, who was killed. Her family was represented by John Elliott Leighton, who along with Amber's mother Shannon Kraus spearheaded new safety legislation that was passed in Florida.

Attorney John Leighton files suit against Hialeah Police Department after its officer crashes into Marco Barrios, injuring him and killing his fianc WSVN TV: Man files lawsuit after fatal police involved accident

Attorney John Leighton files suit against Hialeah Police Department after its officer crashes into Marco Barrios, injuring him and killing his fianc

John Leighton demands answers about a fatal crash caused by a Hialeah police officer. WSVN TV: Man wants answers in fatal crash

John Leighton demands answers about a fatal crash caused by a Hialeah police officer.

John Leighton appears on CNN with client Shannon Kraus, who lost her daughter, Amber May White, to a parasailing accident in 2007. Leighton and Kraus have fought to have parasailing safety legislation passed in Florida, and finally succeeded in 2015. CNN: Parasailing Accident

John Leighton appears on CNN with client Shannon Kraus, who lost her daughter, Amber May White, to a parasailing accident in 2007. Leighton and Kraus have fought to have parasailing safety legislation passed in Florida, and finally succeeded in 2015.

Fatal crash by police - Leighton Law wants answers why officer was speeding, not using any lights, was not sent on a call WSVN TV | Man Wants Answers In Fatal Crash | Leighton Law

Fatal crash by police - Leighton Law wants answers why officer was speeding, not using any lights, was not sent on a call

Contact & Map
Leighton Law, P.A.
1401 Brickell Avenue, Suite 900
Miami, FL 33131
Telephone: (888) 395-0001
Fax: (305) 675-0123
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (Today)
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Notice: Video conferences are available at the convenience of clients and can be scheduled after hours and on weekends.
Leighton Law, P.A.
121 South Orange Avenue
Suite1270
Orlando, FL 32801
Toll-Free: (888) 395-0001
Telephone: (407) 384-8004
Monday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (Today)
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed