John Elliott Leighton
Leighton Panoff Law, P.A.: Serious Lawyers for Serious Cases.
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.
- 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
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- 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)
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- Managing Partner
- Leighton Panoff Law, P.A.
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- 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.
- 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
- 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
- Board certified Civil Trial Specialist
- Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization
- Board Certified Trial Specialist
- Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization
- 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
- 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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- Florida
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- Free Consultation
- Contingent Fees
- 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
- Premises Security and Violent Crime
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Car Accidents
- English: Spoken, Written
Local10 News 11 17 2017 $49mill verdict teacher rape
Story on John Leighton's $49.3 million verdict for child rape case
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.
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.
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.
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
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: 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.
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
WSVN TV: Man wants answers in fatal crash
John Leighton demands answers about a fatal crash caused by a Hialeah police officer.
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.
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