News

01-20-2012
Sex abuse scandals bring institutional coverups to light

Litigating Premises Security CaseJohn Leighton published \"Corporate and Institutional Liability for Sexual Assaults and Sex Abuse\" in the 2012 issue of The South Florida Legal Guide. The growing awareness of institutional coverups and the failure of businesses to take action to protect children from sex abuse is brought to light most recently in the Penn State and Syracuse scandals. The civil justice system is a means of stopping corporate indifference.

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11-04-2011
Resort Torts™…and the Courts: Vacation, Resort and Recreational Liability

“Resort Torts… and the Courts” is a continuing legal education seminar that was provided by Leighton Law, P.A. on November 3 at the Banker’s Club of Miami. Presented by John Elliott Leighton, Esq. and hosted by the Daily Business Review, the seminar also included panelists Circuit Judge Victoria Platzer and defense trial lawyer Rolando Diaz.

Dozens of attorneys, judges, and business professionals gathered to discuss Resort Torts and the Courts. With the resort business still a major economic driver for the state of Florida, the ways in which legal and safety issues are handled here are crucial to businesses, visitors and residents alike.

The Leighton Law seminar series helps educate attorneys so that victims who suffer injuries, accidents and deaths occurring within a resort, cruise or other vacation experience, are well represented in the legal system.

The vast array of vacation and recreational activities throughout Florida mean that Resort Torts can involve a wide range of cases, including hotel and motel safety; cruise ship litigation; pleasure boating and jet ski incidents; amusement, aquatic, diving and swimming incidents; foreign travel and medical emergencies; gaming and casinos; commercial and general aviation; rental car liability; moped, bicycle and motorcycle safety; buses and tour guides; travel industry liability for crime victims; medical care provided to vacationers, and many more.

Mr. Leighton provides clients with extensive experience in the area of Resort Torts, including cruise ship, maritime, and violent crime/negligent premises security. Among his cases is the high-profile parasailing death in Pompano Beach, Florida, where he represented the mother of 15-year-old Amber May White against the parasail operators and the resort where Amber May was killed and her sister injured due to negligent parasailing operations. Mr. Leighton has spearheaded legislative efforts to bring some regulation to this industry. His efforts in Tallahassee have resulted in a bill which he and the family hope to make law.

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09-02-2011
Leighton in The Best Lawyers in America 2012, 5th Consecutive Year

John Elliott Leighton Selected for 5th Consecutive Year for Inclusion in

The Best Lawyers in America®

John Elliott Leighton, managing partner of Leighton Law, P.A. has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2012 in the field of Personal Injury Litigation, for the fifth consecutive year. (Copyright 2011 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.)

Mr. Leighton is a Florida Bar board certified civil trial lawyer with 26 years of experience in litigating and trying complex and catastrophic cases in all state and federal courts, including: personal injury and wrongful death; medical malpractice; violent crime/negligent premises security; trucking and motor vehicle crash; nursing home neglect; product liability; aviation disaster; cruise ship and maritime; commercial litigation; and other civil cases. His law firm represents individuals who have been seriously injured or have lost loved ones due to the negligence of others.

Mr. Leighton is the author of \"Litigating Premises Security Cases,\" a two-volume book published by Thomson-West, which provides comprehensive information on investigating, preparing and trying inadequate security cases and representing crime victims. He is a frequent lecturer at national legal programs including Florida Bar CLE courses, and has spoken and taught at seminars, colleges and conventions in over a dozen states.

Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 41,000 leading attorneys cast almost 3.9 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.

John Elliott Leighton has been in high demand as a speaker this summer, sharing with the legal community his experienced insight on Litigation techniques and current issues.

· He spoke on “Designing The Mediation,” Keynote Program at the 66th Annual Workers Compensation Education Conference and 23rd Annual Safety & Health Conference August 24, 2011 in Orlando, FL.

· He also spoke on “Evaluating, Assessing and Litigating Premises Security cases” for the American Association for Justice at the Annual Convention in New York, July 10, 2011.

· He spoke on “The Trial of an ATM Shooting Case” at the Belli Society Seminar in New York, July 8, 2011, regarding the trial related to the fatal shooting of Orlando police officer Al Gordon during an attempted robbery at a Pine Hills ATM in 2007.

· Mr. Leighton lectured on “Terrorism and Civil Actions” at the 2011 National Crime Victim Bar Association’s National Conference in Washington, DC, June 21, 2011.

Mr. Leighton is the Chairman of The Academy of Trial Advocacy, serves on the Board of Trustees of the National College of Advocacy, and is a member of the Board of Advisors of the National Crime Victim Bar Association. At the AAJ, he is Co-Chairman of the Inadequate Security Litigation Group, a Founding Member of the Resort Tort Litigation Group, and Past Chairman of the Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section.

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08-10-2011
Leighton Re-elected Chairman of ATLA's Inadequate Security Litigation Group

John Elliott Leighton, managing partner of Leighton Law, P.A., has been re-elected Chairman of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s Inadequate Security Litigation Group.

John Elliott Leighton is in high demand as a speaker this summer, sharing with the legal community his experienced insight on Litigation techniques and current issues.

· Mr. Leighton lectured on “Terrorism and Civil Actions” at the 2011 National Crime Victim Bar Association’s National Conference in Washington, DC, June 21, 2011.

· He also spoke on “Evaluating, Assessing and Litigating Premises Security cases” for the American Association for Justice at the Annual Convention in New York, July 10, 2011.

· He will speak on “Designing The Mediation,” Keynote Program at the 66th Annual Workers Compensation Education Conference and 23rd Annual Safety & Health Conference in August 2011 in Orlando, FL.

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07-09-2011
Leighton Elected to Executive Committee of National College of Advocacy

Leighton elected to the Executive Committee of the National College of Advocacy Board of Trustees

John Elliott Leighton is in high demand as a speaker this summer, sharing with the legal community his experienced insight on Litigation techniques and current issues.

· Mr. Leighton lectured on “Terrorism and Civil Actions” at the 2011 National Crime Victim Bar Association’s National Conference in Washington, DC, June 21, 2011.

· He also spoke on “Evaluating, Assessing and Litigating Premises Security cases” for the American Association for Justice at the Annual Convention in New York, July 10, 2011.

John Elliott Leighton is in high demand as a speaker this summer, sharing with the legal community his experienced insight on Litigation techniques and current issues.

· Mr. Leighton lectured on “Terrorism and Civil Actions” at the 2011 National Crime Victim Bar Association’s National Conference in Washington, DC, June 21, 2011.

· He will speak on “The Trial of an ATM Shooting Case” at the Belli Society Seminar in New York, July 8, 2011

· He will also speak on “Evaluating, Assessing and Litigating Premises Security cases” for the American Association for Justice at the Annual Convention in New York, July 10, 2011.

· He will also speak on “Designing The Mediation,” Keynote Program at the 66^th Annual Workers Compensation Education Conference and 23^rd Annual Safety & Health Conference in August 2011 in Orlando, FL.

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06-27-2011
Leighton Named Top 100 FL Super Lawyer

John Elliott Leighton was selected to Florida Super Lawyers for the 6th year in a row. He is included in:

TOP 100 FLORIDA SUPER LAWYERS 2011

TOP 100 MIAMI FLORIDA SUPER LAWYERS 2011

John E. Leighton Super Lawyers Profile

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Super Lawyers magazine features the list and profiles of selected attorneys and is distributed to attorneys in the state or region and the ABA-accredited law school libraries. Super Lawyers is also published as a special section in leading city and regional magazines across the country.

John Leighton’s specialization in Resort Torts is featured in the South Florida Legal Guide, which recently held a roundtable event on the topic of “Litigation Support Strategies: Selecting the Right Professional.” In the SFLG’s publication of the event, Leighton provided insight on “Using Expert Witnesses in a Resort Litigation Case.”

Access the publication here and scroll down to the blue box featuring John Leighton and Resort Tort Litigation.

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03-25-2011
Leighton wins $24.3 million verdict for wrongful death of police officer

John Leighton won a $24.3 million verdict for the family of murdered police officer Al Gordon. An Orlando jury rendered the verdict on March 25, 2011, awarding $24,315,980 after hearing testimony concerning the death of Officer Gordon at the Bank of America branch on Silver Star Road in Orlando.

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02-14-2011
Leighton Hosts AAJ Members at the Delano, Miami Beach

Attorney John Elliott Leighton hosted a reception Tuesday, February 8 for members of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) attending the Winter Convention in Miami Beach. The Convention was headquartered at the Loews Hotel; the official Closing Dessert Reception was held at the Delano Hotel.

The AAJ, an organization of lawyers dedicated to promoting a fair and effective justice system, holds two members-only conventions each year: an Annual Convention in the summer and a Winter Convention.

Held over a five-day period, each of these events features education programs for plaintiff attorneys with a national focus; Section, Litigation Group, and Committee meetings; a lineup of political speakers, including candidates, elected officials, and pundits; and social events.

Both conventions offer members the opportunity to earn a year’s worth of CLE, to network, and to return to their practices reenergized and better able to represent their clients.

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01-31-2011
Leighton Nominated for Inclusion in 2012 Best Lawyers

MIAMI/ORLANDO – January 31, 2011 – John Elliott Leighton, managing partner of Leighton Law, P.A. has been nominated for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2012® for his work in Personal Injury Litigation for Plaintiffs. Mr. Leighton was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2011 in the field of Personal Injury Litigation, for the fourth consecutive year.

Mr. Leighton is a Florida Bar board certified civil trial lawyer with 25 years of experience in litigating and trying complex and catastrophic cases in all state and federal courts, including: personal injury and wrongful death; medical malpractice; violent crime/negligent premises security; trucking and motor vehicle crash; nursing home neglect; product liability; aviation disaster; cruise ship and maritime; commercial litigation; and other civil cases. His law firm represents individuals who have been seriously injured or have lost loved ones due to the negligence of others.

Mr. Leighton has been called upon to provide his trial skills to represent plaintiffs throughout the country, including New York, Texas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Georgia, Illinois and North Carolina. He is the author of \"Litigating Premises Security Cases,\" a two-volume book published by West, which provides comprehensive information on investigating, preparing and trying inadequate security cases and representing crime victims. He is a frequent lecturer at national legal programs including Florida Bar CLE courses, and has spoken and taught at seminars, colleges and conventions in over a dozen states.

Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 39,000 leading attorneys cast almost 3.1 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

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01-28-2011
Leighton Talks 'Four Loko' with the Orlando Sentinel

Miami/Orlando attorney John Elliott Leighton filed a Complaint for Damages and Demand for Jury Trial with the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit in Seminole County, Florida on behalf of plaintiff Briana McCarroll.

The Orlando Sentinel recently discussed the case with Mr. Leighton, and the dangers of the Four Loko beverage.

Read the full article here.

Article Highlights:

According to her attorney, McCarroll suffered numerous injuries. The most gruesome he described: As the vehicle slid along the roadway, McCarroll\'s scalp was pulled back from her skull, leaving her permanently disfigured. She is suing Phusion for negligence and strict liability.

\"She\'s got loss of hair that will never grow back,\" attorney John Elliott Leighton said. McCarroll also is suing Joseph and the convenience store where she said Joseph purchased Four Loko.

But why sue the beverage makers as well? Echoing complaints that have been central to the controversy, Leighton said the beverage is a dangerous mix of caffeine and alcohol, packaged for sale to young people.

Because of the caffeine, Leighton said, drinkers \"don\'t feel drunk, and they have this false sense of sobriety.\"

Leighton said his client was getting ready to for her first year in college, planning to attend Florida State University, when the accident happened. Though Joseph, 20 at the time, had been drinking, Leighton said his client couldn\'t tell she was intoxicated.

\"She thought that the driver was fine,\" Leighton said.

Accident Summary:

An August crash in Seminole County has spawned two lawsuits against Phusion Projects. The Florida Highway Patrol reported at the time that Danielle Joseph was driving about 95 mph when she lost control of her 2000 Acura Integra, striking a trailer being towed by a pickup on State Road 417. Two passengers in the vehicle have claimed Joseph had been drinking Four Loko the night of the crash. The crash cost 20-year-old Janice Rivera, the first to sue, her right hand. The FHP reported at the time that another passenger, Briana McCarroll, was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center in serious condition.

------------------------------------

Additional resource:

Four Loko - “blackout-in-a-can”

· http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=four%20loko

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12-22-2010
Leighton Named Top Lawyer in South Florida Legal Guide

John Elliott Leighton was named to the 2011 “Top Lawyers” list published by the South Florida Legal Guide. The list is based on a peer nomination procedure, and touted as “the original, definitive list of ‘Lawyer’s Lawyers’ in South Florida”.The publication’s Top Lawyers are well regarded in the legal profession, have many years of experience and a distinguished record of achievement.

He is the Chairman of The Academy of Trial Advocacy and Chairman of the Inadequate Security Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). He is a Founding Member of the Resort Tort Litigation Group and Past Chairman of the Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section of the AAJ. He is on the Board of Trustees of the National College of Advocacy and a member of the Board of Advisors of the National Crime Victim Bar Association.

Mr. Leighton is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Florida Trend Magazine’s Florida Legal Elite™, and was selected to Florida Super Lawyers for the 5th year in a row, including Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers 2010, Top 50 South Florida Super Lawyers 2010, and Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers - Miami Super Lawyers 2010.

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12-09-2010
John Leighton Files Latest Case Involving Four Loko - "Blackout-in-a-Can"

Latest Four Loko Case: Miami/Orlando attorney John Elliott Leighton filed a Complaint for Damages and Demand for Jury Trial with the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit in Seminole County, Florida on behalf of plaintiff Briana McCarroll.

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11-12-2010
John Leighton Presents Sex, Drugs & Violence

John Elliott Leighton Presents Seminars in Miami and Orlando

SEX, DRUGS & VIOLENCE:

NEGLIGENT PREMISES SECURITY LITIGATION

Litigating the Liabilities of Property Owners – from Hotels

to Theme Parks, to Night Clubs

MIAMI & ORLANDO, FL – November 12, 2010 – On November 4 in Miami, Florida and on November 11 in Orlando, John Elliott Leighton presented “Sex, Drugs & Violence: Negligent Premises Security Litigation.” Leighton spoke to Central and South Florida lawyers about the law of Inadequate Security Litigation in Florida, including strategies and tactics in investigating, litigating and trying premises security cases, as well as case law, relevant statutes, codes and ordinances. Mr. Leighton is the Managing Partner of Leighton Law, P.A., a personal injury law firm with offices in Miami and Orlando.

· The Miami Seminar took place at the SunTrust building downtown Miami, at One Southeast Third Avenue, 19^th floor, November 4 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It was free of charge and provided a complimentary breakfast, as well as 3.5 General CLE credits including .50 Ethics (2.50 Criminal Trial Certification or 2.50 Civil Trial Certification).

· The Orlando Seminar was hosted by, and took place at, the Orange County Bar Association, Grand Cypress Room: 880 North Orange Avenue, Orlando Florida, November 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It was free of charge and provides a complimentary lunch, as well as 3.5 General CLE credits including .50 Ethics (2.50 Criminal Trial Certification or 2.50 Civil Trial Certification).

Mr. Leighton authored Litigating Premises Security Cases, a two-volume book published by Thomson-West, which provides comprehensive information on investigating, preparing and trying inadequate security cases and representing crime victims. His trial in Jeffery v. Publix Super Markets, a landmark inadequate security case, was the subject of an entire chapter in the book, Persuasive Jury Communication: Case Studies from Successful Trials, Chapter 10 (Shepard’s/McGraw-Hill, 1995).

Mr. Leighton is the Chairman of The Academy of Trial Advocacy and Chairman of the Inadequate Security Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). He is a Founding Member of the Resort Tort Litigation Group and Past Chairman of the Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section of the AAJ. He is on the Board of Trustees of the National College of Advocacy and a member of the Board of Advisors of the National Crime Victim Bar Association. The National Crime Victim Bar Association presented Mr. Leighton with the Advocate of Justice Award for his work in representing violent crime victims against corporate defendants.

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, Inside Edition, and many other news programs. He is a frequent lecturer at national legal programs and has spoken and taught at seminars, colleges and conventions in over a dozen states.

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10-21-2010
Eric T. Halsey Joins Leighton Law

Leighton Law welcomes attorney Eric T. Halsey to the team. Mr. Halsey’s practice is focused on tort litigation including wrongful death, medical malpractice, slip and fall, cruise line negligence, landowner negligence, negligent security, birth injuries, and motor vehicle accidents.

Mr. Halsey joins Leighton Law from McGrane, Nosich & Ganz, P.A., a medical malpractice litigation firm. He was named a “Rising Star” in Florida Super Lawyers in 2009 and 2010. He is an active member of the Florida Bar, the Dade County Bar Association, and the University of Miami Greater Miami Alumni Club.

Mr. Halsey earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, where he was a member of the Moot Court Board. He earned a Bachelor of Education degree from New York University with a major in Communications. He is admitted to the Florida Bar and to the United States District Court, Southern District of Florida.

Click here for Eric T. Halsey\'s complete bio.

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08-27-2010
"Buildings Magazine" Publishes Leighton's Inadequate Security Article.

John Leighton\'s contributed article is published in the August 2010 issue of Buildings Magazine, helping facilities managers to understand their rights and legal duties.

Faulty Doors Can Leave You in a Legal Jam

Learn how faulty or damaged door hardware can turn into a personal injury liability case against you.

by John Leighton

When businesses invite the public onto their premises, the law recognizes a distinct relationship. This relationship imposes a duty on building owners and managers to protect members of the public from harm on their property, whether caused by negligence or by intentional, criminal acts. Facility managers are in the best position to guard against a property’s risk and prevent liability lawsuits.

Why You Are Liable

Inadequate security cases usually involve criminal assaults, such as robberies and sexual assaults, at commercial premises, including office buildings, malls, hotels, apartments, parking garages, and even school dormitories. The law governing these cases is derived from the general principle that those who own or possess property have a duty to protect users from accidental, negligent, and intentional acts of third parties. Owners are also obligated to provide adequate warning or protection against such potential risks.

Premises liability can come into play in incidents involving violent crime assaults due to negligent security, insufficient lighting, dangerous products, faulty or damaged door hardware, and many other causes. Faulty or damaged door hardware compromises the point of entry into your premises, allowing entry to uninvited individuals who could potentially commit a crime and, at worse, harm another individual. The hardware in question could be as crucial as the locking mechanism on a door opened via a key card, such as in a hotel room.

Click here to read more

John Elliott Leighton, managing partner of Leighton Law, P.A. was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America^®2011 in the field of Personal Injury Litigation, for the fourth consecutive year (Copyright 2010 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.).

Mr. Leighton has been called upon to provide his trial skills to represent plaintiffs throughout the country, including New York, Texas, Indiana, Wisconsin, Georgia, Illinois and North Carolina. He is the author of \"Litigating Premises Security Cases,\" a two-volume book published by Thomson-West, which provides comprehensive information on investigating, preparing and trying inadequate security cases and representing crime victims. He is a frequent lecturer at national legal programs including Florida Bar CLE courses, and has spoken and taught at seminars, colleges and conventions in over a dozen states.

Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 39,000 leading attorneys cast almost 3.1 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

John Elliott Leighton, managing partner of Leighton Law, P.A. was re-elected Chairman of the Inadequate Security Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice, an organization of lawyers dedicated to promoting a fair and effective justice system.

The re-election was announced July 26 in Vancouver, at the Association’s Annual Convention, where Mr. Leighton gave a presentation entitled: “Terrorism as an Inadequate Security Case.”

During the same week, Mr. Leighton gave a presentation on “Dealing with the Violent Criminal in Civil Cases” for the Melvin Belli Society Annual Seminar. The Society’s purpose is to promote the international exchange of ideas among lawyers through meetings and education.

This appointment follows a previous announcement of Mr. Leighton’s re-election to a fourth term as Chairman of The Academy of Trial Advocacy, an invitation-only association of the nation’s leading catastrophic injury trial lawyers.

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07-26-2010
Leighton Re-Elected to 4th Term as Chairman, Academy of Trial Advocacy.

John Elliott Leighton, managing partner of Leighton Law, P.A. was re-elected for a fourth term as Chairman of The Academy of Trial Advocacy, an invitation-only association of the nation’s leading catastrophic injury trial lawyers. The Academy is dedicated to assisting members in providing the best legal counsel to their clients while always meeting the highest standards within the legal profession, and serving the interests of individuals and families harmed by the misconduct of others.

The re-election was announced by the Academy in Vancouver, Canada, during a three-day meeting this month, The conference included a keynote address by Professor Jay Feinman from Rutgers University, who spoke on Insurance Carrier Misconduct and his new book, Delay, Deny & Defend.

“I am proud that my dedication to the Academy and its mission has been recognized by my peers,” stated Leighton. “I am honored to continue leading this esteemed organization.”

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07-13-2010
Terrorism as an Inadequate Security Case: Leighton Speaks.

John Leighton presented “Terrorism as an Inadequate Security Case” at the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Annual Convention in Vancouver, July 13. His speech was part of the AAJ’s Inadequate Security Litigation Group CLE Program, which carried program theme of “Security Risks Across Borders and at Home.” Mr. Leighton Chairs the Inadequate Security Litigation Group of the AAJ.

The Mission of the American Association for Justice is to promote a fair and effective justice system—and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in America’s courtrooms, even when taking on the most powerful interests.

For more than 60 years, the American Association for Justice, also known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA®), has supported plaintiff trial lawyers—as the collective voice of the trial bar on Capitol Hill and in courthouses across the nation and by providing exclusive services designed for trial lawyers.

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07-09-2010
Dealing with Violent Criminals in Civil Cases: Leighton Speaks.

John Leighton presented \"Dealing with Violent Criminals in Civil Cases\" at the Melvin M. Belli Society Seminar in Vancouver July 9, 2010. The Melvin M. Belli Society is a group of trial lawyers dedicated to the principles of education on an international basis.

Melvin M. Belli, a founder and past president of ATLA, was dubbed by LIFE magazine “The King of Torts.” His courageous, innovative use of demonstrative evidence and his willingness to teach and share his techniques are legendary. The BELLI SOCIETY continues his tradition with hard-hitting, practical Seminars featuring courtroom skills. The rapid-fire, idea-packed programs feature brief presentations, followed by spirited audience participation and questions.

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07-06-2010
Leighton Launches RESORT TORT BLOG

Leighton Law, together with the Sarelson Law Firm, has launched the RESORT INJURY LAWYER BLOG. Florida is prime territory for tracking Resort Torts and resort, vacation, and recreational injuries, crimes and laws. Follow Leighton\'s Latest blog postings at www.resortinjurylawyerblog.com.

Postings Include:

Miami Beach Resort Crime - Deadly Shooting

Gulf Oil Spills Into Lawsuit

New Florida Slip-and-Fall Law

The National Center for Victims of Crime & National Crime Victim Bar Association

The Rogue Parasailing Industry Runs Wild...Again!

Latest Florida Crime Statistics & Hotel / Motel Liability

Rare Jury Trial against Disney Finds Amusement Park Not Guilty of Endangering Visitors or Misleading them in Warning Signs

How much risk does an employee assume when signing up to get paid for playing with killer whales?

Disney Bus Kills 9-Year-Old Boy

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06-17-2010
Leighton Named Top Super Lawyer in 2010

John Elliott Leighton was selected to Florida Super Lawyers for the 5th year in a row. In 2010 he was also selected to Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers 2010, Top 50 South Florida Super Lawyers 2010, and Top 100 Florida Super Lawyers - Miami Super Lawyers 2010.

Super Lawyers magazine names attorneys in each state who received the highest point totals, as chosen by their peers and through the independent research.

John E. Leighton Super Lawyers Profile

$\"Super$

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05-21-2010
Leighton Assists Florida Bar in Training New Lawyers

On May 20 and 21 in Tampa and Miami, John Elliott Leighton contributed his 25 years of experience as a Florida Bar board certified civil trial lawyer to The Florida Bar’s Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program of training young lawyers. Leighton’s instruction on “Basic Basics: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know” covered two important topics: Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Depositions and Discovery. The Florida Bar requires that new lawyers and all members complete three Basic CLE course components of the Basic Skills Course Requirement.

“It is an honor to be selected by the Bar as a leader and instructor for Florida’s young lawyers,” said Mr. Leighton, Managing Partner of Leighton Law, P.A., a personal injury law firm with offices in Miami and Orlando. “These essential skills are fundamental for new lawyers and for maintaining the highest standards of practice within the Florida Bar membership.”

Mr. Leighton is Chairman of The Academy of Trial Advocacy and chairs the Inadequate Security Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice/Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the National College of Advocacy, the American Board of Trial Advocates, and is a member of the Board of Advisors of the National Crime Victim Bar Association.

Mr. Leighton is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Florida SuperLawyers™, Florida Trend Magazine’s Florida Legal Elite™, and South Florida Legal Guide’s “Top Lawyers.”

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05-18-2010
Leighton Elected to American Board of Trial Advocates

The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an invitation-only board of trial lawyers with substantial minimum trial experience requirements and recommendations, has elected John Elliott Leighton to membership in its Miami, Florida Chapter. Mr. Leighton is a Florida Bar board certified civil trial lawyer with 25 years of experience, and Managing Partner of Leighton Law, P.A., a personal injury law firm with offices in Miami and Orlando. The ABOTA maintains an equal balance of plaintiff and defense attorneys, and a mission to promote the art of advocacy and the efficient administration of justice. Only trial lawyers of high personal character and honorable reputation can be nominated and elected into membership.

“As a trial lawyer with a passion for upholding the rights of my clients, I am honored to join this prestigious group,” said Mr. Leighton. “The more efficient our justice system, the more effective legal representation we can all provide.”

Mr. Leighton is the Chairman of The Academy of Trial Advocacy and Co-Chairman of the Inadequate Security Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). He is a Founding Member of the Resort Tort Litigation Group and Past Chairman of the Motor Vehicle, Highway and Premises Liability Section of the AAJ. He is on the Board of Trustees of the National College of Advocacy and a member of the Board of Advisors of the National Crime Victim Bar Association.

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05-06-2010
Leighton Presents RESORT TORTS to Miami Lawyers

On May 6 in Miami, Florida, John Elliott Leighton presented “Resort Torts: Vacation, Resort, and Recreational Liability” to South Florida lawyers, instructing them on the potential liabilities at resort and recreational locations, as well as tactics and case law for prosecuting such matters.

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04-30-2010
JOHN LEIGHTON JOINS OPRAH'S NO PHONE ZONE DAY

In support of Oprah Winfrey\'s No Phone Zone Day today, John Elliott Leighton presented “Driving While Distracted: The New DUI” to lawyers attending the American Association of Justice (AAJ) JazzFest Seminar in New Orleans.

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04-29-2010
Leighton presents Resort Torts to Orange County Bar

On April 29 at the Orange County Bar Association in Orlando, Florida, John Elliott Leighton presented “Resort Torts: Vacation, Resort, and Recreational Liability” to Central Florida lawyers, instructing them on the potential liabilities at resort and recreational locations, as well as tactics and case law for prosecuting such matters.

John Elliott Leighton publishes article on \"When There Is Trouble In Paradise...What Are You Liable For?\" in Hotels magazine, describing resort, amusement park and hotel liability for violent crimes and criminal assaults.

http://www.hotelsmag.com/article/452236-When_There_s_Trouble_in_Paradise_What_Are_You_Liable_For_.php

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03-01-2010
South Florida Legal Guide: "Top Lawyer John Elliott Leighton"

South Florida Legal Guide features John Elliott Leighton as the Top Lawyer in its monthly e-newsletter:

A board certified civil trial lawyer, John Elliott Leighton has 25 years of experience in representing individuals who have been seriously injured or have lost loved ones due to the negligence of others. \"It is my passion to fight for the compensation my clients deserve, and to make wrong situations right,\" said Leighton, a South Florida Legal Guide Top Lawyer. \"Because many issues that arise in Florida have national implications, I\'ve been compelled to spearhead legislative efforts to regulate certain industries so that others don\'t suffer the losses my clients have.\"

Leighton is a recognized leader in the field of negligent premises security. He recently authored \"Litigating Premises Security Cases,\" a two-volume book published by Thomson-West that provides comprehensive information on investigating, preparing and trying inadequate security cases and representing crime victims. He also received the Advocate of Justice Award from the National Crime Victim Bar Association for his work in representing violent crime victims against corporate defendants.

Leighton also has extensive experience in litigating resort torts, representing victims of personal injuries related to hotels, cruise ships and other travel operators. \"Because Florida is a vacation destination with 82 million visitors a year, resort torts are prevalent here and are on the rise,\" said Leighton. \"Many people don\'t know that there are often higher duties owed to tourists because of their lack of familiarity and awareness of risks that would be otherwise known to the proprietors of certain businesses.\"

As managing partner of Leighton Law, P.A., Leighton litigates and tries significant cases on behalf of individuals throughout Florida and the United States. His practice areas include personal injury and wrongful death, medical malpractice, trucking and motor vehicle crashes, product liability, premises liability and all civil and commercial litigation. He is a frequent lecturer at national legal programs and has spoken and taught at seminars, colleges and conventions in over a dozen states. He has commented on legal issues for NBC\'s The Today Show, Inside Edition, and many other news programs. He is currently in his third year of serving as chairman of The Academy of Trial Advocacy, a national invitation-only association of the nation\'s leading catastrophic injury trial lawyers.

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02-09-2010
John Leighton speaks to trial bar on jury selection

Leighton Law\'s John Elliott Leighton spoke \"Jury Selection in Today\'s Economy\" at the winter convention for the American Association for Justice in Maui, Hawaii.

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12-15-2009
Leighton Provides Training on Civil Justice for Victims of Crime, Dec. 14-15.

John Elliott Leighton provided crime victim advocate training on Dec. 14 in West Palm Beach and on Dec. 15 in Orlando. “Civil Justice for Victims of Crime” was a free seminar organized by The National Crime Victim Bar Association and The National Center for Victims of Crime. For more details, visit: http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbID=DB_Training_Institute1160. Mr. Leighton focused on training crime victim advocates about the civil justice system, including inadequate security, negligent hiring and retention litigation. Mr. Leighton sits on the Board of Advisors of the National Crime Victim Bar Association and Chairs the Inadequate Security Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice.

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12-11-2009
Leighton Speaks to Louisiana Trial Lawyers on "Sex, Drugs & Violence"

John Elliott Leighton spoke to the Louisiana Association for Justice (Louisiana Trial Lawyers) on \"Sex Drugs & Violence: Inadequate Premises Security Litigation\" at the 2009 \"Winning With The Masters\" CLE Conference in New Orleans on December 11. For more information, visit: www.lafj.org.

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10-22-2009
Leighton is Keynote Speaker on "Sex, Drugs & Violence"

John Elliott Leighton was the keynote speaker at the \"Sex, Drugs & Violence\" seminar on negligent premises security litigation on October 20, 2009 in Miami. Over 130 registrants participated in a lecture and discussion about Florida law on premises securityand strategies for litigating and trying these complex cases.

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10-23-2009
Leighton Again Selected for "The Best Lawyers in America"

Leighton Law managing partner John Elliott Leighton was again selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, a peer-selected listing of the leading lawyers by specialty in the United States.

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10-05-2009
Leighton Law Opens Orlando Office

After trying major personal injury cases in Central Florida for 24 years, John Elliott Leighton has opened an office in Orlando, conveniently located just a few blocks from the Orange County courthouse.

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08-03-2009
Leighton honors Fred Goldman at Crime Victim Bar

John Leighton welcomed Fred Goldman to the National Crime Victim Bar Association reception in San Francisco on July 27, 2009.

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08-03-2009
John Leighton re-elected Chair of Inadequate Security Litigation Group

Leighton Law partner John Elliott Leighton was re-elected Chairman of the Inadequate Security Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America).

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08-03-2009
John Leighton Chairs Academy of Trial Advocacy Conference

John Leighton, Chairman of The Academy of Trial Advocacy, chaired the annual programs in San Francisco July 25-27, 2009.

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06-22-2009
John Leighton selected to Top 100 in Florida SuperLawyers

Leighton selected as top 100 Florida SuperLawyer^TM for 2009.

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05-22-2009
Leighton obtains $3 million for victim of medical malpractice

John Elliott Leighton obtains a $3 million recovery for the family of a Citrus County woman who was killed by medical malpractice.

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05-18-2009
Hotel Crimes Increase With Recession

A new article in USA Today states that hotel crimes have increased with the recession.

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05-18-2009
Leighton to Speak in San Francisco on Resort Torts

John Leighton will speak at the annual Belli Seminar in San Francisco on Litigating Resort and Vacation Accident Cases.

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05-09-2009
Leighton Law, P.A. welcomes attorney Zoltan Pinter

Zoltan Pinter joins Leighton Law, bringing over 20 years of litigation and business experience with him.

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05-05-2009
John Elliott Leighton teaches lawyers about Resort Torts™

John Elliott Leighton spoke to Miami legal community about Resort Torts.^TMNearly 100 members of the Miami and South Florida legal and business community turned out at the Hotel Intercontinental in Miami to hear Mr. Leighton, Gregory Prusak of Kubicki Draper, and moderator Sam Terilli discuss liability in the context of hospitality, travel, vacation, boating and all means of leisure activities.