 James Brown Office: Tampa Direct: (813) 222-7274 jbrown@wickersmith.com Practice Areas: Admitted to Practice:
New York, New York |
James BrownBiographyJames R. Brown, a Shareholder in Wicker Smith’s Tampa office, has been with the firm for over 45 years. Since he started as an associate in the Miami office in 1976, he has been an integral part of the firm’s growth throughout the years, helping to open the West Palm Beach office in 1984 and finally settling in the Tampa office in 2003. Jim is a talented trial lawyer. He has served as lead counsel in over 120 jury trials dealing with a variety of matters in the areas of general liability, products liability, motor vehicle accidents, and construction litigation. Jim regularly manages complex claims involving catastrophic injury, dismemberment, disfigurement, and death. These cases are often emotionally charged, yet Jim excels in navigating these complexities, ensuring a favorable resolution for his client while maintaining a sensitivity and respect for all parties. Throughout his career, Jim has defended claims involving of a variety of products, including sliding automatic doors, gas tanks, seatbelts, commercial restaurant equipment, medical device implants, and chemical exposure. Jim makes every effort to conduct a thorough analyzation of the case at the outset, so he can provide an accurate picture to the client of the liability and potential damages. He understands that cost and efficiency are always important factors in the defense of a claim, and Jim is skilled at determining which cases should be tried and which ones should be resolved early, with the ultimate goal always being a satisfactory resolution for the client. Among his professional affiliations, Jim is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation only group of trial attorneys. He is also an active member in the Hillsborough County Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association. His success as a litigator has earned him an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating award by that organization. Professional & Civic Affiliations
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James Brown - Partner
Profile
James R. Brown, a Shareholder in Wicker Smith’s Tampa office, has been with the firm for over 45 years. Since he started as an associate in the Miami office in 1976, he has been an integral part of the firm’s growth throughout the years, helping to open the West Palm Beach office in 1984 and finally settling in the Tampa office in 2003.
Jim is a talented trial lawyer. He has served as lead counsel in over 120 jury trials dealing with a variety of matters in the areas of general liability, products liability, motor vehicle accidents, and construction litigation. Jim regularly manages complex claims involving catastrophic injury, dismemberment, disfigurement, and death. These cases are often emotionally charged, yet Jim excels in navigating these complexities, ensuring a favorable resolution for his client while maintaining a sensitivity and respect for all parties.
Throughout his career, Jim has defended claims involving of a variety of products, including sliding automatic doors, gas tanks, seatbelts, commercial restaurant equipment, medical device implants, and chemical exposure.
Jim makes every effort to conduct a thorough analyzation of the case at the outset, so he can provide an accurate picture to the client of the liability and potential damages. He understands that cost and efficiency are always important factors in the defense of a claim, and Jim is skilled at determining which cases should be tried and which ones should be resolved early, with the ultimate goal always being a satisfactory resolution for the client.
Among his professional affiliations, Jim is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation only group of trial attorneys. He is also an active member in the Hillsborough County Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association. His success as a litigator has earned him an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating award by that organization.
vCard
Credentials
Education
- Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., 1976)
- University of North Carolina (B.A., 1973)
Representative Matters
Defense Verdict on Behalf of an Apartment Complex
Plaintiff alleged a slip and fall in her own apartment related to water leaking from the air conditioner. Plaintiff retained a well-known local expert as her life care planner who intended to offer medical causation opinions that were outside his medical specialty, but the defense was successful in prohibiting that testimony. Plaintiff’s last demand was $950,000, but the jury returned a complete defense verdict.
Practices
Education
- Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D., 1976)
- University of North Carolina (B.A., 1973)
Credentials
Admitted to Bar
- 1976, Florida
- 1977, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida including Trial Bar
- 2003, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
Professional Affiliations
- The Florida Bar
- Hillsborough County Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Florida Defense Lawyers Association
