John Elliott Leighton

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.