John Elliott Leighton Presents Seminars in Miami and Orlando RESORT TORTS: VACATION, RESORT & RECREATIONAL LIABILITY – Litigating Injuries Suffered by Some of the 82 Million Annual Visitors to Florida [Apr. 19, 2010]

04-29-2010

On April 29 in Orlando, Florida and on May 6 in Miami, John Elliott Leighton will present “Resort Torts: Vacation, Resort, and Recreational Liability.”  Leighton will speak to Central and South Florida lawyers about the potential liabilities at resort and recreational locations as well as tactics and case law for prosecuting such matters.  Mr. Leighton is the Managing Partner of Leighton Panoff Law, P.A., a personal injury law firm with offices in Miami and Orlando.

“When vacationing, we are by nature less attentive to dangers because we are often in a new place, distracted by amusements and sights, and are focused on enjoying the surroundings,” said Mr. Leighton. “Owners of hotels and resorts, golf resorts, amusement and theme parks, etc. are bound by law to keep their premises safe and free from obstruction or danger, and must display timely and clear notice of any danger that could be unknown to a guest.”

The Orlando Seminar is hosted by, and will take place at, the Orange County Bar Association, Grand Cypress Room: 880 North Orange Avenue, Orlando Florida, April 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is free of charge and provides a complimentary lunch; 5.5 General CLE credits including 4 toward Civil Trial Law are approved.

The Miami Seminar will take place at the SunTrust building downtown Miami, at One Southeast Third Avenue, 19th floor, May 6 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It is free of charge and provides a complimentary breakfast and snack; 5.5 General CLE credits including 4 toward Civil Trial Law are approved.

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 this year.

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.

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.