Jeffrey James has experience litigating a variety of cases in both state and federal court. He regularly represents defendants in professional liability matters (e.g., attorneys, accountants, engineers, etc.) and personal injury litigation, with a specific emphasis on toxic torts, products liability, airlines and aviation injuries. He also has experience litigating general property damage, personal injury, premises liability, and construction cases. Jeff has regularly defended automobile and recreational vehicle dealers, manufacturers, repair facilities and other industry-related entities with regard to a variety of claims.
Representative Experience
•Banker Lopez Gassler P.A., Tampa, FL
Shareholder, December 2009 to Present
Associate, November 2008 to November 2009
•Fowler White Boggs Banker P.A., Tampa, FL
Associate, September 2003 to October 2008
•Colley Shroyer & Abraham Co., L.P.A., Columbus, OH
Law Clerk, Summer/Fall 2002
•Chambers of Judge George C. Smith, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Columbus, OH
Intern, Summer 2001
•Corrections Litigation Section, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Columbus, OH
Intern, 2001
Presentations and Publications
Publications
•Quoted in “ Shoddy Legal Work by Expert Witness Nets $409K Award for Breach of Contract, ” Bruce Kaufman, United States Law Week, 82 U.S.L.W. 1355 (March 18, 2014)
•“Danger Ahead: The Changing Face of Failure to Warn Claims, ” Co-Authored with Michael Drahos, Mark Greene and Larry Smith, Trial Advocate Quarterly, Vol. 33, No. 1, at 28 (Winter 2014)
•Quoted in “Full Disclosure Required to Arbitrate Attorney-Client Fee Disputes,” John W. Joyce, ABA Litigation News, Vol. 38, No. 4 (Summer 2013)
•“Professionals Sued for Expert Witness Work: When Does Witness Immunity Apply?”, Author, Defense Research Institute’s Riding the E&O Line (Publication of the Professional Liability Committee), Vol. 4, Issue 2 (June 12, 2012)
•“Negligent Misrepresentation by a Professional: Who Can Sue?” Author, Defense Research Institute’s The Voice, Vol. 10, Issue 43 (Oct. 26, 2011)
•“Expert Testimony in Legal Malpractice Cases”, Author, DRI’s For The Defense, July 2010
•“Moving For Attorneys’ Fees and Costs: Do It Right and Do it On Time!” Author, The Florida Bar Journal, Vol. 80 No. 1 January 2006
•“Design Defects and Nondesigning Manufacturer: Does Strict Liability Apply?,” Author, Published in the Newsletter for the ABA Section of Litigation, Committee on Products Liability Litigation Vol. 16, Issue 1, Winter 2005
•“Spoliation: Sword or Shield?” Co-Authored with Frank Gassler and John O’Flanagan, in DRI Product Liability Conference Manual, February 2004. Reprinted in Australian Product Liability Report, Vol. 15, Nos. 3 and 4, April 2004, May 2004
Presentations
•“Avoiding Legal Malpractice,” co-presented at Florida Defense Lawyers Association’s FLCC Webinar Series, June 4, 2020
•“Chinese Toxic Products from Toys to Pet Foods to Drywall,” Co-Authored by Nava Ben-Avraham, Terry Ford, Jeffrey James, Michele Johnson and Petra Justice. Presented by Frank H. Gassler at the Annual Meeting of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Hot Springs, Virginia, July 2009
•“Can You Keep a Secret? Confidentiality of Court Documents and Trade Secrets in Modern Litigation,” Co-Authored with Bradford Patrick, Presented by Frank H. Gassler at the 2005 Winter Meeting of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Marco Island, Florida, March 2005. Mr. James also presented this paper as a Fowler White CLE seminar to Technology and Products Liability practice group, March 2005 and March 2006
Community Involvement
•City of Tampa Civil Service Board: Member, appointment by City Council, 2008-2009
•Hillsborough County Commission: Member of the County Consumer Protection Board, by Appointment, 2006-2008
•Tampa Chamber of Commerce: Emerge Tampa, 2004-2008
•Tampa Connection: Alumni Association, Class of 2006
•Hillsborough County Board of Directors for Junior Achievement of West Central Florida, Inc.
Distinctions
•AV Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
•The Best Lawyers in America, 2021-2024
•Florida Rising Star , 2009-2019
•CALI Award for Excellence in the Study of Sports Law, 2002; The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
•CALI Award for Excellence in the Study of the Law of Cyberspace, 2001; The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
