Meet David J. Abbey

Mr. Abbey has been defending organizations, governmental entities, insurance companies and individuals for over 30 years in personal injury, wrongful death, and coverage litigation. Mr. Abbey has tried in excess of one hundred jury trials and participated in numerous appeals and arbitrations.

Practice Areas

• Agriculture/Industrial Accidents
• Bad Faith
• Coverage Litigation
• Motor Vehicle Liability/Trucking Defense
• Premises Liability
• Products Liability
• Uninsured Motorist Claims
• Wrongful Death

Education

• Stetson College of Law (J.D. 1977)
• Illinois State University (B.S. 1973)
• Illinois Central College (A.A. 1972)
• Fairbury-Cropsey High School (1969)

Bar Admissions

• Florida (1977)
• Illinois (1977)

Court Admissions

• All Florida State Courts
• U.S. Court District, Middle District of Florida
• U.S. Court District, Central District of Illinois
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association (Commercial and Transportation Section; Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section)
• The Florida Bar (Trial Lawyers Section; Civil Procedure Rules Committee 1994-2003)
• Florida Defense Lawyers Association
• Florida Trucking Association
• Hillsborough County Bar Association
• Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
• Illinois State Bar Association (Tort Law Section; Insurance Law Section)
• McLean County Bar Association
• St. Petersburg Bar Association (President, 2003-’04; Secretary, 1987-’88; Executive Committee, 1996-98, 2000-’02; Trial Lawyers Section)
• Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA).

Community Involvement

• First United Methodist Church of St. Petersburg; (Trustee; Staff-Parish Committee; Pre-school Committee; Usher)
• HTR Foundation (American Civil War Heritage, Director)
• Illinois State University: (Attorney Advisory Board)
• Legion of Honor Member Kiwanis Club of St. Petersburg (President, 2012-2013)

Publications

• CDavid J. Abbey and Kimberly A. Staffa, Tactics to Combat Improper Comment and Argument by Plaintiff’s Counsel, Trial Advocate Quarterly, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Winter 1996, at 25
• David J. Abbey, Clancey Bounds and Kimberly A. Staffa, Florida Uninsured Motorist Law Since Shelby: Florida Supreme Court Decisions and Legislative Response, Trial Advocate Quarterly, Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Winter 1994, at 13

Distinctions

• Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer (1993-Present)
• Adjunct Professor, Stetson College of Law, taught courses in Insurance Law and Damages (1987-1991)
• A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Florida Super Lawyers (2006-2017)
• Florida Trend’s Legal Elite
• Wall Street Journal’s listing of the Top Attorneys in Florida

Presentations

Attendees

• Firm Clients; Insurance Claims Personnel; Hillsborough County Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section; St. Petersburg Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Trial Lawyers Section; Pinellas County Trial Lawyers; The American Conference Institute; Florida Trucking Association; and Florida Defense Lawyers

Locations

• Bloomington, IL; Clearwater, FL; De Moines, IA; Dubuque, IA; Indianapolis, IN; Orlando, FL; San Antonio, TX; San Francisco, CA; St. Augustine, FL; St. Petersburg, FL; and Toronto, Canada

Topics

• A Defense Prospective on Offers of Judgment and Proposals for Settlement
• Cases Most Likely to Proceed to Litigation and Trial
• Comparative Negligence, Comparative Fault and Joint and Several Liability
• Consequences on Civil/Insurance Claims of Attorneys’ Actions on Behalf of Criminal Defendants
• Defending the Questionable Disc Injury Claim
• Defending the TMD Claim
• Discovery Issues Involving Adjusters and Carriers
• Florida Bad Faith; Its History, Purpose and Development
• Avoiding Bad Faith Traps and Set-ups
• Florida Motor Vehicle Laws
• Premises Liability
• Renter and Owner Liability for negligent Use of Motor Vehicle
• Scope of Expert Discovery in Florida: The Forest through the Trees
• The Florida Casualty Claim: Accident to Appeal
• Trucking Litigation in Florida from a Defendant’s Perspective
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Significant Appellate Opinions

• Kraemer v. General Motors Acceptance Corp>, 572 So.2d 1363 (Fla 1990) – Vicarious Liability of Auto Leasor
• Brixius v. Allstate Insruance Co., 589 So.2 236 (Fla. 1991) – Coverage: Family Exclusion Clause
• Motzenbecker v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 123 So.3d 600 (Fla 2nd DCA 2013) – Coverage: Family Exclusion Clause

Personal Interests

• Auto Racing
• Attended each Indianapolis 500 since 1965
  Gardening and Farming
• Maintained Florida backyard vegetable garden since 1980s
• Owns property in Illinois, which his brother farms