Wayne Hogan
Biography
Wayne Hogan, a Jacksonville native, has been with the firm since 1977. He graduated from Florida State University, where he received both his bachelor’s and J.D. degrees. He specializes in all areas of personal injury law. In addition to participating in many professional associations, he and his wife, Pat, are also actively involved in the community.
He was among the lawyers representing the State of Florida in its historic lawsuit against the cigarette industry on behalf of Florida’s taxpayers and children resulting in a $17 billion settlement and, among other terms, removal of all billboard advertising and retirement of Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man in Florida. The settlement agreement not only helps the children of today, it will go on preventing addiction and disease for decades to come. It also led to the national tobacco settlement and set the stage for significant changes in Florida’s tobacco control laws.
Wayne Hogan has extensive experience in the field of punitive damages having obtained punitive damage verdicts in trials of 26 cases against manufacturers of defective products and having represented the plaintiffs in Florida’s first asbestos disease punitive damages trial and successfully handled the precedent-setting appeal reported as Johns-Manville Sales Corp. v. Janssens, 463 So.2d 262 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984). This case upheld the right of plaintiffs to receive punitive damages in such toxic tort litigation and also sustained the right of plaintiffs to obtain multiple exemplary damages awards in order to punish wrongdoers. In another of the firm’s cases the Florida Supreme Court held that a successor by merger is liable for punitive damages for the recklessness of its predecessor corporations in Celotex Corp. v. Pickett, 490 So.2d 35 (Fla. 1986).The firm represents thousands of victims of asbestos exposure statewide.
Education
The Florida State University (B.A., 1969; J.D., with High Honors, 1972); Phi Delta Phi
Certifications
Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer
National and Florida Boards of Certification
Member of:
The Florida Bar, admitted 1972, Florida
The Florida Bar Civil Rules of Procedure Committee (Present, Chair 1996–97)
The Florida Bar Code and Rules of Evidence Committee (2004–2008)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Jacksonville Bar Association
American Bar Association (Litigation Section)
Fourth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Committee.
American Board of Trial Advocates (National Board)
Florida Justice Association (Past President)
Jacksonville Justice Association
The Florida State University College of Law Alumni Association (Past President)
Environmental Law Section of the Florida Justice Association (Founding Chair)
Academy Research & Education Foundation of the Florida Justice Association (Past Chair)
The Florida Lawyers Action Group (Past Chair)
Public Justice
Civil Justice Foundation
Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.
Endowment for Academy Giving to Law and Education (Benefactor)
American Association for Justice (Presidents Club)
Chester Bedell Inn of Court (Master)
Florida’s Children First (Founding Member of the Board of Directors)
Practice Areas
Life-Altering Accidents and Wrongful Deaths; Defective Products; Punitive Damages; Trucking and Car Accidents; Mesothelioma/Asbestos/Toxic Exposures; On-the-Job Accidents; Medical Malpractice; and Insurance Litigation
Consumer Law Designation
In 1977, the Florida Bar established the Designation Program for attorneys who practice in particular areas of the law. One of those designations was Consumer Law. Wayne Hogan was one of the first in the Florida Bar to become designated in Consumer Law.
Then, in 1982, the Florida Supreme Court replaced the Designation Program with a system of Certification to be more helpful to consumers of legal services across Florida and created a method for attorneys to become certified as “specialists” or “experts” in their field of practice. Certification is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar of the competency and experience of an attorney in his or her field of practice. Testing and peer review of qualifications are required. Board certification recognizes an attorney’s special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice.
Wayne Hogan has consistently maintained his Florida Bar and National Bar Board Certifications.
Professional Awards
1997 Florida Justice Association’ Masterson Award for Professionalism
1999 Perry Nichols Award
2002 Al J. Cone Lifetime Achievement Award
2003 Florida Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates Trial Lawyer of the Year
2007 Florida Coastal School of Law Justice Raymond Ehrlich Award
2007 American Association for Justice Distinguished Service Award
2008 Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. Attorney of the Year
2010 Southern Trial Lawyers Association War Horse Award
2010 WJCT Public Broadcasting/National Philanthropy Day
2011 Honorable Mention (ABA) Raymond Pace and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander Award for Excellence in Pipeline Diversity
2011 Fran Peacock Coker FLABOTA Community Service Award
He has been recognized by publications such as Best Lawyers in America (Woodward & White) and Leading Florida Personal Injury Attorneys (American Research Corporation) and Florida Trend’s Legal Elite. Mr. Hogan has been given the Highest Peer Review Rating (AV Preeminent) by Martindale-Hubbell, a significant rating accomplishment — a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.