James Etscorn

James V. Etscorn is a skilled trial lawyer who has been recognized for his commercial litigation experience and his aggressive defense of product manufacturers and business entities in product liability litigation.

Jim has successfully represented clients in complex business litigation involving business torts, breach of contract actions, copyright and trade secret cases, and health care disputes. He is trusted for his sound judgment in advising corporate clients involved in crisis situations and catastrophic matters.

Jim’s product liability experience includes the handling of numerous wrongful death cases stemming from product defects, chemical and carbon monoxide exposures, swimming pool entrapments, explosions and cases involving exposure to Legionella.

He also helps clients design and implement product warnings, and routinely represents clients before the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in product recall matters.

Jim is the managing partner of BakerHostetler’s Orlando office, where he is responsible for the management and professional development of more than 100 attorneys and staff. Jim was elected as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© since 2010.

He is the former leader of the firm’s national Product Liability team, continues to lecture on product liability matters and has presented on the topic of swimming pool accident prevention at the World Aquatic Health Conference.

Experience :

• Obtained a defense verdict after trial in a tortious interference case filed against clients in Seminole County, Florida. (June 2014)
• Acted as lead counsel in large, multipatent and breach of contract case, obtaining a jury verdict that resulted in the award of several key patents to the client.
• Obtained for an IT firm, in a large breach of contract claim worth several million dollars, a defense verdict when the court determined that no breach had occurred during the termination of an IT firm.
• Represented theme park in federal court during complex copyright action alleging copyright infringement from a plaintiff seeking several billion dollars in royalties, and obtained a summary judgment on behalf of the theme park.
• Obtained verdict and attorney’s fee judgment for vacation resort developer, resulting in appointment of receiver and replacement of new board of directors.
• Represented a hospitality client in a wrongful death case involving a pool accident. Worked with and advised company executives on how to deal with different product liability issues and prevent them in the future.
• Litigated cases in several states involving Legionnaire’s Disease caused by the exposure and inhalation of inappropriately disinfected water found in fountains, water systems and cruise ships.

Memberships :

• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Federal Bar Association, Past President (1991)
• Fifth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission (Appointed by Governor Crist, 2008)
• The Florida Bar

Education :

• J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law, 1987
• B.S., Political Science, Florida State University, 1984, with honors

Admissions :

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1987
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1992
• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, 1987
• Florida