Mr. Jonathan Hayes Groff

The Florida Justice Association (formerly, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers) (Eagle Member); The Florida Bar; Miami-Dade County and Federal Bar Associations (Member, Federal Litigation Section).

The cases set out below and on our website, are only a small sample of our work representing Florida accident victims and their families; Confidential six figure policy limits recovery for client, after his first lawyer dropped the case. Our pedestrian client was struck by a vehicle after taking one step off the center median. Although, only our client was charged with causing the accident, we tracked down an out of state witness who testified the driver was traveling at "highway" speeds. Based on our reconstruction of the accident, including the relation of speed, distance and line of site, the insurance company tendered their full policy limits before trial; Confidential six figure, insurance policy limits recovery, for traumatic brain injury suffered by an elderly client in a motor vehicle accident. The client's first lawyer received a minimal settlement offer, because her own treating doctors, including a Neurologist, felt diagnostic studies taken one year after the accident were consistent with age related changes, vs., trauma. Using our years of medical-legal experience, we realized no one doctor ever examined all her films, much less, viewing them side-by-side. We hired of the most respected brain injury Neuroradiologists in South Florida to review all the films. Based on his side-by-side review, we were able to directly connect the initial traumatic findings to the last studies performed. On seeing our evidence, the Insurance Company quickly tendered policy limits; saving our client the time, expense and stress of litigation; Recovered $100,000 insurance policy limits shortly before trial. Client suffered a low back injury ultimately requiring surgical repair. With only $500 in property damage, the insurance company claimed her injury could not have been from the accident. Until shortly before trial, their offers did not even cover her medical bills. We did not give up and they eventually gave in, paying the limits of their insurance policy; Confidential (high seven figure) recovery for client partially paralyzed in a vehicular accident. Our team of medical experts; vocational rehabilitation experts; lawyers and other consultants vigorously challenged the defendant's attempt to minimize the client's medical needs; their denials of liability and insurance coverage. In addition to the substantial recovery, through careful financial planning, we preserved his entitlement to Medicaid insurance coverage. As a result, our client and his family are financially secure; he has a new home designed for his special needs; a private nurse care practitioner who insures he is provided with whatever care and treatment he needs and much more; $135,000 for client even though there was only a $100,000 insurance policy. Client required surgery to repair a fractured leg. The elderly defendant cut off our client and left the scene, apparently without realizing he even caused an accident. Defendant's insurance company refused to make any offer because no one could locate the independent witness listed on the police report. We did not give up and before trial our investigator's and staff located the witness. Because of their delay in accepting responsibility, we pressured the insurance company into paying more than the insurance policy limits they sold the defendant; $375,000 after client's first lawyer dropped case. The elderly client suffered a fractured leg requiring surgical repair. The first lawyer dropped the case after learning the person who leased the car let his $100,000 insurance policy expire. Our attorneys know that under Florida law, the leasing company is responsible if there is no insurance on a long term lease. Our client was walking across the street when she was struck by the defendant who was making a left turn on a green arrow; $750,000 for injuries to young woman in motor vehicle accident. Our client claimed a vehicle which left the scene, cut her off and a passenger in our car contributed to causing the accident, by grabbing her steering wheel and turning them into a pole. Client suffered a fractured leg, requiring surgical repair and lost time from work. Since there was no contact with the other car, this complicated insurance/liability claim, required careful analysis and reconstruction to determine what occurred; $680,000 for leg injury to vehicle passenger. Defendant driver claimed he was cut off by another vehicle which fled the scene. Client suffered a fractured leg with open wounds, requiring reconstructive skin and tissue grafting. Despite the insurance company challenging liability, long term extent of his injuries and problems proving lost earnings, we were able to recover most of the available insurance policy; Confidential (high six figure) settlement for Slip and Fall injury. Client fractured foot requiring two foot/ankle surgeries. The Defendant's "expert witness" doctor, claimed the plaintiff did not fracture her foot and all her problems were the result of longstanding degenerative changes, unrelated to the fall. Our team of medical experts; vocational rehabilitation experts; lawyers and other consultants vigorously challenged the defendant's denials and experts. Our client's long time job required she stand or walk most of the day. Because of her injury, it was impossible to work without severe pain. Her recovery made it possible to stay off her feet and reduce any additional damage from the injury; $440,000 for neck and back injuries from automobile accident. Client suffered a disk herniation in her back requiring surgery and underwent epidural injections in her neck and back to control pain and reduce inflammation. Client had a prior history of minor neck and back pain and diagnostic testing showed degenerative changes, which defendant claimed would show her injuries were not caused by the accident; $2,750,000 recovery on complex liability automobile accident. An uninsured motorist who was passing traffic in no-passing zone struck our client head-on. The impact caused her vehicle to spin sideways, where she was struck by a vehicle traveling behind her. Our office immediately went into action. One of our lawyers personally went to the accident scene to look for physical evidence the police may have missed. The attorney and our accident reconstruction expert were able document important physical evidence before it disappeared. From this inspection and interviewing witnesses, we learned the car behind our client was traveling dangerously close to her. Through our team of experts; lawyers and investigators, we established her most severe injuries were caused by this second impact. Because of our fast action, attention to details and teamwork this client was appropriately compensated for her severe injuries.