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Jeffrey E. Bigman

Practice Areas

  • Medical Malpractice Defense
  • Bad Faith Litigation
  • Automobile Negligence Defense
  • Nursing Home Defense
  • Insurance Coverage Disputes
  • Personal Injury
  • Tobacco Litigation Defense
  • Product Liability Defense
  • Aviation Law
  • First Party Property Defense

Biography

Mr. Bigman, one of the partners of Smith Bigman Brock, P.A., joined the firm in 1996. He specializes in insurance defense with emphasis on medical malpractice defense, bad faith and insurance coverage litigation and high exposure personal injury actions. He represents doctors, nursing homes, hospitals, chiropractors, podiatrists and other health professionals. He also represents health professionals in the defense of disciplinary actions. Mr. Bigman represents clients in all aspects of insurance defense including automobile negligence, premises liability, products liability, insurance coverage disputes, and bad faith litigation. He is a Board Certified Specialist in the area of Civil Trial Law.

Education

  • Fordham University School of Law, New York, New York
    • Juris Doctor - 1983
  • City University of New York, Queens College, Flushing, NY
    • Bachelor of Arts - 1980

Classes & Seminars

  • Direct and Cross-Examination of the Expert Witness, Volusia/Flagler Association for Women Lawyers, March 2014
  • Anticipating and Defending Bad Faith Claims, Approved Insurance Class for Florida Adjusters
  • Multiple Competing Claims, Florida Liability Claims Conference, June 2012
  • Bad Faith Set-ups & Current Solutions, Florida Liability Claims Conference, June 2011
  • Direct and Cross Examination of Experts, Volusia County Bar Association, May 2011
  • Cutting Edge Technology at Trial, Florida Liability Claims Conference, June 2010
  • An Update on Limiting Past Medical Expenses to Paid, Not Billed Charges, Goble and it's Progeny, South Florida Regional FDLA meeting, October, 2008 and Florida Liability Claims Conference, May 2009
  • Israel Awareness: The Peace Process and the Assault on Israel's Right to Self-Defense., Stetson University, April 2009
  • Overview of Florida Law for Chiropractors, Palmer College of Chiropractic, Port Orange, FL Campus - Lecture given multiple semesters, 2008 - 2012
  • Surveillance-Gotcha-A review of the law, tactics and strategy of surveillance, Florida Liability Claims Conference, 2006
  • Using Physicians in Defending and Proving Damages, Volusia County Bar Association, 2006
  • Cross-Examination of the Expert Witness, Dunn-Blount Inns of Court, Volusia Chapter, 2003
  • Disclosure of Medical Errors: The Medical-Legal Perspective, VHA Southeast Conference, 2002
  • Claims Adjusters' Considerations in Potential Litigation Claims, Safeco Insurance, 2001
  • Malingering - Detection and Effect on Personal Injury Claims, Medical-Legal Seminar - Steamboat Springs, CO, February 2000
  • Mock Trial, OUM & Associates - Southwest Chiropractic Association, February 2000
  • Defending the Physician in Malpractice Cases, Medical-Legal Seminar - Big Sky, MT, February 1998
  • Florida Required License Renewal Course for Podiatrists - Taught CME course on Risk Management and Laws and Rules, Barry University, 1997 - 1999
  • Mock Deposition Presentation for DPM, Florida Podiatric Medical Association Meeting, June 1996
  • Medical Malpractice Symposium - Surgical Seminar and Lectures to Podiatric Students, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, 1993 - 1995
  • Lecturer at Risk Management Seminars for Physicians, Medical Liability Mutual Insurance Company, New York, N.Y., 1991 - 1996
  • Use of Surveillance at Trial, Southeast Claims Conference, New Orleans, LA, June 1990
  • Multiple Risk Management Seminars, Hospitals and Insurance Companies in New York
  • Attorney Panel Member at Risk Management Programs for Podiatrists, OUM & Associates
  • Tort Reform in New York, International Insurance Underwriters
  • In-House Lecturer using NITA Materials, Trial Advocacy Program

Past Positions

  • Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, Partner, New York, New York, 1991 to 1996
  • Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, Associate, New York, New York, 1987 to 1990
  • Martin, Clearwater & Bell, Litigation Associate, New York, New York, 1984 to 1987
  • Hawkins, Delafield & Wood, Litigation Associate, New York, New York, 1983 to 1984

Published Works

  • The Lamz Effect: Identifying UM/UIM Carriers at Trial (Jeffrey E. Bigman & William McFetridge) , FDLA Trial Advocate Quarterly, Fall , 2008
  • "Surveillance" Chapter in "The Defense Speaks", Practice Manual, Florida Defense Lawyers Association pp 79-84, 2006
  • Altered Records: The Credibility Battle, OUM Progress Reports For Podiatrists, January, 1997
  • Altered Records: The Credibility Battle, OUM Progress Reports For Chiropractors, November, 1996

Professional Associations

  • Florida Bar Association
  • Volusia County Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Florida Liability Claims Conference, Chairman, 2014
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Board of Directors, 2007 to 2014
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association, President, 2012 to 2013
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Secretary/Treasurer, 2010 to 2011
  • Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Professional Liability Committee Chairman, 2005 to 2007
  • Dunn Blount Inns of Court
  • Jewish Heritage Festival of Volusia & Flagler Counties (www.jewishheritagefestival.com), Chairman and President (since Inception), 2007 to Present
  • Temple Beth-El (www.templebeth-el.us), Board of Trustees, 2000 to Present
  • Temple Beth-El Executive Committee (2000 - 2014), President, 2009 to 2010

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Board Certified - Civil Trial Law, Florida Bar, 2000
  • (Recertified in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2021)
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Advocate Legal Member, 2021 - Present

Current Employment Position

  • Partner

Bar Admissions

  • New York, 1984
  • Florida, 1995
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. Supreme Court

Honors

  • Florida Super Lawyer (Law & Politics Publication), 2008 - 2016
  • DRI - Exceptional Performance Citation, 2012 - 2013

Representative Cases

  • Echo v. MGA Ins. Co., 157 So. 3d 507, 2015, 1st DCA
  • Pericles v. MGA Ins. Co., 567 Fed. Appx. 804, 2014, 11th Circuit
  • Arnold v. Audiford, 98 So. 3d 746, 2012, 1st DCA
  • Arnold v. Audiford, aff'd, 161 So. 3d 1274, 2015, Fla.
  • Kelly v. Noranjo, 122 So. 3d 380, 2013, 5th DCA
  • Wolf v. Progressive, 34 So. 2d 81, 2010, 1st DCA
  • Franklin v. Progressive, 440 So. 3d 1281, 2010, 1st DCA