Dale R. Hightower

Founding Partner/Miami

(24-hour contact information: E-mail Dale@hightowerlaw.net Cell 305.799.3054)

"Put your trust in God; but be sure to keep your powder dry."
Oliver Cromwell

Mr. Hightower has been a trial lawyer for 27 years and has tried over 200 jury trials all over the state of Florida with a 90% success rate (defense verdict or verdict less than pretrial offer). Mr. Hightower handles all types of litigation matters for the firm. He has also been active in the Dade County Bar Association and is very familiar to all the judges and attorneys in Florida as an effective and ethical litigator. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Dade County Bar, and also served as the Bar’s Public Relations Director. At one time he hosted a legal television show entitled “In the Public Interest”. In addition, he has been recognized as an expert litigator and because of this has been invited to speak at numerous legal seminars. Over the past 15 years, he has given numerous speeches at various organizations on topics ranging from discovery techniques to closing arguments.

Mr. Hightower’s accomplishments have been recognized by prestigious legal organizations and has received many awards. He has been named a “Top Lawyer” in Florida by the Florida Legal Guide in years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. He was also named a “Florida Superlawyer” by the Miami Herald in years 2006 and 2010. He was invited to be a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one half of 1% of America Lawyers).

He is an active member of the American Trucking Association (ATA), Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FR&L), Florida Retail Federation (FRF), Florida Trucking Association (FTA), Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc., South Florida Claim Association, The State of New York Claim Association, The Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA), Trucking Law Committee of the Defense Research Institute (DRI), Windstorm Insurance Network, Inc., U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, United States Supreme Court and Dade County Bar Association.

As for personal background, Mr. Hightower was born in Lakeland, Florida and lived there until graduating from college. As a youth he attained the rank of Eagle Scout from the Boy Scouts of America and while attending Lakeland High School he was elected Senior Class President. At Florida Southern College, Mr. Hightower was elected Freshman Class President and Student Government President. Furthermore, he was voted into the Greek Hall of Fame and sat on the Board of Trustees of the College.

At Cumberland Law School in Alabama, Mr. Hightower was elected Florida Student Bar President and participated each year in the school's mock trial competitions. Due to his accomplishments and community involvement, the United States Jaycees named him one of the "Outstanding Young Men in America.

Away from the office, Mr. Hightower enjoys the balmy weather in South Florida while sport fishing and scuba diving. Also, he exercises his writing skills by drafting short stories. One of his short stories entitled “RoboLawyer” was published in the Florida Bar Journal.

Great Results

Vansyckle v. Hilton/Trial

In this Orlando case, Mr. Hightower represented Hilton Corporation in a suit involving an elevator fall. Plaintiff, a hairdresser, claimed she could not cut hair anymore due to a full thickness rotator cuff tear. She demanded over $100,000 in lost wages. Plaintiff had rotator cuff surgery after the accident and incurred $40,000 in medical expenses. The demand was $900,000. After a week long trial, the jury returned DEFENSE VERDICT.

Carver v. U.S. Security/Trial

In this 2 week Sarasota county trial, Mr. Hightower represented U.S. Security in a case where Plaintiff suffered severe ankle fractures and the onset of RSD according to defense doctors. The injuries occurred when U.S. Security employee “blacked out” at the wheel, crossed the median and collided head on with Plaintiff’s vehicle. The driver had suffered from black out spells years earlier and the Plaintiff argued that this spell was foreseeable. Plaintiff’s experts testified that her past medicals exceeded $200,000 and total future economic loss was $1.8 million. Plaintiff asked the jury to award $20 million and demanded 9 million to settle. The Jury returned a DEFENSE VERDICT.

Warren v. Avis/Trial

In this West Palm Beach case, Mr. Hightower represented Avis in a suit where the alleged Plaintiff had C 3-4 Laminectomy as a result of the admitted negligence of the Avis renter. The Past medicals totaled $150,000 and future medicals were estimated at $480,000. Plaintiff filed a proposal settlement for $850,000 and Avis filed one for $450,000.After a week long trial, the jury returned a DEFENSE VERDICT finding that injuries were not related to the accident.

Washington v. Marriott International/Trial

In this Orlando case, Mr. Hightower represented the Marriott hotel chain in a suit where Plaintiff had a lumbar discectomy and a recommended future lumbar fusion, allegedly as a result of a slip and fall on a landing ramp. The past medicals were $65,000. Marriott filed a proposal of settlement for $135,000. Plaintiff asked the jury to award $700,000. The Jury’s verdict was 50/50 liability on Plaintiff and Defendant. The net award was $37,500. 

Riley v. Burger King Corporation/Trial

In this Broward county (Fort Lauderdale) case, Mr. Hightower represented Burger King Corporation in a suit where Plaintiff claimed she spent a week in the hospital as a result of food poisoning from eating a bacteria infested croissant. The medical expenses were over $3,000. The jury returned a DEFENSE VERDICT.

Cook v. Waste Management Trial

In this Orlando case, Mr. Hightower represented Waste Management in a case wherein Plaintiff was hospitalized and underwent a cervical fusion due to two fractured vertebra as a result of a collision with a Waste Management truck. The past medicals totaled $60,000 and the lost wage claim was over $100,000. Plaintiff asked the jury to award $750,000. The jury returned a DEFENSE VERDICT on liability.

Carroll v. Red Barn Tavern/Trial

In this Tampa Bay area case, Mr. Hightower represented an insured bar in a suit where the Plaintiff was shot in the groin by a patron of the bar. The bar was sued for negligence security for this alleged “foreseeable criminal act.” After a week long trial the jury returned a DEFENSE VERDICT.

Krojman v. Taco Bell/Trial

In this West Palm Beach case, Mr. Hightower represented Taco Bell in a case where the Plaintiff claimed she tripped and fell on a defective parking stop and sustained three fractured ribs and knee surgery. Past medical expenses totaled $60,000. Taco Bell admitted negligence and filed proposal of settlement for $25,000. Jury returned a verdict of only $7,000.

Sanchez v. Union American Insurance/Trial

In this Miami-Dade case, Mr. Hightower defended a insurance company from a bad faith case. In the prior underlying case the auto accident jury awarded $400,000 against an insured with only a 10,000 insurance policy. After a week long bad faith trial. The jury returned a DEFENSE VERDICT finding no bad faith.

Estate of Doe v. Insured Driver/Wrongful Death/Trial

In this Florida Panhandle case, Mr. Hightower represented an insured driver whose van collided with the rear of the Plaintiff’s motorcycle killing him. Plaintiff’s demand was 1 million dollars going on into trial and defense offer was $175,000. Case settled on second day of trial for $227,000.

McAmis v. Yellow Roadway Corp/Trial

In this Palm Beach county case, Mr. Hightower represented an 18 wheeler semi driver who rear ended the Plaintiff and allegedly caused her to have a lumbar disectomy with fusion. Past medicals totaled $93,000. Liability was admitted and the case was defended on causation. Plaintiff asked the jury to award $500,000. Jury returned a verdict of $10,000.

Vidmar v. Budget Rental a Car/Trial

In this Miami-Dade county trial, Mr. Hightower represented Budget Rent a Car whose renter had rear ended the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff allegedly suffered a shoulder fracture and incurred $25,000 in medical expenses. Plaintiff demanded $250,000. The jury found the Plaintiff 50% responsible for the accident and the net award was $520.

Avakian v. Burger King Corporation/Trial

In this Broward county (Fort Lauderdale) trial, Mr. Hightower represented Burger King Corporation in a negligent security case where the Plaintiff was robbed while inside restaurant. Plaintiff suffered a fractured hip, herniated disc, and carpal tunnel in wrist. Plaintiff’s economist testified that the Plaintiff had $364,000 in total economic loss. Plaintiff’s demanded $800,000 to settle the case. After a week long trial the jury returned a verdict of $47,000.

O’Reilly v. General Rent a Car/Trial

In this Broward county (Fort Lauderdale) trial, the 38 year old Plaintiff had pre-existing paraplegia and claimed the onset of quadriplegia as a result of the rear end collision from the General Rent a Car renter. Plaintiff demanded 5 million to settle. Defendant admitted negligence but defended the case of causation. After a two week trial the jury returned a DEFENSE VERDICT.

Irizzary v. Waste Management/Trial

In this east coast Brevard County trial, Plaintiff suffered severe neck injury as a result of a Waste Management truck backing into his vehicle. Plaintiff required 3 level cervical fusion and past medical expenses totaled $115,000. Plaintiff demanded $500,000 to settle the case and defendant offered $200,000 to settle. After 1 week trial, jury returned a verdict of $56,000.

Jane Doe v. Commercial Property Insurer/Trial

In this Palm Beach county trial, Mr. Hightower represented on insurer of commercial property wherein the Plaintiff claimed she tripped over a defective expansion joint in the Defendant’s parking garage. Plaintiff was taken by ambulance to hospital with a fractured kneecap. Plaintiff’s surgeon performed open reduction, internal fixation, and knee replacement. Plaintiff was diagnosed with RSD. Plaintiff needs 2 more surgeries to knee and at time of trial, past medical expenses totaled in $130,000. Plaintiff’s vocational rehab testified that the Plaintiff couldn’t walk for and was unemployable with a lost wage claim of $300,000. Plaintiff demanded $1.3 million to settle. On fourth day of trial case settled for $105,000.

Landry v. Marriott Int’l/Trial

In this southwest Florida Collier county case, Mr. Hightower represented Marriott wherein Plaintiff fell and sustained a complex wrist fracture as a result of a defective fence. Plaintiff’s premises liability expert testified that fence was “unsound for someone to lean against” and violated Naples Municipal Codes. Plaintiff demanded $250,000 after a week long trial, jury found 50/50 negligence and net award was $24,000.

Crumby v. Sysco Food Service/Dismissal

In this Duval county (Jacksonville) case, Mr. Hightower represented Sysco in a tractor-trailer crash wherein the Plaintiff claimed herniated discs at C4/5 and L3/4. The defense admitted fault. Medical expenses totaled $17,000 and Plaintiff claimed no prior injuries to neck or back. After discovery revealed Plaintiff had extensive prior injuries to neck and back, Mr. Hightower filed Motion to Dismiss for fraud which was granted by the Court.

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