Steven R. Jaffe
About
Steven Jaffe has litigated a wide variety of civil matters, from both the defense and plaintiff sides, throughout Florida and nationwide since 1984. He has mediated more than 1,750 cases, and his passion for the dispute resolution process continues to grow. His practice areas include personal injury, class action, medical malpractice, breach of contract, consumer fraud, long-term care insurance and complex commercial cases.
Steven started his practice in the criminal arena, trying more than 20 cases to verdict over two years in the state attorney’s office. He then transitioned to civil litigation as house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, representing the interests of insurance companies. Steven then began representing individual and corporate plaintiffs in numerous types of civil actions. He has handled class actions for the past 17 years in various courts throughout the country.
He comes to Upchurch Watson White & Max after serving as a partner at several well-known civil trial firms; fellow partners have included a Florida Bar president and, most recently, a Florida Justice Association president and a sitting Florida state senator.
Steven’s extensive litigation practice, coupled with his philanthropic work and involvement in more than a dozen professional, charitable and civic organizations, has provided him a unique ability to understand people and to understand every side of a civil case. With exceptional speed, Steven comprehends complex issues and provides practical and unique solutions necessary for the mediation process. He continues to use his ability to resolve conflicts and bring people together in often difficult circumstances as a full-time UWWM mediator.
Education
- B.S. (criminology), Florida State University (1980)
- J.D., Samford University, Cumberland School of Law (1983)
- Certified Florida Supreme Court Civil Circuit Court Mediator
Memberships
- National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
- Fellow, American College of Civil Trial Mediators
- Martindale Hubbell AV Rated – since 2005
- The Best Lawyers in America – since 2013
- Best Lawyers Martindale – “Lawyer of the Year 2013” (Class Actions)
- Florida Super Lawyers – since 2014
- Avvo – 10/10 Rating
- South Florida Legal Guide Top Florida Lawyer – since 2012
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel Top One Percent – since 2015
- National Trial Lawyer Association, Florida’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers – since 2008
- Florida Justice Association – board member (2013-2017)
- Broward County Justice Association – past president
- Stephen Booher American Inns of Court – board of directors
- Broward County Bar Association Professionalism Committee
- Mass Tort Trial Lawyers Association
- Class Action Trial Lawyers Association
- American Association for Justice
Bar Admissions
- The Florida Bar
- The Colorado Bar
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida; Northern District Court of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Civic Organizations/Awards
- Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America: Florida Board of Trustees, 2008-2016; America’s Volunteer of the Year, 2011; America’s Hope Award, 2013
- Founder of Turkey Give Away, Inc.; 501c3 provided Turkeys and side dishes for Thanksgiving to over 13,000 needy people since 2010
- Realtor Association of Greater Fort Lauderdale, Inc.’s Presidential Distinguished Services, 2014
- Fort Lauderdale Heart Ball – Executive Committee, 2014-2016
- Broward County Women Lawyers Association 2016 Foxy Award for lifetime mentorship of women lawyers
- Legal Aid Services of Broward County, Inc. – board of directors (2012-2018), chairman (2018); 2017 Commitment Award – for ensuring the low-income population in Broward County has access to legal representation
Abridged Presentations
- Moderated session titled "Business Torts – How Personal Injury Lawyers Can Expand Their Practices Without Having to Leave Their Offices,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar, 2015
- “Class Action Objectors: the Process, Common Structural Objections and Other Issues including Cy-Pres and Coupon Settlements,” National Consumer Class Action Litigation Conference, 2015
- “Trends in Long-Term Care Litigation,” Private Care Association’s Best Practices Seminar, 2014
- “Consumer Class Action/Antitrust: A Relationship Driven Practice – Consumer Class Actions & Antitrust Cases in the New Litigation Environment” and “Cases Already on Your Doorstep: Securities and Business Tort Litigation,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar, 2014
- “The Rise of the American Whistleblower,” Mass Torts Made Perfect Conference, 2013
- “Long Term Care Insurance – How to Get the Minimum Out of LTC Insurance Policies, Problems and Issues," Broward County Guardianship Association Education Day, 2013
- “Ask the Experts," Regional Education Convergence – Care & Conquer, 2011
- “Long Term Care – An Emerging Area of Law," Florida Justice Association, 2011
- “Long Term Care Insurance and the Law,” Alzheimer’s Community Care, 2011
- “Navigating Long-Term Care Reimbursement," Private Care Association’s Annual Conference, 2011
- “Direct Examination of a Lay Witness," Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute, 2011
Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2020-2024
Areas Of Practice
- Class Actions
- Commercial Litigation
- Drug and Medical Device Litigation
- Consumer Disputes
- Medical Malpractice
- Employment, Wage and Hour
- Insurance Bad Faith
- Police Liability
- First and Third Party Disputes
- Insurance Disputes
- Nursing Home
- Personal Injury
- Child Abuse and Neglect
