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Home | Jay M. Howanitz

Jay M. Howanitz

Email: Jhowanitz@sdlitigation.com

Biography

Attorney for military medical malpractice claims, automotive and other defective consumer products, premises liability, workplace accidents, trucking accidents and other personal injury claims cases
Selected as one of Florida’s outstanding young lawyers (Rising Star) by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine

Professional affiliations include: the Florida Bar; the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice

Received Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, from Florida Coastal School of Law

Jay Howanitz focuses his practice on military medical malpractice claims, automotive and other defective consumer products, premises liability, workplace accidents, trucking and automobile accidents and other personal injury claims.

He is licensed to practice law in the states of Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Howanitz is also admitted to all United States District Courts in Florida and the United States Middle District of Georgia.

During his career, Howanitz has served on the Board of Directors for the Young Lawyers Section of the Florida Justice Association. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law.

In 2009, he was named as a member of 904 Magazine’s next generation of top legal practitioners. Howanitz has been recognized as one of Florida’s outstanding young lawyers by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine (Rising Star) and Florida Trend Magazine (Legal Elite) for 2010-2016. Howanitz is also rated Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell – the highest rating available. Locally, Howanitz was recognized by the Jacksonville Business Journal as one of the top 40 up-and- coming leaders under the age of 40 and a member of the inaugural class of Ultimate Attorneys – the First Coast’s top lawyers. In 2016, Howanitz was recognized and featured as a rising star by Attorney at Law Magazine.

Howanitz’s professional affiliations include the Florida Bar; the State Bar of Georgia; the Pennsylvania Bar Association; Chester Bedell Inn of Court; the Florida Bar Association, Trial Lawyers Section; the American Bar Association; the American Association for Justice; the Florida Justice Association; the Jacksonville Justice Association; and the Jacksonville Bar Association.

He earned his Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, from Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, Florida. Prior to entering law school, Howanitz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After a four-year collegiate football career, Howanitz accepted a graduate-assistant position at Western Maryland College, Westminster, Maryland. During his two-year tenure as a graduate assistant, he received a Master of Arts degree, and helped coach the Western Maryland College football program to the Division III national playoffs.

Howanitz remains extremely active in the Jacksonville community. He has served on the board of directors for HandsOn Jacksonville, MOCA Jacksonville’s young professionals board and The Independent Living Foundation. He has also donated his time and resources to MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation and Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.

Howanitz, his wife, Holly, and their son, Dutch, live in San Marco.

Attorney

  • Florida Super Lawyers Magazine (Rising Star)
  • Florida Trend Magazine (Legal Elite)
  • Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell
  • Jacksonville’s 40 Under 40
  • First Coast’s Top Lawyers

Practice Areas

  • Military Medical Malpractice Claims
  • Automotive and Other Defective Consumer Products
  • Premises Liability
  • Workplace Accidents
  • Trucking and Automobile Accidents
  • Personal Injury Claims

Education

  • Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, Florida
    • J.D., Juris Doctorate
    • Honors: cum laude
  • Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
    • B.A. – 05/2001
    • Major: Political Science
  • McDaniel College
    • M.A. – 05/2003

Bar Admissions

  • Florida
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida

Professional Associations

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Chester Bedell Inn of Court
  • Florida Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • American Association for Justice
  • Florida Justice Association
  • Jacksonville Justice Association
  • Jacksonville Bar Association

Pro-Bono Activities

  • HandsOn Jacksonville, Board of Directors
  • MOCA Jacksonville’s Young Professionals Board
  • The Independent Living Foundation
  • MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation
  • Jacksonville Area Legal Aid

Testimonials