Nicholas Freeman, deputy managing partner of the Orlando office, has devoted his entire legal career to civil trial practice. Nick has extensive experience defending product liability claims for manufacturers in numerous industries and provides coverage advice to insurers in the areas of professional liability, commercial general liability contingency, directors and officers, product recall, inland marine, and life, health and disability. He also specializes in representing business owners involved in catastrophic premises liability claims. Other areas in which Nick focuses include insurance coverage, professional liability and trucking and transportation litigation. In each of these, he has obtained summary judgments, defense verdicts and appellate victories in state and federal courts.
Nick’s enviable track record at trial is a function of his understanding of each client’s unique business objectives. He is skilled in conducting aggressive investigations required to furnish his clients with early evaluations and to produce cost-effective results. His combination of legal and practical skills has resulted in long-term affiliations with numerous insurance carriers and large self-insured clients.
Areas of Focus
Complex Tort & General Casualty / Hospitality
Nick regularly represents landowners in premises liability claims. He has extensive experience with lawsuits concerning negligent security, liquor liability, crowd control, drowning, electrocution and pedestrian falls. Nick is knowledgeable in all aspects of theme park liability and has defended a wide range of claims occurring on amusements rides and at entertainment venues. Nick routinely provides consultation to his clients concerning operational policies and risk management strategies that improve safety and reduce litigation.
Product Liability
Nick has an active product liability practice and has defended a diverse range of cases. Nick enjoys helping manufacturers prove that their products are safe and beneficial to the public. Products that he has defended include amusement rides, helmets, window blinds, consumer electronics, medical devices, over-the-counter supplements, food products, go-karts, motor vehicle trailers, tow dollies, traffic control devices, windows, all-terrain vehicles and outdoor power equipment.
Insurance Coverage / Property Insurance
Among Nick's areas of concentration are insurance coverage disputes, including policies providing coverage for professional liability, commercial general liability and life, health and disability. He also has extensive experience litigating claims of property loss and has dealt successfully with both the practical and legal issues involved when doing “front line” property insurance claim assessment and handling, coverage analysis and claims resolution. Nick frequently issues coverage opinions, consults on strategy for handling potential bad faith claims and litigates declaratory judgment actions for his insurance clients.
Professional Liability / Lawyers' Liability
Nick has defended legal malpractice claims in a wide spectrum of underlying legal practice areas. He routinely litigates construction claims against architects, engineers and contractors. Nick also represents accountants, insurance carriers, brokers and agents in professional liability claims.
Trucking, Automobile, Transportation and Cargo
In his representation of a nationwide company that rents moving equipment, Nick has defended cases involving motor vehicle trailers and tow dollies. He has litigated cases involving all issues associated with motor vehicle claims, including allegations of negligent maintenance and failure to supervise and train vehicle operators. Nick has represented national automobile leasing companies in claims involving vicarious liability. He has broad experience with lawsuits that attempt to circumvent limitations on vicarious liability created by the Graves Amendment and Florida statutes.