Jackson Adams represents businesses and individuals in all facets of civil litigation. His practice focuses on the defense of claims related to marine and admiralty matters. Jackson’s lifelong experience as a boater enables him to bring valuable insights to the firm’s maritime practice group. Additionally, Jackson handles a broad range of general liability claims, including personal injury, product liability, and premises liability. He prides himself on providing comprehensive legal solutions tailored to clients' diverse needs.

Jackson began his legal career at Wilson Elser after graduating from law school. Previously, he was a law clerk at a national litigation firm in Miami, where he gained substantial knowledge about the defense of corporate defendants in high-stakes litigation.

    Education

    • University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., 2024)
    • Texas Christian University (B.A. English Language and Literature/B.A. Philosophy, 2021)

    Bar Admissions

    • Florida

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

    Professional Affiliations

    • Fort Lauderdale Mariners Club
    • Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
    • Maritime Law Association of the United States

Jackson G. Adams

Pfeifer, Martinez Tristani, and Adams Win Dismissal of Maritime Personal Injury Action in Federal Court

Miami partners Russell M. Pfeifer and Gustavo A. Martinez Tristani, and associate Jackson G. Adams, secured dismissal of a personal injury action on the eve of trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida through a successful Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss on behalf of Wilson Elser’s client, a shoreside services provider. The plaintiff alleged that she sustained injuries inside a cruise terminal during the disembarkation process and asserted maritime claims against the cruise ship owner, the terminal owner, and our client. She later settled her claims against the cruise ship and terminal owners. After extensive discovery and prolonged motion practice, Russell, Gus, and Jack persuaded the District Court that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate the remaining claims against our client. Specifically, the team argued that admiralty jurisdiction did not exist because the alleged incident, a slip and fall in a small puddle of water, occurred on land, involved a fixed terminal structure, and did not involve a vessel operator. In addition, the activity giving rise to the incident – the alleged failure to maintain the terminal and/or place warning signs – bore no substantial connection to traditional maritime activity. The decision marks a significant defense victory and establishes an important and new precedent curbing the expansion of admiralty jurisdiction. 

Russell M. Pfeifer, Gustavo A. Martinez Tristani and Jackson G. Adams

Pfeifer, Adams & Martinez Tristani Obtain Dismissal of Maritime Case Involving Complex Admiralty Jurisdiction

Miami partners Russell M. Pfeifer and Gustavo A. Martinez Tristani and associate Jackson G. Adams secured dismissal of a maritime personal injury lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The plaintiff, a Canadian citizen, filed a lawsuit seeking damages against a major cruise liner and its independent contractor, our client, for injuries sustained during an offshore excursion at the Krka National Park in Croatia. Despite the federal court having admiralty jurisdiction to adjudicate the claim against the cruise liner, Russell, Gus, and Jack persuaded the District Court that it lacked both diversity jurisdiction and admiralty jurisdiction to entertain the claims against their client, securing the complete dismissal of the action on those grounds on the eve of trial. The victory and corresponding 15-page order constitute an impactful precedent as it distinguishes the factual pattern in this case from a long line of cases decided by federal courts in Florida that routinely exercised admiralty jurisdiction in cases of similar nature against cruise lines and their shore excursion operators.    

Jackson G. Adams, Russell M. Pfeifer and Gustavo A. Martinez Tristani

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