David James Abbey

David J. Abbey, born in Fairbury, Illinois on September 24, 1951; admitted to Florida and Illinois Bar in 1977; United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, 1977; United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 1977; United States Supreme Court, 1988.  Mr. Abbey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar, as well as certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil Mediator.

While attending Stetson College of Law, Mr. Abbey served as President of Stetson Student Bar Association, 1976; Florida Federation of Student Bar Associations, President 1976, and a member of Phi Delta Phi.

1982-Present, Partner, Abbey, Adams, Byelick, Kiernan, Mueller, Marone & Samis, L.L.P.; 1979-82, Associate, C. Wade Yeakle, P.A.; 1977-79, Assistant Public Defender, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, Florida.

Mr. Abbey professional listings and Honors A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell; listed in Guide to Leading Florida Attorneys; Outstanding Lawyers of America; Florida's Legal Elite, FLORIDA TREND MAGAZINE (2003); and Florida Super Lawyer 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Since 1979, Mr. Abbey's primary practice has been representing insurance companies, their insureds, and other parties in civil litigation.  He has tried in excess of one hundred jury trials and has participated in numerous appeals, including Brixius v Allstate Ins. Co., 589 So.2d 236(Fla. 1991); Kraemer v General Motors Acceptance Corp., 572 So.2d 1363(Fla. 1990); United Services Auto Ass'n v Behar, 752 So.2d 663(Fla. 2d DCA2000); National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA v Florida Const. Commerce and Industry Self Insurers Fund, 720 So.2d535(Fla. 2d DCA 1998); Matiyosus v Keaten, 717 So. 2d 1097( DCA 1998); Hedergott v Moon, 678 So. 2d 445(Fla. 2d DCA 1996); and Orear v Allstate Ins. Co., 619 So. 2d 974(Fla. 2d DCA 1993).

Mr. Abbey's professional experience in civil litigation, arbitration and appeals includes bad faith; motor vehicle liability; trucking defense; uninsured motorist claims; coverage litigation; industrial accidents; machine and equipment failures; gas explosions; wrongful death; premises liability; and products liability.

From 1987 - 1991, Mr. Abbey served as an adjunct professor at Stetson College of Law teaching courses in Insurance Law and Damages.  Over the years, Mr. Abbey has provided seminars, with other attorneys in the Florida offices, to the claim staffs of insurance clients on the topics of Florida uninsured motorist law; perfecting coverage defenses pursuant to the Florida Claims Administration statute; and other topics of interest to the insurance industry.  Mr. Abbey spoke at the 1992 Annual Conference of the Florida Defense Lawyers concerning Florida Uninsured Motorist Law; the 1995 Annual Conference on Improper Argument to the Jury; and the 1999 Annual Conference regarding Direct Examination.  Further, Mr. Abbey has served as a Presenter in seminars sponsored by the St. Petersburg Bar and Hillsborough Bar Associations.