
James J. Evangelista
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law
James J. Evangelista is a board-certified civil trial lawyer whose practice is focused primarily in the areas of healthcare, professional liability, medical malpractice litigation, aviation litigation, and catastrophic loss litigation of all types. Mr. Evangelista regularly represents hospitals, physicians and other medical and allied health professionals; aircraft manufacturers and distributors; aviation-related entities, flight schools, and aviation professionals; lawyers and other professionals; academic institutions and professionals; athletic organizations; pharmacies and pharmacists; medical device and drug manufacturers and insurance companies. Mr. Evangelista has successfully tried many cases to verdict before juries, judges, and peer review panels. He has handled many appeals, and regularly presents cases for administrative and peer review.
In addition to his very active practice, Mr. Evangelista chairs the Firm’s Healthcare and Casualty & Insurance Defense Practice Groups. Mr. Evangelista is actively involved in assisting many local hospitals, communities, youth sports, and academic organizations with his time and legal guidance.
Professional & Community Affiliations
Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar, 1994-Present
Board Certified in Civil Mediation by The Florida Bar, 2015
The Florida Bar, Trial and Healthcare Law sections
American Bar Association
- Aerospace, Litigation, Health Law, Tort and Insurance Practice Sections
- Professional Liability Litigation Committee
American Board of Trial Advocates, Former President of the Tampa Bay Chapter
American Health Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute, Aviation and Healthcare Committees
Florida Hospital Association
International Association of Defense Counsel, Casualty Committee, Former Vice-Chair
Florida Bar Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee (2015)
Florida Bar Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Medical and Legal Professionalism Subcommittees (2015)
Honors & Recognitions
Recognized in Best Lawyers in America® since 2005
• Aviation Law
• Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
• Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
Named the Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" in Tampa for Professional Malpractice Defense (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2024)
Named as Florida's "Legal Elite" by Florida Trend magazine
Named to Top 100 Lawyers by Florida Trend magazine
Recognized as a "Super Lawyer" by Florida Super Lawyers magazine
Named to Top 100 Lawyers in Florida by Florida Super Lawyers magazine
Named to Top 50 Lawyers in Tampa by Florida Super Lawyers magazine
AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated, by Martindale-Hubbell®
Personal
Mr. Evangelista was born in Rochester, New York and raised in Fairport, New York.
News
- September 15, 2021
- August 23, 2020
- June 8, 2020
- April 3, 2020
- August 16, 2019
- May 30, 2019
- August 15, 2018
- June 18, 2018
Publications
Practice Groups
Clerkships
Law clerk to the chief judge of the First District Court of Appeals in Tallahassee, Florida
Education
Florida State University, J.D., 1985
State University of New York, B.S., 1980
- The Stylus, Editor-in-Chief
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 1979
Bar and Court Admissions
Florida
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit