James P. Hanratty, Construction Attorney in Jacksonville, Florida

Jim is the managing attorney and Casualty Supervisor for the Jacksonville office. In this capacity, Jim oversees a team of experienced attorneys handling corporate, commercial and civil litigation matters including workers’ compensation across Northern Florida.

Jim transferred to the Jacksonville office in 2012 after a 23-year career defending manufacturers, hospitals, trucking and transportation carriers, retail establishments and construction professionals throughout Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Jim is an experienced first-chair trial lawyer and has taken over 150 civil jury trials to verdict since 1989.

In Florida, Jim has put his broad based experience to work by assuming the statewide supervision of matters for key clients in a wide range of cases including products liability, trucking and transportation, commercial premises liability and construction related injuries. Jim continues to handle significant and catastrophic injury cases involving automobile and general liability claims with an emphasis on the defense of brain injury claims. He is also experienced in representing health care professionals in medical malpractice claims. Jim has also expanded his practice to include representing condominium and homeowners associations as well as representing employers in matters involving ADA, FLSA/Wage & Hour, and Title VII before the EEOC and the Florida Commission on Human Relations.

Jim maintains a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV Preeminent, the highest rating for professional competence and was recognized in 2010 as a Super Lawyer. He is board certified in Civil Trial Law by The Florida Bar. Jim is licensed to practice in all state and federal District Courts of Florida.

Honors & Awards

•AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
•The Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2021-2026)
•Florida Trend's Legal Elite - Civil Trial (2022)
•Ohio Super Lawyer (2010)

Classes/Seminars Taught

•Top 5 Challenges Relative to Workers' Compensation Claims, Property and Casualty Claims and For Mediators, FCCI Educational Conference, October 2018
•Defending Catastrophic Injury Claims - How to Stack the Deck in Your Favor, Marshall Dennehey Florida Claims Symposium - Casino Royale, Tampa, FL, September 20, 2018
•'Courtroom Warriors' Present: Trying Your Case To A Defense Verdict; 'Opening Statements; Making A Good First Impression,' Cleveland Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, August 2008
•Use, Selection of Expert Witnesses, Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, 2003
•Insurance Relations Round Table, Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, 2003
•Defense of Wrongful Death Case, Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys, 2002
•Law Office Management, University of Akron, 1992, 1995
•Insurance Seminar, Ohio Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1992

Published Works

•'Reducing Workplace Accident Liability,' Wholesale & Distribution International, Winter 2014
•'Benefits of Involving Counsel When an Accident Occurs,' Defense Digest, Vol. 19, No. 2, June 2013
•'A Defendant's Guide To Approaching Head Injury Cases,' Law360.com, February 8, 2013
•'Benefits of Involving Counsel When an Accident Occurs,' Construction Executive, December 2012
•'Avoiding Headaches in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases,' Defense Digest, Vol. 18, No. 4, December 2012
•'Opening Statements: You Never Have a Second Chance to Make a First Impression,' OACTA Quarterly Review, Vol. 2, Issue 4, Winter, 2009-2010
•'A Momentary Lapse Of Reason In Ohio,' Defense Digest, Vol. 14, No. 3, September 2008
•'Selection, Use, Care and Feeding of Expert Witnesses,' OACTA Review, Winter 2002
•'Discovery In a Slip/Trip and Fall Case,' OACTA Quarterly Review, Vol. 33, No. 2, Spring, 1998

Media Commentary

•'Delivery Driver Crime: The Restaurant Industry Problem Nobody Talks About,' QSRweb and Pizza Marketplace, September 7, 2018

Certifications

•Board Certified Specialist, Civil Trial Law, The Florida Bar

Results

Summary Judgment Secured in a Contentious Coverage Matter

We were granted summary judgment in a coverage matter. The plaintiff was seeking UM benefits for a policy he had on a car he owned for an accident that occurred when he was operating a motorcycle he owned, but did not insure. The court confirmed that the policy excluded underinsured motorist coverage for the plaintiff’s motorcycle. The issue was that the definition of “motor vehicle” for the other owned motor vehicle exclusion was not specifically provided in the policy. In the PIP coverage, the policy contained an exclusion for motorcycles because the definition said motor vehicles must have four wheels. The plaintiff argued that the same policy said a motorcycle was not a motor vehicle for PIP coverage, but was a motor vehicle for the other owned vehicle exclusion. This was an ambiguity in the policy that should be interpreted against the carrier. The plaintiff had significant injuries that far exceeded the value of the policy. The court upheld both exclusions and followed our argument that the PIP and UM portions of the policy are separate and distinct and that any definition in the PIP coverage did not necessarily apply to the UM coverage.

Directed Verdict Secured in a High-Exposure Defamation Lawsuit in Florida

We obtained a directed verdict in favor of our client in a high-risk defamation lawsuit. We were called to try the case on behalf of the CEO of a local chapter of a well-known national nonprofit after the plaintiff was permitted to amend the complaint to seek punitive damages from the CEO personally. The plaintiff was a volunteer at a camp. A decision was made to separate him from the camp and the organization. The plaintiff alleged that the CEO personally defamed him by alerting other volunteers and committees of the decision. He demanded an eight-figure sum prior to trial. After a six-day trial and several hours of argument at the close of the plaintiff’s case, the court granted our motion for directed verdict, ruling that the evidence presented confirmed that the communications by the CEO were covered by a qualified privilege and that, based on cross examination of the plaintiff and his witnesses, the defense established that there was no malicious conduct by the CEO.

Thought Leadership

Defense Digest

On the Pulse...Jacksonville Office Expands and Leads Litigation Practice in Northern Florida

September 1, 2025

In 2024, the Jacksonville, Florida office celebrated our 20th year by moving to beautiful, new office space. We remain a presence in downtown Jacksonville and continue to cement our position as a premier litigation practice in Northern Florida. The Jacksonville office’s territory stretches from the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf Coast, across the northernmost counties of the state and across two time zones. Our lawyers have leveraged technology to allow us to service our clients’ needs in the most efficient way possible. When travel is necessary, we are perfectly situated to reach our expansive practice area quickly and effectively.The Jacksonville office is made up of talented lawyers working in the firm’s four practice departments: Casualty, Health Care, Workers’ Compensation, and Professional Liability. While only about 3% of all Florida lawyers have the distinction of being Board Certified as Specialists by the Florida Bar, almost 30% of our Jacksonville lawyers hold this honor. These highly-qualified lawyers include Elizabeth Ferguson, the leader of our Architectural, Engineering & Construction Defect Litigation Practice Group, Heather Carbone and Blake Hood, who are certified specialists in workers’ compensation practice, and myself, who works in the Casualty Department and has the honor of being certified as a specialist in civil trials. These distinctions and our commitment to our practices demonstrate the quality of counsel available to our clients as well as the excellent mentoring available to our newer lawyers. Our newer attorneys are routinely named in the various professional journals lists of up-and-coming, talented attorneys. They are well situated to continue the growth of Marshall Dennehey’s presence in Northern Florida. As we continue to expand, we do so with an eye toward maintaining the Marshall Dennehey culture, which demands that we are not just great lawyers for our clients, but good people to each other, our families, and our opposition. Northern Florida continues to experience rapid and sustained growth, and the Jacksonville office is poised to continue to be a leader in the market as we move forward. Jim is the managing attorney of our Jacksonville, FL office. He can be reached at (904) 358-4208 and JPHanratty@mdwcg.com. Defense Digest, Vol. 31, No. 3, September 2025, is prepared by Marshall Dennehey to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers. This publication is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING pursuant to New York RPC 7.1. 2025 Marshall Dennehey. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be reprinted without the express written permission of our firm. For reprints, contact tamontemuro@mdwcg.com.

Defense Digest

On the Pulse...Our Jacksonville Office

March 1, 2021

Marshall Dennehey has been an active part of the Jacksonville legal community since 2004. We opened with a few well-known and highly-respected members of the Duval County Bar and have since developed into a vibrant group of attorneys from many walks of life, handling diverse case loads in multiple practice groups. The Jacksonville office is within walking distance of the beautiful Duval County Courthouse, and we can often be found working there. However, we handle litigation far beyond the immediate area, covering an expansive territory across northern Florida, from the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf Coast. One of the founding members of the Jacksonville office is Michael DeCandio. Michael is well known as one of the leading construction defect defense attorneys in the state, regularly representing engineers and architects as well as the trades. Joining Michael in this practice group is Elizabeth Ferguson, a Board Certified Construction Defect attorney who is also recognized as a go-to construction defect lawyer. Elizabeth has a long history of leadership with the bar, and she is a former president of the Jacksonville Bar Association. They are supported by associate Avery Sander, who is active in the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association, the Florida Association of Women Lawyers and the Chester Bedell Inn of Court. Jacksonville’s newest practice is the Workers’ Compensation Practice Group led by Heather Carbone. Heather and Linda Farrell joined us three years ago as part of the firm’s strategic plan to expand the Workers’ Compensation Department into the state. Heather and Linda provide their clients with unparalleled service through their advocacy, incredible work ethics and professionalism. Kelly Scifres is an associate in the group who is rapidly developing her own client relationships and reputation in the close-knit workers’ compensation bar. Responding to the needs of our clients, in 2019, Corey Setterlund transferred to Jacksonville from our Fort Lauderdale office to provide much needed defense of first-party property cases. Corey is a passionate, dedicated and diligent lawyer for her clients. (Is it any wonder that in her spare time she runs ultra-marathons?) The newest member of the property team is Caitlin Polly, who came over from the dark side (a little defense bar humor) to provide her unique insight and energy to the team. I am fortunate to lead the Casualty Practice Group in Jacksonville. As an attorney with 30+ years of experience and more than 150 verdicts in four states, it is my privilege to watch the attorneys I work with develop and grow their talents to the benefit of our clients. Rob Williams is a Jacksonville native who previously served as in-house counsel for a major casualty insurer. Sean Reeves is a former Army helicopter pilot whose experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan surely contribute to his fearless, warrior spirit in attacking any challenge, no matter how complex. Kathleen Carlson is extremely knowledgeable in the auto defense arena and is relentless in her pursuit of excellent outcomes for her clients while assuring on-time and informative reporting to the carriers. In addition to these primary practice areas, the attorneys in our Jacksonville office also handle employment and health care matters. Whatever your civil litigation needs are, we have the diverse talent, experience, energy, and flexibility to efficiently and effectively handle your litigation throughout north Florida. Please contact me with any questions about your legal needs. We look forward to working with you!*Jim is the managing attorney of our Jacksonville, Florida office. He can be reached at 904.358.4208 or jphanratty@mdwcg.com. Defense Digest, Vol. 27, No. 2, March 2021 is prepared by Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers. This publication is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING pursuant to New York RPC 7.1. 2021 Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin. All Rights Reserved. This article may not be reprinted without the express written permission of our firm. For reprints, contact tamontemuro@mdwcg.com.

News

98 Marshall Dennehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America

August 20, 2025

Marshall Dennehey Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Advanced Trial Advocacy & Mock Trial Program

July 15, 2025

Events

Speaking Engagement

29th Annual FDLA Florida Liability Claims Conference

June 10-12, 2026

Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Conference Center, Lake Buena Vista, FL

James P. Hanratty and Erica R. Cagan