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Jeffrey M. Paskert

Jeffrey M. Paskert

President and Founding Shareholder
Direct Dial: (813) 769-4800
Fax: (813) 229-3502
jpaskert@pdtlegal.com
Office Location: Tampa

Overview
Professional Involvement
Publications & Speaking
Community

Jeff Paskert is the President and a founding shareholder of Paskert Divers Thompson.  He focuses his practice primarily on complex commercial litigation matters, including sophisticated construction and construction defect disputes, matters associated with general commercial and contract disputes, commercial surety and fidelity disputes, director and officer liability issues, and product defect issues. Mr. Paskert has handled jury and non-jury trials, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings, and has appeared before various administrative and governmental bodies.  Mr. Paskert also is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator and also is a certified mediator for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Practice Areas

  • Complex Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Law and Litigation
  • Liability Insurance
  • Suretyship & Fidelity
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Subrogation and Recovery

Admitted to Practice

  • All State Courts in Florida
  • Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
  • Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator

Education

  • University of Florida, Bachelor of Science Degree, High Honors
  • University of Florida College of Law, J.D., High Honors, Order of the Coif

Selected Honors & Recognitions

  • AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
    • AV Peer Review Rated since 2000
    • PRR AV Preeminent Attorneys
    • PRR AV Preeminent Attorneys Judicial Edition
    • PRR AV Preeminent Attorneys Lawyers.com
  • Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year - 2022, Construction Law
  • Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year - 2020, Construction Law
  • Best Lawyers - 2015-present, Construction Law, Commercial Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and/or Insurance Law
  • Florida Super Lawyers - 2010-present
  • Florida's Top Lawyers
  • Tampa Bay's Top Lawyers
  • America's Most Honored Professionals
  • America's Leading Lawyers

Professional, Trade, and Philanthropic Affiliations - Current and Prior

  • American Bar Association
    • ABA Young Lawyers Division
      • Past Chair, Chair Elect, and Secretary
      • National Conferences Team-Chair
      • Fellow of the Young Lawyers Division
      • Board of Directors
    • ABA House of Delegates
      • Member
    • ABA Section Officers' Conference
    • ABA Litigation Section
      • Executive Council
      • Insurance and Surety Claims Subcommittee
      • Construction Litigation Committee
      • Commercial and Business Litigation Committee
    • Trial Practice Task Force
    • American Bar Association Advisory Panel Member (end of service 2/2014)
    • Business Law Section
      • Member
      • Tort and Insurance Practice Section
        • Long Range Planning Committee
        • Fidelity and Surety Law Committee
        • Editor, Fidelity and Surety Law Committee Newsletter
  • Construction Lawyers Society of America
    • Charter Fellow
  • The Florida Bar
    • Trial Lawyers Section
      • Member, Trial Law Institute
      • Eleventh Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee Vice - Chair
      • Special Statewide Grievance Committee - Member

  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
    • Construction Law Committee - Chair
    • Young Lawyer of the Year Award Recipient
    • Young Lawyer Division Secretary
    • Young Lawyer Division Board of Directors

  • Gulfcoast Fidelity and Surety Institute
    • Founding Member
    • Conference Chair (multiple years)
    • Program Chair (multiple years)
  • National Bond Claims Association
    • Member

  • Thirteenth  Judicial Circuit of Florida
    • Professionalism Committee  

Selected Publications

  • “Still Cannot Escape Being an Unlicensed Contractor” Lawyer, Summer 2013

  • "Reactive Drywall Claims: An Overview of Causes of Action and Defenses Relevant to Reactive Chinese Drywall Structures," January, 2010

  • "Chinese Drywall: What You Need to Know," Insights, Winter 2010

  • "The Loan Loss Exclusion: Assuring That Credit and Business Risks Remain with the Financial Bond," Financial Institution Bonds, Third Edition, ABA 2008

  • "Managing the Insurer's Response to the Claim," Financial Institution Bonds, Third Edition, ABA 2008

  • "Financial Institution Bonds: From the Masters," program American Bar Association, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, November 2008

  • "Florida's Statute of Repose Significantly Shortened!" Insights, Fall, 2006.

  • Case Summary: Professional Plastering, Inc. v. Bridgeport-Strasberg Joint Venture, et al., Insights, Spring 2005.

  • "I Didn't Mean Any Harm: Manifest Intent Under Fidelity Bonds," Insights, Spring 2004.

  • No Ticket, No Laundry: Statutory Licensure Requirements for Contractors, and Recent Legislative Changes, Insights, Summer 2003.

  • No Ticket, No Laundry: Statutory Licensure Requirements for Contractors, and the Consequential Impact on Contract Sureties' Liabilities (or, Are Sureties Getting Taken to the Laundry?), Gulfcoast Fidelity and Surety Conference, June 2003.

  • Deja Vous All Over Again: Issue Preclusion and the Surety, Gulfcoast Fidelity and Surety Conference, June 2002.

  • No Ticket, No Laundry: Proper Licensure as a Prerequisite to Recovery Under a Construction Project in Florida, and the Consequential Impact on Surety Companies' Responsibilities and Liabilities, Gulfcoast Fidelity and Surety Conference, June 1999 and June 2000.

  • What Lies Behind the Doehr? A Review of the Constitutionality of Mechanics' Lien Laws, The Construction Lawyer, October 1994.

  • Professionalism, Ethics, and the Profession: The Role of Bar Activities, Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida, January 1996.

  • The ABA/YLD: Professional and Public Service Perspectives, North Carolina Bar Association Annual Meeting, Ashville, NC, June 1995.

  • How to Become Involved in the ABA/YLD, Alabama Young Lawyers Section Seminar, Destin, FL, May 1995.

  • Importance of and Technique in Long Range Planning, ABA/YLD Southeastern Regional AOP, Atlanta, GA, May 1995.

  • ABA/YLD: Activities and Opportunities, Texas Young Lawyers Association Board Meeting, Kerrville TX, April 1995.

  • Leadership Issues Facing Young Lawyer Leaders: Problems and Solutions, Oklahoma Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Planning Retreat, Oklahoma City, OK, January 1995.

  • Recruiting and Developing Committee Members, Panel/Group Discussion, Oklahoma Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Planning Retreat, Oklahoma City, OK, January 1995.

  • Achieving Diversity in Bar Organizations, Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Statewide AOP Conference, Ponte Vedra, FL, January 1994.

  • Disaster Preparedness and Response - What Lawyers Can Do," Symposium/Panel, American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Cleveland, OH, 1992.

  • Interaction Between American Bar Association and The Florida Bar, Conference, The Florida Bar, Young Lawyers Division, Sand Key, FL, 1992. 

Selected Speaking Engagements 

  • “WRAPS” presentation for MC Consultants, Inc. 4th Annual East Region Construction Defect Conference, June 2010

  • "Contaminated Drywall Update" CLE presentation for Hillsborough County Bar Association, January 2010

Community Involvement

  • University Club of Tampa - President - 2020
  • Boy Scouts of America, Eagle Scout, Assistant Scoutmaster, and multiple committees
  • Boy Scouts of America District Committee 
  • Recipient of The Bronze Pelican Award: Catholic Scouting
  • Knights of Columbus Member
  • Jesuit High School Foundation Member