J.B. Spence

The Cochran Firm, with 21 locations nationwide

J.B. Spence is nationally known as the Dean of Torts.

He founded the renowned firm, Spence, Payne & Masington in 1967, the same year he garnered the first million-dollar-plus verdict in Florida. Spence maintains this legacy at Leeds Colby Paris Spence Hoffman & Valori continuing to litigate medical malpractice and premises liability cases.

Spence is a nationally acclaimed litigator that has extensive experience with aircraft and airline disasters. He handled the ValuJet, Eastern Airlines, Arrow Airways and National Airlines cases for the firm. He serves as Partner and continues to fight vigorously for high-dollar amounts for his clients.

The Federal Court appointed Spence "Proctor in Admiralty" during one disaster case. This position empowered Spence to evaluate all of the claims and settle them with Lloyd's of London without ever going to trial - an important position as trials eat into the amount of money awarded to the victims, cause distribution of any monies to drag out over long periods of time and often cause great humiliation to grieving family members as the opposition's lawyers try to discredit their deceased loved ones.

A native of Arkansas, Spence has spent most of his life as a lawyer in Miami. He now has more than 100 million-dollar verdicts to his credit. Spence has argued before the Supreme Court of the United States, served on the Constitution Revision Committee, the Florida Judicial Nominating Committee and authored the book, "Final Argument."

He has taught at the University of Miami as an Adjunct Professor of Law, served as President of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers and is the 2001 recipient of the prestigious Al Cone award.

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