J. Scott Kirk

J. Scott Kirk is a highly accomplished trial lawyer serving as Of Counsel to Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell in Orlando, Florida. With extensive experience in various areas of law, Mr. Kirk represents clients in trucking and casualty litigation, as well as government law matters. His legal journey began at Stetson University, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in History in 1973. He then pursued his Juris Doctor at Stetson University College of Law, graduating in 1976. Licensed to practice in Florida, Mr. Kirk represents his clients in federal courts, including the U.S. District Courts of Florida (Northern, Middle, Southern), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. A significant part of his practice revolves around defending nationally known trucking companies in cases involving severe injuries, wrongful death claims, and other catastrophic accidents. Given the highly regulated nature of the trucking industry, he also consults with his clients on evidence preservation and compliance matters related to accident investigation and future litigation defense. Mr. Kirk is well-versed in the industry's regulations and handles cases covering various trucking accident scenarios, such as rollovers, vehicle-pedestrian collisions, and multi-vehicle crashes.

In addition to his trucking and casualty litigation work, Mr. Kirk represents clients in a diverse range of legal matters. He handles premises liability cases involving public housing, retail establishments, hotels, restaurants, bars, and private homes. Furthermore, his experience extends to product defect claims, where he defends manufacturers of various products, including ladders, stools, chairs, lawnmowers, farm implements, cranes, water heaters, conveyor systems, elevators, escalators, vessels, and engines. Mr. Kirk is also experienced in admiralty matters, particularly those involving the Jones Act. He handles cases related to public entities such as housing authorities in employment and civil rights issues, representing clients in administrative proceedings with the EEOC and the Florida Commission on Human Rights and in state and federal court. Recognized for his exceptional legal acumen and dedication to his clients, Mr. Kirk holds an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has received numerous accolades, including being named "Defense Trial Lawyer of the Year" in 2014 by the Central Florida Chapter of ABOTA. He has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants from 1995 to 2020 and in Florida Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Defense: General from 2007 to 2013 and 2015 to 2023. Furthermore, Mr. Kirk is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, an exclusive organization of outstanding trial lawyers from the United States and Canada. He also served as the president of the Central Florida chapter of the American Board of Trial Attorneys. With his extensive experience, exceptional track record, and commitment to providing top-notch legal representation, Mr. Kirk is a respected figure in the legal community and an invaluable asset to Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell.