William J. Cornwell

William J. Cornwell (Partner)

William J. Cornwell leads the civil trial and litigation sections of the Firm. A partner with over 25 years of experience handling complex civil matters, Bill has a long history of success in the courtroom on a wide variety of matters. Bill and the skilled attorneys and staff members working with him have obtained verdicts and settlements in excess of $100,000,000 on behalf of a broad array of clients ranging from individuals to large corporations. Recent jury verdicts include: $11 million against Volkswagen in a product liability action stemming from the tragic death of a 16 year old girl, and another in excess of $4.2 million in a construction defect case against a builder/developer. In addition, Bill has successfully defended numerous claims against large and small businesses, institutions and municipal organizations, including the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, the City of Delray Beach, and the City of Port St. Lucie.

Bill has a longstanding and successful history of advocating on behalf of consumer rights. His trial oriented practice focuses on the handling of complex matters on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants with the common denominator being the client’s need for a skilled and seasoned advocate in the courtroom. Bill has been approved by Courts to serve as Class Counsel in several class actions. Most recently (2014), he was appointed as Class Counsel on behalf of thousands of Florida medical patients who have routinely been overcharged for copies of their medical records. In 2009 he served as Class Counsel on behalf of over 28,000 Florida consumers in a case where he successfully resolved consumer claims under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act against BuyOwner and its related entities. In addition, other areas of practice include catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, product liability, complex commercial litigation, condominium and other construction defect disputes, employment disputes and probate litigation. Bill is the attorney of record in numerous reported opinions in various areas of practice including class action, product liability, personal injury and commercial litigation.

Bill was raised in Georgia and received his Juris Doctor Degree from Georgia State University College of Law, where he was President of the Student Bar Association, a Moot Court Board member, and received the American Jurisprudence Evidence Award. Bill has been an active member of both the Florida and Georgia Bar Associations for over 20 years. He recently served as Chairperson for The Florida Bar Grievance Committee “C” for the 15th Judicial Circuit, and he is a member of the South Palm Beach County Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Over the years he has written and spoken on numerous topics involving civil litigation and trial practice.

In addition to the Florida and Georgia State Bars, Bill is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia.

SELECTED REPORTED APPELLATE DECISIONS

• Smith v. Glen Cove Apartments Condominiums, 847 So.2d 1107 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003)
• Schiffer v. Mazda Motor Corp, 192 F.R.D. 335 (N.D. Ga 2000)
• Gentry v. Volkswagon Of America, Inc, 521 S.E. 2d 13 (Ga Ap. 1999)
• Henersson v. Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., 971 F.2d 1567 (11th Cir, 1992)

SELECT CASES OF INTEREST

Mateus v. BuyOwner, et al Circuit Court,

Palm Beach County, Florida (2009)
Class action settlement on behalf of over 28,000 Florida consumers seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to enjoin violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Bandy v. International Sales Group, Inc. Circuit Court,

Palm Beach County, Florida (2008)
Jury verdict and judgment in excess of $1,500,000 in a breach of contract action to recover unpaid commissions.

Mizner Grand Condominium Association, Inc., v. Boca Marina, Ltd, et al Circuit Court,

Palm Beach County, Florida (2008)
Class Action settlement on behalf of over 200 unit owners in a construction defect case against the developer and general contractor.

Excel Administrative Solutions, Inc., v. Plasteridge Insurance Agency Circuit Court,

Palm Beach County, Florida (2006)
Defense verdict on Plaintiffs’ breach of contract claim for in excess of $1,500,000 and defense verdict and judgment on counterclaim for in excess of $300,000.00.

Smith v. Glen Cove Apartments Condominiums Circuit Court,

Broward County, Florida (2004)
Class Action settlement of damage claims stemming from the collapse of the common roof of a condominium building containing in excess of 100 units.

Palm Beach County, Florida (2002)
$4,200,000 Jury verdict on behalf of a class of condominium unit owners in a construction defect case against the developer and general contractor.

Gentry v. Volkswagen – State Court of Fulton County,

Georgia (2000)
$11,000,000 Jury verdict in a wrongful death action alleging negligence and products liability for the death of a sixteen year old girl killed in an automobile accident. At the time the verdict was rendered (February 2000) this was the largest compensatory damages award in a single wrongful death action ever in the State of Georgia.

Carleton v. Valujet Airlines Inc., et. al. – State Court of Fulton County,

Georgia (1997)
Settlement (confidential) of eight wrongful death claims stemming from the crash of a Valujet passenger aircraft in the Everglades.

Jim Walter Resources, Inc. v. Cotton Energy Corp. et. al. – Circuit Court of Jefferson County,

Alabama (1996)
$17,500,000.00 settlement of a claim for conversion of plaintiffs’ coal stockpiles maintained at export facilities in Mobile, Alabama.

Van Der Noorda v. Hyundai Motor Company – United States District Court,

Middle District of Georgia (1994)
Settlement (confidential) of a products liability action for the death of a young mother killed in an automobile accident. Plaintiff alleged numerous defects of the occupant restraint system provided by Hyundai.

Henderson v. Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. – United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia (1993)
$14,000,000.00 settlement in a Class Action securities fraud case on behalf of purchasers of defendant=s stock.

Milam v. General Motors Corp. – United States District Court,

Eastern District of Tennessee (1992)
Settlement (confidential) of an automobile products liability action for the death of a young man. The case was settled after the court issued an order sanctioning G.M. for discovery abuse.

Gibbs v. Lincoln Property Company – Superior Court of Fulton County,

Georgia (1990)
Settlement (confidential) of a breach of contract claim stemming from defendant=s refusal to honor an agreement to pay a real estate commission.

McBride, Lehman v. General Motors Corp. – United States District Court,

Middle District of Georgia (1990)
Settlement (confidential) of companion cases consolidated for the purpose of discovery. In both cases plaintiffs alleged wrongful death arising from the use of defective rear seat lap belts.

Buckner v. Brown Transport, Inc. – Superior Court of Fulton County,

Georgia (1988)
Settlement (confidential) for the wrongful death of five individuals and the personal injuries to the lone surviving passenger of a vehicle which was struck by the defendant=s tractor trailer rig. The case settled after two weeks of trial before a jury.

Meyer v. Citizens and Southern National Bank – United States District Court,

Middle District of Georgia (1987)
$32,625,000.00 settlement in a Class Action for an equitable accounting on behalf of trusts holding units in a pooled investment fund. The case settled after three weeks of trial.