Cacciatore, S. Sammy

In addition to obtaining numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for people injured in auto accidents or victims of medical or professional malpractice, Sammy Cacciatore helped rewrite legal history in 1973.

His pioneering efforts in the case Jones v. Hoffman established comparative negligence as the standard in Florida, which ultimately led the change to this standard throughout America. He stood off more than 400 corporations in America and changed the way in which injured people are compensated.

In the early 1970s, if defendants could prove that an accident victim was even 1% at fault for the accident, the victim would receive nothing. This legal argument, which unfairly protected big corporations, was called contributory negligence. Sammy argued that contributory negligence was unfair and benefited the wrongdoers who caused accidents. Jones v. Hoffman established comparative negligence as the fair way to rule in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Today, courts and juries determine the degree of fault of all involved and then award damages accordingly.

Born and raised in central Florida, Sammy attended undergraduate and law school at Stetson University. He moved to his wife's hometown, Melbourne, joining Jim Nance one of the founding member of the Inner Circle of Advocates in August 1967. In addition to his heavy trial practice, Sammy has served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Justice Association for more than 20 years, serving as its president from 1984 to 1985. He was also elected by his colleagues in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit to represent them on the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar.

Sammy is one of the few lawyers board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Florida Bar and in the specialty of medical malpractice by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys. He has handled many medical malpractice cases throughout Central Florida.

Here at home, Sammy has always been involved in the community in some way or another. He is an active member of the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, the Coastal Conservation Association, and the Back Country Fly Fishing Association. When his children were growing up, he was involved in their schools.