Vontzalides, Athan A.

James T. Leavitt, the founder of our Honolulu law firm, has devoted his practice to personal injury claims. The firm gained a reputation for its commitment to intense case preparation and its willingness to bring difficult cases to successful conclusions.

Jim Leavitt, a Board Certified Specialist in Civil Trial Advocacy, is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Michigan Law School. Following law school, Mr. Leavitt was an officer in the United States Marine Corps. He was a JAG Officer (Judge Advocate General) and did Court Martial work at Camp Pendleton, California and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He graduated first in his class at the Naval Justice School in Newport Rhode Island, and was the recipient of the Naval Justice Award. While stationed at Pearl Harbor, he was certified as a Military Judge. Following his service in the Marines, he had a brief stint with the Public Defenders Office in Honolulu, and, in the early 70's, was a founding partner of the law firm of Hart, Sherwood, Leavitt, Blanchfield & Hall. That law firm "set up shop" in the historic Dillingham Transportation Building and Mr. Leavitt's office has remained there for over 30 years.

For the last 15 years, Mr. Leavitt has practiced exclusively as an attorney for persons injured by the negligence of others and has been rated "AV" with Martindale-Hubbell, the premier lawyer-rating service. "AV" is the highest rating for legal ability and ethics.

He is a member of American Association for Justice (AAJ). He is a also past President of the Consumer Lawyers of Hawaii, the local AAJ affiliate. Within AAJ, he is a member of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Section, the Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section and the Insurance Law Section.

Mr. Leavitt is also a member of the Automotive Information Exchange Group (AIEG), an association of attorneys throughout America who focus on injuries caused by automobile defects, such as rollover accidents, tire separations, seat belt defects, vehicle fires, etc. (sometimes known as "crashworthiness" issues). He has earned a reputation as one of the premier car accident attorneys in Honolulu.

Mr. Leavitt is Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Advocacy. Mr. Leavitt received a Certificate of Specialization in Civil Trial Advocacy from the Hawaii Supreme court. The Supreme Court of Hawaii grants Hawaii certification only to lawyers in good standing who have successfully completed a specialty program accredited by the American Bar Association.