Overview

Howard Hunter heads the Healthcare Litigation Team. His practice emphasizes the defense of medical negligence cases as well as legal professional liability, sexual abuse and drug and medical device litigation.

Since beginning practice in 1979, he has handled the defense of hundreds of medical negligence matters all over Florida representing physicians, hospitals, allied health personnel, and insurers at both the trial and appellate levels. His experience includes the defense of virtually every type of case that involves medical or scientific issues.

Howard is a past president of the Florida Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates (FLABOTA), as well as of the Tampa Bay Chapter of ABOTA. He continues to serve on the Executive Committee of both Tampa Bay ABOTA and FLABOTA, as he has for several years, and co-chairs FLABOTA's committee to preserve Florida's courts. He is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, and affiliated with the Defense Research Institute, the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, and the Florida Association of Hospital Attorneys. He has chaired both a Florida Bar Grievance Committee and the Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. He has experience as an analyst and staffer for the Florida Legislature. Howard is a certified circuit court mediator and a member of the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators.

Howard was honored with the 2018 FLABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year award.

Howard and his wife, Sharon, a practicing veterinarian, have five children, ages 24 through 39. He is an Eagle Scout, and has served as a Cub Scout Packmaster, Scout Troop Committee Chair, Philmont Crew Guide and Chair of Timucua District, Gulf Ridge Council, B.S.A. He continues to serve on the Gulf Ridge Council Board of Directors. He has also served on the Board of Florida State University Seminole Boosters and the Florida State University Alumni Association.

In his leisure time, Howard is an avid but underutilized scuba diver, shot gunner, bird hunter, and boater. His career as an underrated youth football coach ended several years ago.

Honors

  • AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
  • Certified Circuit Mediator, State of Florida
  • FLABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year (2018)
  • Florida Super Lawyers (2006-2024)
  • Florida Trend’s Legal Elite (2008-2009, 2011-2012, 2016)
  • Super Lawyers Business Edition (2013)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®  (2007-2025) 
    • 2024 Tampa Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year 
    • 2019 Tampa Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year

Credentials & Experience

Education

Florida State University, B.S., 1975

Florida State University College of Law, J.D., 1978

Bar Admissions

American Bar Association

The Florida Bar

Hillsborough County Bar Association

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Florida Supreme Court

U. S. Supreme Court

Professional & Civic

Community & Professional

  • American Board of Trial Advocates
    • National Board of Directors
    • Tampa Bay Chapter
      • Executive Committee
      • Past President
      • Previously served as Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer
  • Boy Scouts of America: Greater Tampa Bay Council Board of Directors
  • Judicial Nominating Committee, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit: Member 
    • Past Chair
    • Past Vice Chair 
  • Florida Chapters American Board of Trial Advocates
    • Executive Committee
    • Past President
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
  • Florida Bar Grievance Committee: Past Chair
  • Florida Academy of Professional Mediators, Inc.
  • Florida Association of Hospital Attorneys
  • The University Club of Tampa

Newsroom

News & Insights

Published Decisions

  • Metz v. Wyeth LLC
    --- F.Supp.2d ---- 2012 WL 1058870 8:10-CV-2658-T-27AEP
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. March 28, 2012
  • Metz v. Wyeth LLC
    830 F.Supp.2d 1291 2011 WL 5826005 8:10-CV-2658-T-27AEP
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. November 18, 2011
  • Metz v. Wyeth, LLC
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2011 WL 5024448 8:10-CV-2658-T-27AEP
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. October 20, 2011
  • Pablo v. All Children’s Hosp., Inc.
    63 So.3d 766 (Table, Text in WESTLAW), Unpublished Disposition 2011 WL 2297667 2D10-1255
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. June 10, 2011
  • All Children’s Hosp., Inc. v. Department of Administrative Hearings
    55 So.3d 670 2011 WL 561453 2D02-1638
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. February 18, 2011
  • All Children’s Hosp., Inc. v. Smith
    51 So.3d 1159 (Table, Text in WESTLAW), Unpublished Disposition 2010 WL 5491069 2D10-705
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. December 29, 2010
  • Levine v. Wyeth, Inc.
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2010 WL 5137424 8:09-CV-854-T-33AEP
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. December 10, 2010
  • Zboch v. Cohen, Jayson & Foster, P.A.
    48 So.3d 850 (Table, Text in WESTLAW), Unpublished Disposition 2010 WL 4558780 2D09-3790
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. November 10, 2010
  • Crist v. Ervin
    56 So.3d 745 2010 WL 4340822 SC10-1317, SC10-1319
    Supreme Court of Florida. November 04, 2010
  • Zboch v. Cohen, Jayson & Foster, P.A.
    43 So.3d 57 (Table, Text in WESTLAW), Unpublished Disposition 2010 WL 3327964 2D09-2509
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. August 25, 2010
  • Levine v. Wyeth Inc.
    Not Reported in F.Supp.2d 2010 WL 2612579 8:09-CV-854-T-33AEP
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Divisio. June 25, 2010
  • Kiesel v. Isabelle
    37 So.3d 860 (Table, Text in WESTLAW), Unpublished Disposition 2010 WL 2299617 2D08-5725
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. June 09, 2010
  • Levine v. Wyeth Inc.
    684 F.Supp.2d 1338 2010 WL 456773 809CV854T33AEP
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. February 10, 2010
  • Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Ass’n v. Department of Administrative Hearings
    29 So.3d 992 2010 WL 114510 SC08-1317, SC08-1318, SC08-1319
    Supreme Court of Florida. January 14, 2010
  • All Children’s Hosp., Inc. v. Department of Administrative Hearings
    989 So.2d 2 2008 WL 142308 2D02-1638
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. January 16, 2008
  • Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Ass’n v. Florida Div. of Administrative Hearings
    948 So.2d 705 2007 WL 63639 SC04-227, SC04-666
    Supreme Court of Florida. January 11, 2007
  • All Children’s Hosp., Inc. v. Department of Administrative Hearings
    863 So.2d 450 2004 WL 57230 2D02-1638
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. January 14, 2004
  • Myklejord v. Morris
    766 So.2d 1160 2000 WL 1228028 5D99-3615
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District. August 31, 2000
  • Williamson v. Roth
    120 F.Supp.2d 1327 2000 WL 1742037 5:98-CIV-299-OC-10
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Ocala Division. August 11, 2000
  • Florida Country Clubs, Inc. v. Carlton, Fields, Ward, Emmanuel, Smith & Cutler, P.A.
    98 F.Supp.2d 1356 2000 WL 781041 8:99-CV-1882-T-17C
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. May 23, 2000
  • Reed v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America
    4 F.Supp.2d 1148 1998 WL 181826 97-853-CIV-T-17E
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. . March 13, 1998
  • Richter v. Bagala
    647 So.2d 215 1994 WL 454854 94-01017
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. August 24, 1994
  • Burke v. Smithkline Bio-Science Laboratories
    858 F.Supp. 1181 1994 WL 378677 94-41-CIV-T-17C
    United States District Court, M.D. Florida, Tampa Division. July 05, 1994
  • Manor Care of Florida, Inc., v. Olt
    620 So.2d 1297 1993 WL 210724 92-04640
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. June 18, 1993
  • Santelli v. Arean
    616 So.2d 1154 1993 WL 114772 92-00785
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. April 14, 1993
  • Kim Oanh Thi Ly v. Wilkerson
    447 So.2d 257 83-71
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District. October 05, 1983
  • Ruben v. Kelley
    402 So.2d 1165 58120
    Supreme Court of Florida. July 09, 1981
  • Red Carpet Corp. of Panama City Beach v. Calvert Fire Ins. Co.
    393 So.2d 1160 NN-414
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District. February 10, 1981
  • Sanchez v. Mercy Hospital
    386 So.2d 42 79-1688
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District. July 22, 1980
  • Aldana v. Holub
    381 So.2d 231 53227, 53612
    Supreme Court of Florida. February 28, 1980
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