GAINESVILLE -- Well-known and successful Monticello attorney John David Caminez passed away Sept. 25 in Chance Hospital in Gainesville, Florida. For almost 43 years, he litigated cases involving personal injury and wrongful death in northern Florida, as well as served as co-counsel for numerous cases in Georgia, Alabama and other states.
According to his firm’s biography, Caminez initially worked for the United States Department of Justice. He began his private practice in this area in 1972 and specialized in personal injury work.
During his career, he tried approximately 300 jury trials and was in the first class of board-certified civil trial attorneys, his firm’s biography said. He also was also the first Baker Act hearing examiner and was awarded Citizen of the Year for his work in that position.
“Mr. Caminez was a longstanding member of the Florida Justice Association, formerly known as The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers, and a member of the American Association for Justice, formerly known as the American Trial Lawyers Association,” his obituary said. “He was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida, the Florida Supreme Court and all Circuit Courts in the state of Florida.”
Caminez also was successful in the first jury trial against the state of Florida, and his client was awarded a verdict greater than the policy limits. He obtained million-dollar verdicts in jury trials, including a recent verdict against Walmart for $1,500,000.
His biography also stated that his most recent focus was specializing in tractor/trailer accidents, as well as serious automobile accidents, products liability cases, premises liability cases and medical malpractice cases. He was known for taking cases to trial when they did not settle for a fair value and worked hard in all cases, regardless of the size of the claim. He was experienced in mediations and has obtained favorable results in numerous large cases.
“Mr. Caminez also handled the Wells v. TMH case, which went to trial and was affirmed by the Florida Supreme Court and established a valuable legal precedent in apportionment of liability awards, as well as being the last case tried with a jury against Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where a successful verdict was obtained,” his biography said.
He left behind his wife Linda, three children and five grandchildren.