Donald R. Fountain, Jr.

Donald R. Fountain, Jr. is nationally recognized as a top trial attorney and is known for his work around the United States in the area of products liability. He focuses on cases involving automotive design, and manufacturing defects including defective tires, vehicle rollovers and occupant crash protection. He has represented clients against nearly every international automotive and tire manufacturer, and has achieved multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements throughout Florida and the United States.

One of Don’s many accomplishments includes a major victory for the firm’s clients and the nation’s consumers when our products liability department convinced a Florida court to allow a punitive damages claim against Chrysler for designing and manufacturing a fifteen passenger van that the company knew was prone to rollovers. This was the second time the firm convinced the court to allow punitive damages in a fifteen passenger van case. These are the only two cases in the country in which the court has allowed the pleading of punitive damages.

For years, the firm’s product liability attorneys have been at the forefront of virtually all major automotive product liability issues. They’ve handled hundreds of cases involving aged tires, industry approved tire repair procedures, nylon cap ply tires, vehicle seat back integrity, fused loop seat belt systems and airbags.

The firm also became the first in the country to convince a court that claims for punitive damages could be brought against both Ford and Firestone for the recall of the ATX Wilderness tire. As a result of that accomplishment, Don received the American Association for Justice’s Steven T. Sharp Public service award for “contributing toward a safer, more just America by investigating and gathering evidence pertaining to tire belt separation and vehicle rollovers in Firestone Tire and Ford Explorer cases.”

Education:

J.D., Victor O. Wehle Trial Practice Award, Stetson University College of Law, 1988
B.S., Florida State University, 1985

Areas of Practice:

Products Liability

Certifications Specialties:

Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer, Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
Board Certified Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy

Bar Admissions: Florida, 1988

U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1988
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, 1988

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Lecturer: "Steps You Need to Take to Help Your Accident Reconstruction Expert in His/Her Scientific Investigation," Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar
Lecturer: “Discovery Battle-Tips to Winning the War”
Lecturer:”Handling Tire Defect Cases-Tire Punctures, Nails and Plugs”

Awards and Honors:

American Association for Justice - Steven T. Sharp Public Service Award
Best Lawyers in America - Personal Injury and Civil Litigation
Martindale Hubbell - AV Rating
South Florida Legal Guide - Top Lawyers for Personal Injury
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Lawdragon- 3000 Leading Plaintiff’s Lawyers in America

Professional Associations and Leadership Activities:

Member: American Association for Justice
Member: American Bar Association
Member: American Board of Trial Advocates
Member: American Inns of Court Foundation
Member: Endowment for Academic Giving to Law and Education
Member: Florida Bar Association
Member: Florida Lawyers Action Group
Member: Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Member: Palm Beach County Bar Association
Member: Palm Beach County Justice Association
Member: Public Justice
Former Board of Directors: Florida Justice Association (2000-2003)

Community Associations and Leadership Activities:

Board of Directors, Development Chairman, Rosarian Academy, West Palm Beach, FL