Jerel C. Dawson is a partner in the firm’s Miami office, where he is a member of the Insurance Practice Group. He practices primarily in the areas of life, health, and disability insurance defense, with particular focus on federal ERISA litigation and appeals. Since 2003, he has prepared 40 successful summary judgment motions on behalf of insurers in federal ERISA actions.
REPORTED DECISIONS
Neubarth v. Hartford Life and Acc. Ins. Co., 792 F. Supp.2d 1360 (S.D. Fla. 2011).
Howard v. Hartford Life and Acc. Ins. Co., 765 F. Supp.2d 1341 (M.D. Fla. 2011).
Weiss v. Standard Ins. Co., 672 F. Supp.2d 1313 (S.D. Fla. 2009).
Tindell v. Tree of Life, Inc., 672 F. Supp.2d 1300 (M.D. Fla. 2009).
Murray v. Hartford Life and Acc. Ins. Co., 623 F. Supp.2d 1341 (M.D. Fla. 2009), affirmed, 363 Fed.Appx. 710 (11th Cir. 2010).
Richey v. Hartford Life and Acc. Ins. Co., 608 F. Supp.2d 1306 (M.D. Fla. 2009).
Borschel v. Continental Cas. Co., 536 F. Supp.2d 1294 (S.D. Fla. 2008).
Giertz-Richardson v. Hartford Life and Acc. Ins. Co., 536 F. Supp.2d 1280 (M.D. Fla. 2008).
Sanzone v. Hartford Life and Acc. Ins. Co., 519 F. Supp.2d 1250 (S.D. Fla. 2007).
Normil v. Colonial Life and Acc. Ins. Co., 403 F. Supp.2d 1159 (S.D. Fla. 2005).
Richards v. Hartford Life and Acc. Ins. Co., 356 F. Supp.2d 1278 (S.D. Fla. 2004), affirmed, 153 Fed.Appx. 694 (11th Cir. 2005).
PUBLICATIONS
“Subjective Tension: The Conundrum of Self-Reported Symptoms,” For The Defense, September 2008.
“Amended ERISA Regulation and Standard of Review: The Courts Remain Divided,” Defense Research Institute Life, Health and Disability News, Summer 2007.
Education
- Florida State University, J.D., magna cum laude, 1998
- University of Alabama, M.A., 1993
- University of Florida, B.A., 1990
Bar Admissions
- The Florida Bar
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit