Beth J. Leahy, Esq. |

Overview

Beth Leahy has been a cornerstone of Walton Lantaff’s litigation practice since joining the firm in 1983. Originally from Philadelphia, she earned her undergraduate degree in Literature from Lycoming College, graduating magna cum laude, before continuing her legal education at Temple University School of Law and later Nova University, where she received her Juris Doctor. After a brief period working as in-house counsel for an insurance carrier, she joined Walton Lantaff in 1983 and was elected Senior Partner in 1992, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold that role within the firm.

Ms. Leahy concentrates her practice on civil trials and appellate work, representing insurers, employers and governmental entities in complex first- and third-party insurance defense matters. She has handled a wide range of negligence and intentional tort claims — including premises liability, negligent hiring and supervision, assault and battery, and malicious prosecution — as well as the defense of excessive force and other civil rights claims in both state and federal courts. Her work also includes workers’ compensation trial and appellate defense, employment discrimination and wage and hour matters, governmental liability, and broader employment and labor law issues. Admitted to practice before multiple federal district courts and the United States Supreme Court, she is widely recognized for her decades of courtroom experience and disciplined, solutions-focused approach to each case.

A frequent lecturer for industry organizations and continuing education programs, Ms. Leahy regularly presents on topics ranging from wrongful termination and workplace injury claims to fraud investigation and risk reduction strategies. She maintains active involvement in professional associations including RIMS and PRIMA, and has been recognized with an AV-Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Outside of her legal work, she has dedicated significant time to community leadership through The Charity Guild of Fort Lauderdale and service supporting the Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center and local school organizations.

Ms. Leahy provides the insight of a veteran litigator and the dependability of a long-standing firm leader. Clients benefit from her measured advocacy, institutional knowledge and commitment to providing clients with confidence at every stage of litigation.

Practice Areas:

Civil Trial and Appeals
- All Areas of First and Third Party Insurance Defense, including:
  - All types of negligence and intentional tort claims, like premises liability, negligent hiring and supervision, assault and battery, and malicious prosecution claims;
  - The defense of excessive force and other civil rights claims in state and federal court.
Workers’ Compensation Trial and Appeal Defense
Employment Discrimination and Wage and Hour Defense
Governmental Liability
Governmental Entities
Employment and Labor Law

Admitted to Practice:

Florida,1980
United States Supreme Court, 1991
United States District Court Southern District of Florida, 1981
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, 2004
United States District Court, Northern District of Florida

Education:

Lycoming College — Bachelor of Arts (Literature) magna cum laude, 1977
Temple University School of Law — Juris Doctor, 1978
Nova University — Juris Doctor, 1980
- CALI Book Awards: Federal Practice and Procedure
- CALI Book Awards: Family Law

Professional or Trade Affiliations:

Risk Insurance Management Society (RIMS)
South Florida Public Risk Management Association ( PRIMA)

Community Involvement:

The Charity Guild of Fort Lauderdale
Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center

Honors & Awards:

AV-Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
CALI Book Awards: Federal Practice and Procedure
CALI Book Awards: Family Law

Speaking Engagements

Ms. Leahy is a State Certified Speaker and has presented many seminars to insurance professionals, on behalf of the firm, at RIMS and PRIMA’s local meetings and statewide conferences, and as a speaker for the CEU Institute and the National Business Institute (NBI). She has presented on liability defense, workers’ compensation and employment discrimination topics including:
“Protecting against Wrongful Termination”
“Injuries in the Workplace- Examining the Workers’ Compensation Process” “Terminations in Tough Economic Times + Claims: What You Can Expect and How to Handle Them”
“Fraud Prevention”
“A Review of Average Weekly Wage- Statute Cases and Administrative Law”
“Investigation Techniques and Fraud Claims”
“Using Policies and Procedures to Avoid Liability for Use of Social Media”
“ Introduction to Florida’s Worker’s Compensation System”
“Best Practices: Reducing Workers’ Compensation Costs”
“Is Workers’ Compensation Immunity Alive and Well?”
“Liability and Workers’ Comp Hot- Button Topics”
and many others.

Community Involvement

Beth Leahy has served in varied Board Roles for The Charity Guild of Fort Lauderdale, including President, Vice President, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary, and as its representative on the Board of Directors for both Childrens’ Diagnostic & Treatment Center and KID, and currently serves as Assistant Membership Chair.
Member of Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center Board, as Charity Guild Representative 2017, 2018.
Past member of Board of the Middle and Upper School Parents’ Association of the Pine Crest School.
Past member of Board of the Lower School Parents Association of the Pine Crest School.
Beth Leahy has served in varied Board Roles for The Charity Guild of Fort Lauderdale, including President, and as its representative on the Board of Directors of both Childrens’ Diagnostic & Treatment Center and KID.

Beth J. Leahy, Esq.

Of Counsel