Louis J. La Cava was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants. This is the 5th “Lawyer of the Year” distinction for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants that Lou has been awarded. He was previously recognized in 2021, 2019, 2017 and 2012.

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade significant. Lawyers are selected based on impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity.

Best Lawyers® in America is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal industry. It has been regarded by both the profession and the public, as the most credible measure of legal integrity and distinction in the United States. A listing in Best Lawyers® is widely regarded as a significant honor conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers. The lists of outstanding attorneys are compiled by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers.

Lou La Cava has earned the distinction of qualifying as a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator. This certification allows him to offer arbitration services throughout the State of Florida. He has successfully completed the training requirements of Supreme Court Approved Arbitration Training Program and meets the qualifications set forth on rule 11.010, Florida Rules for Court-Appointed Arbitrators, as a designated “Supreme Court of Florida Qualified Arbitrator.”

This year La Cava Jacobson sponsored the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association Annual Seminar in downtown Tampa. Thomas Saieva, spoke at the seminar on the topic of Technology for the Modern Attorney/Law Firm. Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc. is the local voice and the standard for excellence for the paralegal profession through its work on the issues of regulation, ethics, and education.

La Cava Jacobson is proud to announce Mark Messerschmidt and Amanda Smith as the firm’s newest partners.

Mark Messerschmidt practice is primarily focused on defending healthcare professionals, such as doctors, hospitals and other healthcare-related entities and providers.

Amanda Smith practice areas include medical malpractice, general liability, premises liability and automobile liability.

On this Veterans Day, La Cava Jacobson wants to remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free. We thank each of you among us who have served, and those who are currently serving as well. Thank you for always protecting the country and the people.