James Blecke

Jim Blecke has served as of counsel to The Haggard Law Firm since 2007, bringing one of the deepest appellate practices in Florida personal injury law. Raised in the Midwest, he graduated from Ohio State in 1969, earned his law degree from the University of Florida, and passed the Florida Bar in 1971. After four years as a Judge Advocate in the United States Marine Corps, where he reached the rank of Captain, he began private practice in Miami in 1976. He has since served as appellate counsel in more than 350 reported cases, primarily in personal injury and wrongful death, professional malpractice, and insurance coverage disputes.

His significant reported decisions include Nissan Motor Co. v. Phlieger, King v. Cutter Laboratories, and Villazon v. Prudential Health Care Plan, which established HMO liability for HMO contract physicians. He works closely with lead trial counsel in pretrial preparation and during trial, then assumes primary responsibility in the appellate courts. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, was among the first group of civil trial attorneys board certified by the Florida Bar in 1983, and received the Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section's first Pro Bono Award in 2002.