Email: Jhowanitz@sdlitigation.com
Biography
Jay is an AV-rated and board certified civil trial attorney who represents clients in all types of personal injury cases with a focus on automotive and other defective consumer products, premises liability, workplace accidents, medical malpractice, trucking and automobile accidents and other personal injury claims. Only board certified civil trial lawyers are permitted to identify themselves as specialists or experts in this area of law.
He is licensed to practice law in the states of Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Jay is also admitted to all United States District Courts in Florida and Georgia and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.
During his career, Jay has served on the Board of Directors for the Young Lawyers Section of the Florida Justice Association. He has also served as an adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law.
Jay has been recognized by 904 Magazine as one of Jacksonville’s next generation of top legal practitioners. He has also has been recognized as one of Florida’s outstanding lawyers by Florida Super Lawyers Magazine (Rising Star) and Florida Trend Magazine (Legal Elite). Jay is also rated Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell – the highest rating available.
Locally, Jay was recognized by the Jacksonville Business Journal as one of the top 40 up-and- coming leaders under the age of 40 and a member of the inaugural class of Ultimate Attorneys – the First Coast’s top lawyers.
Jay earned his Juris Doctorate degree, cum laude, from Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, Florida. Prior to entering law school, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After a four-year collegiate football career, Jay accepted a graduate-assistant position at Western Maryland College, Westminster, Maryland. During his two-year tenure as a graduate assistant, he received a Master of Arts degree, and helped coach the Western Maryland College football program to the Division III national playoffs.
Jay remains extremely active in the Jacksonville community. He has served on the board of directors for HandsOn Jacksonville, MOCA Jacksonville’s young professionals board, The Independent Living Foundation and Hendricks Avenue Elementary School Advisory Council.
Jay and his wife, Holly, enjoy spending time with their son. The three of them enjoy spending their free time travelling to new places, running and soaking in everything that the great outdoors has to offer.
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- Georgia
- Pennsylvania
- 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Georgia
Practice Areas
- Automotive and Other Defective Consumer Products
- Military Medical Malpractice Claims
- Personal Injury Claims
- Premises Liability
- Trucking and Automobile Accidents
- Workplace Accidents
Education
- Florida Coastal School of Law, Jacksonville, Florida
- J.D., Juris Doctorate
- Honors: cum laude
- Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
- B.A. – 05/2001
- Major: Political Science
- McDaniel College
- M.A. – 05/2003
Professional Associations
- Florida Bar Association
- State Bar of Georgia
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Chester Bedell Inn of Court
- American Bar Association
- American Association for Justice
- Florida Justice Association
- Jacksonville Justice Association
- Jacksonville Bar Association
Pro-Bono Activities
- Former board of director, HandsOn Jacksonville
- Former board of director, MOCA Jacksonville’s Young Professionals Board
- Former board of director, The Independent Living Foundation
- Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
- Hendricks Avenue Elementary School Advisory Council
