Leighton Panoff Law, P.A.

08/15/2026

As children head back to school, parents are thinking about backpacks, homework, and new teachers. Safety should be at the top of that list, too.

Schools have a responsibility to provide an environment where students can learn without fear of abuse or neglect. When educators or institutions fail to protect children, the consequences can be devastating.

Leighton Panoff Law has represented families in cases involving child s*xual abuse, including securing a $550,000 settlement on behalf of a student who was s*xually abused by a teacher. In another case, the Firm won a $49 million verdict when a student was s*xually assaulted by her teacher.

If you suspect a child has been harmed while under the care of a school or other institution, understanding your legal rights is an important first step.

Learn more about the firm's experience representing victims of abuse at Leightonlaw.com.

08/15/2026

A perfect day on the water can change in seconds when safety takes a back seat.

Summer is one of the busiest boating seasons in Florida, with thousands of families enjoying the state's waterways every weekend. Unfortunately, increased traffic also means an increased risk of serious boating accidents.

Operator inattention, excessive speed, alcohol use, poor maintenance, and unsafe weather conditions continue to contribute to preventable injuries every year.
Boating injury cases often involve complex legal questions regarding vessel ownership, rental companies, maintenance responsibilities, and maritime law.

Leighton Panoff Law has litigated dozens of boating negligence cases, including the worst boating disaster in the history of Biscayne Bay.

Before heading out on the water this summer, make safety your priority. And if negligence causes serious injuries, know that experienced legal representation can help protect your rights.

Learn more about boating accident litigation at Leightonlaw.com.

08/13/2026

When warning signs exist, protecting students must come first.

Leighton Panoff Law has filed a lawsuit against the Hillsborough County School Board and a former Riverview High School teacher on behalf of a former student who alleges he was groomed and s*xually abused by the teacher over multiple academic years.

According to the complaint, the School Board failed to take reasonable measures to protect the student despite warning signs and a strikingly similar case involving another Riverview teacher less than a year earlier.

The former teacher in the newly filed case was criminally prosecuted and pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of unlawful s*xual activity with a minor.

The civil lawsuit now raises broader questions about institutional responsibility, supervision and the safeguards schools have in place to recognize and respond to potential grooming and s*xual misconduct.

As Leighton Panoff Law partner and lead counsel Max Panoff said, “Once is unacceptable. Twice is unimaginable.”

Every student deserves to be safe in the classroom. When institutions entrusted with protecting children allegedly fail to do so, accountability matters.

Read the Tampa Bay Times coverage of the newly filed lawsuit below.

After a Hillsborough teacher was arrested and fired for s*xual battery, lawyers say the board could have done more to intervene.

08/11/2026

Children should never have to carry the burden of failures that adults had the power to prevent.

Leighton Panoff Law recently filed suit against a Central Florida private school after a young child was repeatedly s*xually abused by another student during school hours over an extended period. This is known as child-on-child s*x abuse (COCSA).

According to the complaint, the abuse occurred while school staff were responsible for supervising students. The lawsuit raises serious questions about supervision, communication, and whether warning signs were overlooked.

Civil litigation cannot erase what happened, but it can hold institutions accountable and encourage meaningful changes that help protect other children. Leighton Panoff Law attorneys have handled numerous cases involving schools and preschools, including COCSA as well as s*x abuse by adults on students. In one case, John Leighton and Max Panoff won a $49 million verdict for a student who was r***d by a teacher during school hours.

Learn more about the case here:

Note: This story is a second part of an issue introduced last week about allegations of s*xual abuse between young students at a private Celebration Christian school.

08/10/2026

The legal books that influence trial lawyers are written by attorneys who have spent decades inside the courtroom. Leighton Panoff Law founding partner John Leighton is currently preparing updates for the 2027 edition of his nationally recognized two-volume legal treatise, Litigating Premises Security Cases.

Used by attorneys throughout the United States, the publication explores complex issues involving negligent security, violent crime, s*xual abuse, commercial property liability, foreseeability, security standards, expert testimony, and trial strategy.

Mr. Leighton's decades of courtroom experience have helped shape the way attorneys litigate serious premises liability and crime victim cases across the country.
His continued work on this publication reflects a commitment not only to representing clients, but also to advancing legal education within the profession.

Learn more about the firm's experience handling complex injury litigation at Leightonlaw.com.

08/07/2026

The attorneys who advocate for victims are often the same attorneys helping shape the future of victim advocacy nationwide.

This September, Leighton Panoff Law founding partner John Leighton will once again serve as a featured speaker at the National Crime Victim Bar Association National Conference in Chicago.

The annual conference brings together attorneys from across the country dedicated to representing victims of crime, s*xual assault, institutional abuse, and violent acts. Discussions focus on improving civil justice for survivors while advancing best practices for victim advocacy.

Throughout his career, Mr. Leighton has represented victims in complex cases involving s*xual assault, negligent security, institutional failures, and preventable tragedies. He is the past President of the National Crime Victim Bar Association and the author of the leading two-volume textbook in the field of negligent security and s*xual violence.

His invitation to speak reflects decades of experience helping victims seek accountability through the civil justice system.

Learn more about Mr. Leighton’s work here:

John Leighton is a trial lawyer who has won millions of dollars in ...

08/06/2026

A hotel should offer peace of mind—not become the place where a young person's life is forever changed.

Leighton Panoff Law recently secured a $1 million settlement on behalf of a teenager who was s*xually assaulted by a hotel employee while staying at a North Florida hotel.

Hotels and resorts have a responsibility to provide reasonably safe accommodations for their guests. That responsibility extends beyond maintaining the property—it includes hiring, supervising, and retaining employees in a manner that protects those who stay there. When those responsibilities are ignored, the consequences can be devastating for victims and their families.

Although no settlement can erase trauma, civil litigation can provide accountability, financial resources for recovery, and encourage safer practices moving forward.
Leighton Panoff Law remains committed to representing survivors of s*xual assault and helping families pursue justice through the civil legal system.

We have won many verdicts and settlements for survivors of s*xual assault, including a $49 million verdict for the r**e of a teenager, as well as many who have been s*xually assaulted in apartments, hotels, malls and schools.

Learn more about the firm's work at Leightonlaw.com.

08/03/2026

When everything changes in an instant, experience becomes one of the most important decisions you'll make.

A catastrophic injury. A medical mistake. A serious boating accident. The unexpected loss of someone you love. These moments change lives forever, leaving families facing uncertainty, financial hardship, and difficult legal questions.

For decades, Leighton Panoff Law has represented victims of negligence throughout Florida and across the country. The firm's practice is devoted to serious personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, aviation disasters, s*xual assault litigation, boating accidents, premises liability, and other complex cases involving life-changing harm.

Every client deserves attorneys who understand what is at stake—not just financially, but personally. At Leighton Panoff Law, preparation, experience, and accountability are at the center of every case.

Serious Lawyers for Serious Cases® isn't simply a slogan. It's a commitment to every client the firm represents.

Learn more about the firm's attorneys and decades of experience at Leightonlaw.com.

07/31/2026

Advocating for victims requires more than experience—it requires leadership.

This September, John Leighton will also serve as a speaker at the National Crime Victim Bar Association National Conference in Chicago, where attorneys from across the country gather to discuss legal issues affecting victims of crime and violence. Mr. Leighton is past President of the Bar Association.

For many victims, the criminal justice system addresses only part of the harm that has occurred. Civil litigation can provide another avenue for accountability and recovery.

Throughout his career, Mr. Leighton has represented victims and families in cases involving s*xual assault, negligent security, violent crime, and institutional failures that led to preventable tragedies. He is the author of the leading textbook in the field, Litigating Premises Security Cases.

His invitation to speak reflects a continued commitment to protecting victims and advancing the practice of victim advocacy nationwide.

Learn more about the firm's work on behalf of victims at Leightonlaw.com.

07/29/2026

Not every injury case requires a trial lawyer. The serious ones do.

At Leighton Panoff Law, the focus has always been on catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, medical malpractice, aviation disasters, s*xual assault claims, boating accidents, and other cases involving life-changing harm.

These are not routine claims.

They are cases involving families searching for answers, accountability, and the resources needed to rebuild their lives after tragedy.

For decades, the firm's attorneys have represented clients throughout Florida and across the country, handling complex litigation against hospitals, corporations, property owners, transportation companies, and other powerful defendants.

The goal is simple: hold negligent parties accountable and fight for justice when it matters most.

Serious Lawyers for Serious Cases®

Learn more about the firm and its attorneys at Leightonlaw.com.