Get to Know Paul Jacobs, Attorney at Law
"When you call my office, I'll be the one to answer the phone and listen to your story."
I have been handling personal injury, family law, and commercial litigation in South Florida for over 40 years. Born and raised in New York, I attended Ramapo High School in Spring Valley and went on to study at the State University of New York at Binghamton where I majored in political science, graduating in 1977. After a brief time working in sales, I moved from Manhattan to Miami to attend the University of Miami School of Law. While attending law school, I served as both a law clerk and bailiff in the 11th Judicial Circuit of Miami-Dade County for Judge Francis X. Knuck. I received my Juris Doctorate in 1985.
After graduation, I worked as an associate attorney handling plaintiffs' personal injury and medical malpractice cases. I joined Marks, Aronovitz & Leinoff, P.A. in 1986 and expanded my practice to include commercial litigation and matrimonial law. The firm became known as Aronovitz & Jacobs, P.A.
I founded Jacobs and Straus P.A. with my wife, Geri Sue Straus (1960–2013) who was also a University of Miami School of Law graduate. Susie and I handled and tried a large number of personal injury cases over the years, including automobile injury, motorcycle accidents and ATV accidents, wrongful/accidental deaths, and insurance bad faith. We also had a strong family law and commercial litigation practice. We gave each and every client the legal expertise and personal attention necessary to achieve the best possible outcome.
My vast experience continues to support my personal injury, family law, and commercial litigation practice.
Case Results
$5.5 MILLION JURY VERDICT
$5.5 million awarded by jury to the family of 13-year-old client who was killed while riding a full-sized ATV unsupervised at a classmate's house. This case further enhanced existing law regarding a parent’s duty to exercise reasonable care in training and supervision of their child, especially in an instance of negligent entrustment of a potentially dangerous machine such as an ATV.
MULTI-MILLION CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT
Multi-million dollar confidential settlement during trial against a manufacturer of 15-passenger vans. Because of the vehicle's negligent design, the vehicle rolled over and my client was severely and permanently injured. Between this and other settlements in this case, we were able to secure the best future and permanent care for our client in this severe accident.
$500,000 SETTLEMENT
$500,000 settlement with drug rehabilitation facility for the wrongful death of a patient who was not properly supervised while an inpatient at the facility. The facility overdosed my client on methadone and negligently failed to perform the required periodic check-ups which resulted in my client's premature death.
$500,000 SETTLEMENT
$500,000 settlement with an assisted living facility for negligently allowing our elderly client to wander outside the facility, where she was hit by a car and killed. Cases like this are important because they provide incentives to nursing homes and assisted living facilities to implement and execute more stringent safety and security measures.