M. Austin Moretz

Director

Primary Office: Pensacola, FL

M. Austin Moretz
M. Austin Moretz

ABOUT

M. Austin

Effective, efficient, client-centric advocacy are hallmarks of Austin Moretz’s litigation practice throughout Florida and Georgia. He understands precise and timely communication is critical to meeting his clients’ legal needs, both inside and out of the courtroom. A team approach with clients is key to achieving their business and personal goals while building lasting relationships.

Austin focuses on casualty defense (trucking, auto, premises liability, wrongful death), construction defect litigation, professional malpractice defense, employment litigation, products liability, and a variety of first-party and third-party insurance issues. He has achieved positive results in hundreds of cases throughout Florida and Georgia and has developed a unique familiarity with the law and its application in both states. Austin’s precise and effective strategies have resulted in successful defense verdicts at trial, dismissals, summary judgments, and appeals on behalf of his clients which have included individuals, contractors, medical providers, insurance companies, and a variety of professionals and businesses, including Fortune 500 companies. He has been rated by Martindale-Hubbell as an AV Preeminent attorney, signifying that a large number of his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence.

Originally from Tifton, Georgia, Austin moved to the Pensacola Bay area in November of 2011 with his wife, a teacher in Santa Rosa County. Together they enjoy raising their three boys on the Gulf Coast.

Representative Matters

  • Obtained a complete defense verdict representing a family restaurant in a high-value wrongful death, dram shop case in the Florida panhandle.
  • Secured summary judgement for a general contractor client and created new, favorable case law on workers compensation issues in the subsequent appeal.
  • Successfully resolved several, multi-party construction defect cases ranging from large condominium complex to custom homes.
  • Obtained a complete defense verdict on behalf of a commercial landlord in a multi-million dollar negligent security, wrongful death case.
  • In a Georgia wrongful foreclosure trial, obtained a complete defense verdict and successfully defended the appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court.
  • Secured summary judgment for a condominium association’s board-member in a defamation lawsuit.

Education

  • J.D., cum laude, University of Florida Levin College of Law
  • B.A., magna cum laude, History, University of Georgia

Admissions

  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Associations
  • Florida Bar Association
  • State Bar of Georgia
  • Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recipient of the Fall 2010 Book Award for the UF Conservation Clinic

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