Personal Education College Fraternities/Societies Admitted to Practice Professional Associations Law Firms Business Activites Other Activities Firm Personal Injury, Products Liability Law R. W. “Buddy” Payne, Jr., Esq., was a founding partner of the law firms of Spence, Payne, Masington, Needle & Leeds, P.A., Payne, Leeds, Colby & Robinson, P.A., McLuskey, McDonald & Payne, P.A. and now has his own firm named R. W. Payne Jr. & Associates, P.A. Mr. Payne is among Florida’s premier trial lawyers and the architect of many dramatic courtroom successes, especially in the area of products liability. He organized and acted as first president of the Dade County Trial Lawyers Association, in addition to acting as instructor in civil trial practice for new admittees to the Florida Bar. Mr. Payne practices personal injury, wrongful death, negligence, aviation law, and general civil litigation, and has tried several construction cases and patent infringement cases. He has represented plaintiffs in many cases, including more than 200 clients in the silicone breast implant litigation. He is also a well-known lecturer throughout the state. He also serves as the Director of Magnus’ Litigation Consulting Division. Mr. Payne consults with clients on fact-finder responses on specific case issues. He has extensive trial experience and a keen interest in the human dynamics of litigation. Rated by his peers as one of the best products liability lawyers in America, Mr. Payne has established an enviable record of courtroom successes that span more than three decades. These accomplishments include significant awards and settlements to victims of catastrophic airline and boating accidents, and fatal incidents involving defective automobiles. Mr. Payne was a Director of the Association of Florida Trial Lawyers for 18 years and served on many committees. In addition, he has served on the Board of Governors for the Young Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar, the Board of Directors of the Dade County Bar Association, numerous committees of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Payne organized and acted as the first president of the Dade County Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Payne has had an AV rating with Martindale Hubbell for more than 20 years and has been consistently listed as one of The Best Lawyers in America. A graduate of the University of North Carolina, he received his juris doctor degree from Stetson University. Mr. Payne has appeared on television many times concerning his cases and recently was asked to appear on television on Japan’s only public television station. Back to Top PERSONAL Born in Norfolk, Virginia - March 16, 1936 Four children, fifteen grandchildren Back to Top EDUCATION Preparatory Education: University of North Carolina, BA in English, 1958, Minor in Pre-med. University of North Carolina School of Law, 1959-1961 Stetson University School of Law, L.L.B., August 1962 Back to Top COLLEGE FRATERNITIES / SOCIETIES Order of Golden Fleece Honorary Society Order of Old Well Honorary Society Sigma Chi Social Fraternity Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity Patterson Medal - Outstanding Student / Athlete of University of North Carolina, 1958 Back to Top ADMITTED TO PRACTICE State of Florida (1963) United States District Court, Southern District of Florida (1964) United States Court of Appeals (5th Circuit) (1964) United States Supreme Court (1970) Back to Top PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (Board of Directors 1972-1987) American Bar Association American Judicature Society American Board of Trial Advocates Association of Trial Lawyers of America Dade County Trial Lawyers Association (founder and past president) Dade County Bar Association (Board of Directors 1976-1982) Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers Florida Bar Association Florida Bar Association Young Lawyers Board of Governors International Academy of Trial Lawyers Law Science Academy of America Selected "One of the Best Lawyers in America" 1994 to date Selected "Leading Lawyers in America" 1996 to date Selected "Senior Counsel" from the College of Master Advocates & Barristers The Florida Bar Back to Top LAW FIRMS RONEY and BEACH St. Petersburg, Florida (1963-1964) NICHOLS, GAITHER, BECKHAM, COLSON, SPENCE & HICKS Miami, Florida (1964-1967) SPENCE, PAYNE, MASINGTON, NEEDLE & LEEDS, P.A. Miami, Florida (1967-1995) (General trial practice with emphasis on personal injury and negligence) PAYNE, LEEDS, COLBY & ROBINSON, P.A. Miami, Florida (1995-1997) McLUSKEY, McDONALD & PAYNE, P.A. Miami, Florida (1998- 2000) R. W. PAYNE, JR. & ASSOCIATES, P.A. (2000 - present) Back to Top BUSINESS ACTIVITIES (PAST AND PRESENT) University of North Carolina Alumni Board Board of Directors, Educational Foundation, University of North Carolina Coral Gables Senior High School Athletic Boosters Club Board of Directors, Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center Board of Directors, First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables Board of Directors, Chemical Dependency Institute Board of Directors, Grove Hill Towers Junior Orange Bowl Committee Miami City Club University Club Coral Reef Yacht Club Back to Top OTHER ACTIVITIES Captain, University of North Carolina Football Team, 1957 Professional football with Ottawa Roughriders, Canadian Football League, Fall 1958 United States Marine Corps Back to Top FIRM Mr. Payne is a nationally recognized attorney with a distinguished history of being at the forefront of personal injury and wrongful death litigation. In complex civil trials, the firm possesses the sincere dedication, sophisticated resources, unrivaled courtroom skills and depth of experience that meet the challenge of today’s complex negligence cases. In pursuing, to the full extent of the law, fair legal compensation for its clients - no matter what their position in life or the identity of the opposition - Mr. Payne has handled many landmark cases over the years that can be found among the reported decisions of the appellate courts of Florida. Back to Top