Tom J. Manos

“‘The Tominator’—that’s what the courthouse bailiffs call me, because I overcome formidable forces and win when I shouldn’t.  My clients know that I have no fear of courtroom battle, that I’ll fight tirelessly for their causes, and that I genuinely care about their cases.  So much so that I often lose sleep thinking about how to get them the best possible results.”

--Tom J. Manos, Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Tom is an experienced litigator who concentrates his practice on commercial litigation involving business torts such as fraud, negligence, contract disputes, real estate disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, defamation, non-competition disputes, and employment disputes, but also helps clients negotiate business and entertainment industry contracts.  Tom served a judicial internship with United States District Judge, the Honorable William M. Hoeveler of the Southern District of Florida. 

Tom has significant experience as lead attorney in court proceedings, jury trials, depositions, and various other proceedings.  He has successfully argued and won numerous motions for summary judgment and motions to dismiss with prejudice and has negotiated favorable settlements with clients in several cases in excess of 1 million.  Among his many accomplishments, Tom was part of a trial team that won a $33 million verdict against a major oil company; won 37.2 million in a major defamation suit, and was part of the litigation team that won a class action settlement against a major national HMO in excess of $24 million.  He was also part of the litigation team that succeeded in class certification of 600,000 physicians against several national HMO’s resulting in a settlement in excess of $1.01 billion on behalf of clients, and successfully defended major corporate clients in various civil actions.   

“I love the law despite its flaws because it always at least tries to do the right thing.  Ever since I was a kid I’ve felt compelled to speak out against injustice and fight for what’s right.  My job lets me do that every day and, perhaps, make the world just a little better than I found it.”

From Tom’s Case Files

Succeeding Where Others Failed:  A client came to us for bankruptcy advice after their previous law firm lost a motion for a summary judgment for $2.5 million.  I assessed the client’s legal position and came up with a new angle.  I convinced the judge to set aside the prior judgment and dismiss the case with prejudice.  As a result, I was able to save my client from a $2.5 million judgment and from bankruptcy.

Winning a Record Defamation Award:  I represented a Nicaraguan banker libeled in financial publications and newspapers by another banker who was trying to gain leverage in a contract dispute.  Despite the absence of any economic damages, I developed a novel approach to proving damage to my client’s reputation.  That resulted in a jury verdict of $37.2 million for my client – the largest defamation award in Florida history.

Saving a Home from an Unscrupulous Lender:  While attending a hearing on another matter, I overheard a case where two elderly handicapped women were being evicted from their home by an unscrupulous and predatory lender. The ladies were crying and told the judge that they couldn’t afford an attorney.  The judge said that, unfortunately, his hands were tied.  I immediately volunteered to represent the ladies pro bono and obtained a continuance.  Subsequently I found irregularities in the lender’s procedures and succeeded in defeating the lender’s motion for writ of possession.  Meanwhile, I threatened a class action and forced the lender to dismiss its case. Today the two women are still in their home.

Education

• University of Miami School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1999
• Barry University - Bachelors of Liberal Studies, summa cum laude, 1993
• Miami Dade Community College, A.S., honors, 1986

Bar Admissions & Memberships

• Florida
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit

Noteworthy

• University of Miami Law Review, Editorial Board
• C.A.L.I. Award for Legal Research and Writing
• Phi Delta Phi
• The Order of the Coif.
• Who's Who: American Law Students, 19th Edition

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Dade County Bar Association
• Dade County Defense Bar Association
• The Florida Bar, Sports and Entertainment Section

Presentations & Publications

"Take Half an Aspirin and Call Your HMO in the Morning – Medical Malpractice in Managed Care: Are HMO’s Practicing Medicine Without a License?"  University of Miami Law Review, Volume 53, No. 1, October 1998.

" Florida’s Nursing Home Reform and Its Anticipated Effect on Litigation."   Florida Bar Journal, Vol. LXXV, No. 11, December 2001, p.18

"The Golden Years – Defending Nursing Homes From Abuse."  TDF Publication, Sept. 1998; 2nd Ed. Feb. 2001

Requirement of “Unanimity” Among Defendants in Removing a Case to Federal Court, and Conflicts in the Interpreting Case Law.  Fla. Bar. Cont. Ed., Feb. 2000.

Accommodating Mental Illness Under the Fair Housing Amendments Act.  Jan. 1999.

That’s Law-Biz!? – Abusive Practices by Some Entertainment Lawyers That Have Resulted in Bad Reviews for the Whole Profession.  November 1998