 Jaime Baca Office: Miami Direct: (305) 461-8725 jbaca@wickersmith.com Practice Areas: Admitted to Practice:
Managua, Nicaragua |
Jaime BacaBiographyJaime J. Baca is a Shareholder in the firm’s Miami office. He focuses his practice on the defense of personal injury claims, with extensive experience in the areas of premises liability, general liability, negligent security, and automobile and trucking negligence. He represents many of the firm’s largest clients in cases that arise from injuries in a variety of settings including condominiums, warehouses, construction sites, retail establishments, and parking garages. He also handles a significant number of car and trucking accidents. Jaime obtained his General Lines Insurance Agent license at the age of 18, and worked for several years as a commercial and personal lines insurance broker, underwriter and claims adjuster, before attending law school. He graduated cum laude from St. Thomas University School of Law in 1997, and upon admission to the bar, he spent 15 years at another insurance defense firm, where he was a senior partner managing a team of trial lawyers. He joined Wicker Smith in 2015. In addition to his insurance license, Jaime holds a Masters of Science in Finance and a Chartered Property and Casualty (CPCU) designation. Jaime is an extremely successful trial lawyer, having tried over 160 cases in South Florida for individuals, insurance companies and business clients throughout his career. He has an exemplary record in Miami-Dade County, a venue that is historically not favorable to civil litigation defendants. His in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry makes Jaime particularly adept at understanding the medical billing practices that are commonly used in personal injury litigation, and he regularly prevails in cases with high potential damages, such as spinal and traumatic brain injuries. In late 2023, Jaime and his team secured a complete defense verdict in a $15 million admitted liability auto negligence trial, and in early 2024 they did the same in a car accident trial involving an alleged traumatic brain injury in a second grader wherein opposing counsel asked the jury for $26 million. Throughout all phases of litigation, from discovery to developing a trial strategy, Jaime’s thoughtful, measured approach and sharp eye for small details makes all the difference. He is respected by his peers and by the judiciary for his collegiality and professionalism, and his clients appreciate his confidence and thorough knowledge of the law. In addition to his trial work, Jaime also handles umbrella and excess coverage matters for a variety of clients. He regularly provides continuing education lectures to his clients on topics such as ethics, rapid response, use of experts, and successfully defending cases involving Letters of Protection. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbel, and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Professional & Civic Affiliations |
Jaime Baca - Partner
Profile
Jaime J. Baca is a Shareholder in the firm’s Miami office. He focuses his practice on the defense of personal injury claims, with extensive experience in the areas of premises liability, general liability, negligent security, and automobile and trucking negligence. He represents many of the firm’s largest clients in cases that arise from injuries in a variety of settings including condominiums, warehouses, construction sites, retail establishments, and parking garages. He also handles a significant number of car and trucking accidents.
Jaime obtained his General Lines Insurance Agent license at the age of 18, and worked for several years as a commercial and personal lines insurance broker, underwriter and claims adjuster, before attending law school. He graduated cum laude from St. Thomas University School of Law in 1997, and upon admission to the bar, he spent 15 years at another insurance defense firm, where he was a senior partner managing a team of trial lawyers. He joined Wicker Smith in 2015.
In addition to his insurance license, Jaime holds a Masters of Science in Finance and a Chartered Property and Casualty (CPCU) designation.
Jaime is an extremely successful trial lawyer, having tried over 160 cases in South Florida for individuals, insurance companies and business clients throughout his career. He has an exemplary record in Miami-Dade County, a venue that is historically not favorable to civil litigation defendants. His in-depth knowledge of the insurance industry makes Jaime particularly adept at understanding the medical billing practices that are commonly used in personal injury litigation, and he regularly prevails in cases with high potential damages, such as spinal and traumatic brain injuries. In late 2023, Jaime and his team secured a complete defense verdict in a $15 million admitted liability auto negligence trial, and in early 2024 they did the same in a car accident trial involving an alleged traumatic brain injury in a second grader wherein opposing counsel asked the jury for $26 million.
Throughout all phases of litigation, from discovery to developing a trial strategy, Jaime’s thoughtful, measured approach and sharp eye for small details makes all the difference. He is respected by his peers and by the judiciary for his collegiality and professionalism, and his clients appreciate his confidence and thorough knowledge of the law.
In addition to his trial work, Jaime also handles umbrella and excess coverage matters for a variety of clients. He regularly provides continuing education lectures to his clients on topics such as ethics, rapid response, use of experts, and successfully defending cases involving Letters of Protection. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbel, and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
vCard
Credentials
Education
- Florida International University (B.A., 1992)
- Florida International University (M.S.F., 1993)
- St. Thomas University (J.D., cum laude, 1997)
Representative Matters
Defense Verdict in Federal Court
Plaintiff alleged that she slipped and fall on water inside a national warehouse grocery chain, causing her to undergo injections, facet blocks and a low back Rizotomy. Plaintiff asked for $400k in damages, but the jury returned a defense verdict. The case was tried in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Directed Verdict Granted After Trial
We represented a national warehouse grocery chain in this case, that was tried in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Initially, the Plaintiff received a jury award in the amount of $155,000. Post-trial, we filed a Renewed Motion for Directed Verdict on causation. The Judge agreed, granting the motion entering a judgment in favor of our client, resulting in a defense verdict.
$1.175 Million Defense Verdict on Behalf of a Retail Grocery Chain
Plaintiff alleged to have incurred five different herniated disks from a forward fall on her knee and arm, ultimately undergoing a 2-level lumbar fusion, several injections, and a right shoulder arthroscopy. Plaintiff had $280,000 in past medical bills. Both liability and causation were contested. Plaintiff demanded $1.175 million, but the jury returned a complete defense verdict.
Excellent Outcome in a Case With Admitted Causation and Liability
This was a rear-end collision case where liability and causation were both admitted. Plaintiff was 36 years old with a confirmed pars fracture of his L4-5, a lumbar herniation and multiple cervical herniations, with no prior complaints or injuries. He underwent a lumbar fusion and was recommended a cervical fusion at two levels. The medical bills were over $300,000 with another $150,000 in future medicals. Plaintiff asked the jury for $1.9 million dollars. The jury returned a verdict of $25,000, which was further reduced after set-offs.
Nuclear Verdict Avoided in Slip and Fall Case at Grocery Store
Plaintiff fell in the restroom inside a well-known regional grocery chain. Plaintiff was 56 years old at the time and had a prosthetic leg. He claimed there was water and paper at the entrance of the stall. He also claimed a store employee had just come out of the stall, arguing that the store had actual notice of the dangerous condition. He went on to have a 3-level cervical disc replacement and a 2-level lumbar fusion. His medical bills exceeded $800k. At trial, Plaintiff asked for over $20 million in damages, but the jury returned a verdict of no liability.
Jury Returns a Verdict of No Liability After Plaintiff Asks for $4.4 Million
This was a case that was aggressively pursued by Plaintiff’s counsel and a demand below the $1 million policy limits was never made. The carrier offered $250k prior to trial and was willing to offer up to $500k to resolve the case. Plaintiff had $198k in past medicals and a life care plan for future damages. Plaintiff asked the jury for $4.4 million. The defense argued that our driver did nothing wrong and that the Plaintiff’s injuries were pre-existing, and that they should only award $11k if they thought our driver was liable. The jury returned a verdict of no liability.
Favorable Verdict: Miami-Dade County, Florida (Auto Negligence)
Practices
Education
- Florida International University (B.A., 1992)
- Florida International University (M.S.F., 1993)
- St. Thomas University (J.D., cum laude, 1997)
Credentials
Admitted to Bar
- 1997, Florida
- 2000, U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida
- 2014, U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
Languages
Spanish
