Raymond Watts

Raymond Watts

Raymond E. Watts, Jr., joined Wicker Smith in 1992 and is a partner in the Orlando office. For over 30 years, Mr. Watts has actively litigated a wide variety of general civil litigation in both the state and federal courts. He represents clients in the defense of professional malpractice, wrongful death, products liability, premises liability, automobile/trucking negligence, construction and long-term care claims.

Mr. Watts has served as part of national trial counsel teams litigating nursing home and assisted living facility cases across the country for several clients. He has tried about two dozen such claims in 10 states, and prepared and appeared in countless others across the country. In addition, he has arbitrated more than a dozen long term care cases and served as an arbitrator for an equal number.

Ray has earned a number of honors and distinctions including an AV® Preeminent™ rating by Martindale-Hubbell, inclusion in listing of Orlando’s Top Lawyers, and selection to join the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), a premier invitation only trial lawyer’s organization.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 from the University of Florida and went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from Mercer University in 1989. He is a member of The Florida Bar, State Bar of Arizona, Florida Defense Lawyer’s Association, Orange County Bar Association, and Defense Research Institute. Mr. Watts has lectured at state and national conferences, sharing his best practices in the defense of various claims.

• The Florida Bar
• State Bar of Arizona
• Orange County Bar Association
• Florida Defense Lawyer’s Association
• Defense Research Institute
• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

• US Army Reserve 1986-1992

• Risk Management in the Nursing Home, Florida Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting (July 30, 2016)
• Trends in Insurance Coverage for Construction Claims, Wicker Smith Claims Seminar, Orlando, FL (May 20, 2016)
• Defending the Hospital Negligent Credentialing Claim, Wicker Smith Claims Seminar, Orlando, FL (May 20, 2016)
• Beware of the Reptile: A No Longer Rare Deposition Trend, Florida Health Care Association Annual Conference & Trade Show, Orlando, FL (July 8, 2014)
• The Use of Social Media as an Investigative Tool, Crittenden Medical Insurance Conference, San Diego, CA (April 1, 2014)
• Turning Today’s LTC Documentation into Tomorrow’s Liability Claim Defense, Florida Health Care Association Annual Conference & Trade Show, Hollywood, FL (August 6, 2013)
• Medical Malpractice II – 10 Minute Drill, Wicker Smith Claims Seminar, Orlando, FL (June 7, 2013)
• Arbitration Agreements, Wicker Smith Claims Seminar, Orlando, FL (June 8, 2012)
• Preservation of Evidence in Claims Investigation, Wicker Smith Claims Seminar, Orlando, FL (June 10, 2011)
• Defending Catastrophic Injury Cases, Wicker Smith Claims Seminar, Orlando, FL (June 11, 2010)
• The New and Improved Long-Term Care Outlook, 8th Annual Medical Professional Liability Symposium (March 11 – 12, 2008)