Henry Burnett
SHAREHOLDER
Miami
305.789.9206
hburnett@fowler-white.com
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With a career that has spanned nearly 60 years, Henry Burnett, shareholder and founding partner of Fowler White Burnett, is well-known as a distinguished attorney in South Florida’s legal community. Currently the firm’s general counsel, Mr. Burnett was the third lawyer to join the firm’s Miami office in 1950.
Mr. Burnett devoted his litigation practice to insurance defense, with a specific emphasis on medical malpractice. For many years, he served as lead counsel to a major South Florida medical school. Today, he continues to advise the Medical Malpractice Group on legal issues surrounding active cases for the same medical school.
Mr. Burnett also successfully litigated claims relating to professional liability, personal injury, wrongful death, products liability and premises liability before state and federal courts. Among his more noteworthy matters, Mr. Burnett handled a precedent-setting Florida Supreme Court case, Nardone v. Reynolds, which involved important policy questions concerning Florida's "discovery rule" and the meaning of the term "injury" as it affects commencement of the limitations period.
One of only 189 attorneys welcomed into the Florida Bar’s 50-Year Member list, Mr. Burnett’s contribution to the legal community is significant. Mr. Burnett helped establish the foundations of both the Dade County Defense Bar Association and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association. He served as the first president to the FDLA in 1966 and the second president to the DCDBA in 1967. He also served as president to the International Association of Defense Counsel in 1976.
The Florida Defense Lawyer’s Association recognized Mr. Burnett’s achievements, in June 2006, by establishing the Henry Burnett Trial Advocacy Award at Stetson University College of Law. The award is in recognition of the “indelible impression made by Mr. Burnett on the defense practice throughout the State of Florida.”
Professional & Civic Involvement
International Association of Defense Counsel
American Bar Association
American College of Trial Lawyers
Florida Defense Lawyers Association
Dade County Bar Association
Dade County Defense Bar Association
University of Miami Citizens Board
Children’s Home Society of Florida