Overview
Jaret Fuente represents businesses and professionals in commercial disputes, class actions, and tort litigation in the construction, development, health care, insurance, product manufacturing, and real estate industries.
Jaret represents product manufacturers in the automotive, aviation, chemical, medical device, pharmaceutical, recreational product, and sporting goods sectors in connection with consumer fraud, crashworthiness, design and manufacturing defect, and warranty claims. Jaret has also represented an automotive manufacturer in a series of class actions involving deceptive and unfair trade practices claims arising from alleged product defects. He has extensive experience handling personal injury and wrongful death matters ranging from premises liability and negligent security to benzene exposure.
Jaret represents builders, contractors, and developers in breach of contract, construction defect, mold, and building product-related claims. He represented homebuilders involved in the Chinese drywall product liability multidistrict litigation proceeding in Louisiana.
Jaret has experience in all phases of litigation, including early case assessments and resolutions, class certification determination, binding arbitration, and trial.
Jaret is certified as a circuit civil mediator by the Florida Supreme Court. He is also certified as a mediator by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Experience
Defended aircraft manufacturer in product liability litigation in state and federal courts arising from fatal crashes in general aviation.
Represented homebuilders in individual and class actions and in multidistrict litigation proceedings involving Chinese drywall.
Represented contractors, homebuilders, and residential property lessors in construction defect litigation, including litigation arising from mold.
Represented prescription drug manufacturers in individual and mass tort actions involving personal injury and wrongful death claims.
Represented medical device manufacturers in individual and mass tort actions involving hip and knee implants.
Represented automotive manufacturer in class actions arising from consumer fraud and warranty claims, and defeated class certification.
Represented automotive manufacturers in personal injury and wrongful death actions arising from crashworthiness claims.
Represented a chemical product manufacturer in personal injury and wrongful death actions arising from exposure to trace benzene.
Representative Decisions
Obtained a decision affirming, per curiam, summary judgment on individual Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act claim where plaintiff lacked expert proof of design defect, after denial of class certification. Laschober v. Ford Motor Co., 88 So. 3d 943 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012).
Obtained an order granting partial summary judgment on individual claims for express warranty and injunctive relief under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, after denial of class certification. Cramer v. Ford Motor Co., No. 2007-CA-2135-NC, 2010 WL 3337647 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Aug. 25, 2010).
Obtained a decision affirming denial of plaintiffs' motion for class certification as to claim for violation of Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Cramer v. Ford Motor Co., 49 So. 3d 241 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010).
Holding that CAFA jurisdiction existed at time of removal, that denial of class certification did not divest court of CAFA jurisdiction, and denying plaintiffs' renewed motion to remand in Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law claim. Lewis v. Ford Motor Co., 685 F. Supp. 2d 557 (W.D. Pa. 2010).
Obtained an order denying plaintiffs' motion for class certification as to claim for violation of Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. Lewis v. Ford Motor Co., 263 F.R.D. 252 (W.D. Pa. 2009).
Obtained an order denying plaintiffs' motion to exclude defense expert in consumer class action under the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. Lewis v. Ford Motor Co., No. 2:09-cv-00164, 2009 WL 2355744 (W.D. Pa. July 30, 2009).
Obtained an order dismissing consumer class action against vehicle manufacturer for breach of express and implied warranties. Brisson v. Ford Motor Co., 602 F. Supp. 2d 1227 (M.D. Fla. 2009).
Obtained an order granting summary judgment in favor of air rifle manufacturer on design defect and failure to warn claims. Marzullo v. Crosman Corp., 289 F. Supp. 2d 1337 (M.D. Fla. 2003).
Obtained an order granting summary judgment in favor of physician on section 1983 claims. Palermo v. Correctional Medical Services, Inc., 148 F. Supp. 2d 1340 (S.D. Fla. 2001).
Obtained an order granting partial summary judgment in favor of physician on section 1983 claims. Palermo v. Correctional Medical Services, Inc., 133 F. Supp. 2d 1348 (S.D. Fla. 2001).
News & Insights
News
Publications
Recognition
Honors & Recognitions
The Best Lawyers in America (2020–2027); Tampa "Lawyer of the Year," Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2022, 2025)
Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2012–2023)
Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend (2007, 2011, 2017)
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology.
Professional & Community Involvement
Professional & Community Involvement
Jaret is involved in bar and defense organizations at both the local and national levels. He is a master of the Ferguson-White American Inn of Court, where he previously served on the board of directors. He also serves on the board of directors of the Hillsborough County Bar Association's Trial and Litigation Section. Jaret is co-editor of DRI's Building Blocks newsletter and is active in DRI's aviation, commercial litigation, construction, drug and medical device, and product liability committees and specialized litigation groups.
Jaret is also a member of the American Bar Association's Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section and Litigation Section, the Federal Bar Association, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the International Association of Defense Counsel, and the Florida Defense Lawyers Association. At the Florida Bar, he is a member of the Trial Lawyers Section and the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section's Construction Law Committee. He previously served on the bar's Civil Procedure Rules Committee and Thirteenth Circuit Grievance Committee "F."
In the community, Jaret is a graduate of Leadership Tampa and of Tampa Connection, where he later served on the board of directors. He previously served on the leadership council of the American Diabetes Association and the board of directors of the Florida State University College of Law Alumni Association.
Related Capabilities
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
Certifications
Certified Mediator
Education
J.D., Florida State University College of Law
B.S., Florida State University
