Joseph H. Lang Jr.

Joseph Lang has extensive experience representing clients before and at trial on legal issues, motions practice, preservation of error, and jury instructions, and then throughout the appellate process.

At trial, Joseph has represented clients in automotive, insurance, medical device, negligence, and smoking and health cases. In doing so, he has attended and provided counsel on legal issues throughout entire jury trials in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Pensacola, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Tampa, and West Palm Beach. In addition, on a multitude of occasions he has attended trials in a more limited role to argue specific legal motions, such as directed verdicts or post-trial filings, or to handle jury instructions conferences on specific days. 

On appeal, Joseph has briefed and argued cases for automotive, banking, liability insurance, maritime insurance, title insurance, nonprofit housing, and real estate development clients, among others. He has briefed and argued appeals in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Florida Supreme Court, and all six Florida District Courts of Appeal. He has been involved in more than  100 docketed matters in the Florida Supreme Court. Nationally, Joseph has handled cases in the Third, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Joseph also has significant experience in extraordinary writs practice, amicus curiae briefing, jurisdictional briefing, constitutional litigation, class action defense, punitive damages defense, and post-trial issues such as stays and supersedeas bonding.

Joseph is an elected member of the American Law Institute and a former chair of the Florida Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases. He is board certified in appellate practice by the Florida Bar. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ben F. Overton of the Florida Supreme Court.

• Nolen v. Fairshare Vacation Owners Ass'n, No. 22-11128, 2023 WL 5622595 (11th Cir. Aug. 31, 2023). Class action practice; Trust Code litigation.
• W P Auto Sales, Inc. v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 363 So. 3d 1077 (Fla. 6th DCA 2023). Construction lien litigation.
• EHC, Inc. v. KB Home Tampa LLC, 335 So. 3d 1193 (Fla. 2d DCA 2022). Construction contract litigation.
• Pincus v. American Traffic Solutions, Inc., 25 F. 4th 1339 (11th Cir. 2022). Class action practice; statutory interpretation; unjust enrichment.
• Pincus v. American Traffic Solutions, Inc., 333 So. 3d 841 (Fla. 2022). Class action practice; statutory interpretation; unjust enrichment.
• KB Home Fort Myers LLC v. Taishan Gypsum Co., 336 So. 3d 841 (Fla. 2d DCA 2022). Post-judgment motions to vacate; Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.540.
• Jockey Club III Ass’n, Inc. v. Apeiron Miami, LLC, 306 So. 3d 185 (Fla. 3d DCA 2020). Real property development and maintenance issues related to the Jockey Club development in Miami.
• Doss v. General Mills, Inc., 816 F. App’x. 312 (11th Cir. 2020). Class action practice. Article III standing.
• Lifsey Real Estate & Holdings, Inc. v. Starwood Capital Grp., L.P., 295 So. 3d 765 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020). Personal jurisdiction.
• Hillcrest Country Club Ltd. P’ship v. Zyscovich, Inc., 288 So. 3d 1265 (Fla. 4th DCA 2020). Contract interpretation issues related to an architectural services contract.
• BP Expl. & Prod., Inc. v. Claimant ID 100204031, 765 F. App'x 98 (5th Cir. 2019). Deepwater Horizon class action settlement issues.
• Markland v. Insys Therapeutics, Inc., 758 F. App’x 777 (11th Cir. 2018). Federal preemption.
• Shuker v. Smith & Nephew, PLC, 885 F.3d 760 (3d Cir. 2018). Federal preemption.
• United States v. HPC Healthcare, Inc., 723 F. App’x 783 (11th Cir. 2018). False Claims Act pleading standard.
• Simmons Foods, Inc. v. Indus. Risk Insurers, 863 F.3d 792 (8th Cir. 2017). Contractual limitations provisions. Prejudgment interest.
• Platypus Wear, Inc. v. Horizonte LTDA, 693 F. App'x 843 (11th Cir.  2017); Platypus Wear, Inc. v. Horizonte LTDA, 558 F. App'x 929 (11th Cir. 2014). Availability of prospective equitable relief.
• Mink v. Smith & Nephew, Inc., 860 F.3d 1319 (11th Cir. 2017). Federal preemption.
• Wells Fargo Equip. Fin., Inc. v. Bacjet, LLC, 221 So. 3d 671 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017). Personal jurisdiction.
• City of Largo v. AHF-Bay Fund, LLC, 215 So. 3d 10 (Fla. 2017); AHF-Bay Fund, LLC v. City of Largo, 169 So. 3d 133 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015). Issues related to PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) agreements.
• City of Aventura v. Jimenez, 211 So. 3d 158 (Fla. 3d DCA 2016). Amici brief in support of Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act and efficacy of using cameras to enforce traffic lights.
• Enclave at Citrus Park Homeowners Ass’n, Inc. v. Beazer Homes, Inc., 194 So. 2d 1028 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016). Defense against second-tier certiorari petition involving issues related to section 125.022, Florida Statutes.
• Uhlfelder v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 193 So. 2d 891 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016). Defense of final judgment of foreclosure.
• Alley v. City of Tampa, 183 So. 3d 355 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015). Defense of certiorari challenges to municipal land use decisions.
• Teva Pharm. Indus. v. Ruiz, 181 So. 3d 513 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015). Personal Jurisdiction.
• Higgins v. Commonwealth Land Title Ins. Co., 172 So. 3d 888 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015). Class action practice. Title insurance reissue rates.
• Krauss v. PNC Bank, N.A., 174 So. 3d 1004 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015). Deficiency judgments.
• Ethos Dev., LLC v. JKF Enters., LLC, 160 So. 3d 423 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015). Certiorari; Severance and abatement issues.
• Alberton v. Commonwealth Land Title Ins. Co., No. 14-8072 (3d Cir. June 11, 2014). Opposing Rule 23(f) petition.
• Layton v. Smithkline Beecham Corp., 137 So. 3d 384 (Fla. 2d DCA 2014). Manufacturing defect and causation allegations.
• Adams Homes of Nw. Fla., Inc. v. KB Home Fort Myers, LLC, 145 So. 3d 103 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013). Specific performance.
• US Bank, N.A. v. Marion, 122 So. 3d 398 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013). Verification issues under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.110(b).
• Farkas v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, 518 F. App'x 178 (4th Cir. 2013).
• Laschober v. Ford Motor Co., 88 So. 3d 943 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012). Warranty and FDUTPA issues.
• Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. v. McGowan, 83 So. 2d 713 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012). Manufacturing defect and causation issues.
• Miller v. Kemmons Wilson, Inc., 104 So. 3d 1098 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012). Venue.
• State Nat'l Ins. Co. v. NCO Fin. Sys., Inc., No. 11-10772 (11th Cir. Oct. 11, 2011). Order enforcing settlement agreement.
• Cherry v. D.B. Zwirn Special Opportunities Fund, L.P., 433 F. App'x 870 (11th Cir. 2011). Class action/derivative action issues.
• Wolicki-Gables v. Arrow Int'l, Inc., 634 F.3d 1296 (11th Cir. 2011). Federal preemption.
• Kemmons Wilson, Inc. v. Miller, 52 So. 3d 667 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011). Personal jurisdiction.
• Goldberg v. Merrill Lynch Credit Corp., 35 So. 2d 905 (Fla. 2010). Exclusive jurisdiction and unlicensed-practice-of-law issues.
• Cramer v. Ford Motor Co., 49 So. 3d 241 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010). Class certification issues.
• Testa v. S. Escrow &Title, LLC, 36 So. 3d 713 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010). Title insurance policy issues.
• Coventry First LLC v. Office of Ins. Regulation, 30 So. 3d 552 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010). Retroactive application of statutes. Mootness.
• Brisson v. Ford Motor Co., 349 F. App'x 433 (11th Cir. 2009). Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act express and implied warranty claims.
• In re James Hoving, No. 09-0103 (6th Cir. July 29, 2009). Opposing Rule 23(f) petition.
• Lake v. Tenneco, Inc., 319 F. App'x 769 (11th Cir. 2009). Product liability, duty to warn, open and obvious dangers.
• Transamerica Leasing, Inc. v. Inst. of London Underwriters, 430 F.3d 1326 (11th Cir. 2005). English law and practice, law of the case, mandate rule, and judicial estoppel issues.

• Board Certified in Appellate Practice by the Florida Bar
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• John R. Hamilton Pro Bono Award, The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section (2019)
• The Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice (2016–2024)
• Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2009–2023)
• Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine (2007–2011, 2013)

• American Bar Association 
  • Litigation Section
• American Bar Foundation
  • Life Fellow (2019–present)
• American Law Institute
  • Elected Member
  • Adviser, Restatement (Third) of Torts: Defamation and Privacy
• The Florida Bar
  • Appellate Practice Section
• Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Historical Society
• Florida Supreme Court
  • Standard Jury Instructions Committee — Civil Cases (2003–2015)
    • Chair (2014–2015)
    • Vice Chair (2011–2013) 
    • Reporter (2000–2003)
• Florida Supreme Court Historical Society 
  • Board of Trustees (2010–present)
  • Chair, Publications Subcommittee (2023–present)

• "Florida Bar Rules on Advertising," Legal Marketing Association (April 2013)
• "Navigating Class Action Appeals," Eleventh Circuit Appellate Practice Institute (February 2013)
• "Anatomy of an Appeal: Persuasion," ABA Young Lawyers Division Spring Conference (May 2009)

• Author of numerous briefs and petitions seeking capital post-conviction relief in the state and federal appellate courts for client William H. Kelley (2007–present).
• Kelley v. State; Kelley v. McNeil, 3 So. 3d 970 (Fla. 2009).
• State of Florida v. Erick Richardson, 915 So. 2d 86 (Fla. 2005). Habitual felony offender sentencing issues.
• Colwell v. Head, No. 2001-V-847 (Ga. Super. Ct. 2001). Capital post-conviction relief.
• Jones v. State, 740 So. 2d 520 (Fla. 1999). Capital post-conviction relief; competency to stand trial.