Attorney Profile
Jonathan E. Kanov
Areas of Practice
Contact Info
Overview
Jonathan concentrates his practice of law in complex, high-exposure litigation and has litigated a wide array of professional liability and commercial cases in federal and state courts, as well as arbitration forums, throughout the country. He zealously defends professionals in tort and contract actions, including attorneys, accountants, architects, engineers, contractors, directors and officers, brokers, dealers and fiduciaries. He has extensive experience with real estate actions, defending numerous parties, including real estate agents, brokers, developers, appraisers, title and settlement agents, and lenders.
Jonathan devotes considerable time on behalf of his clients in complex commercial, contract, construction, fraud, professional negligence/malpractice, statutory violations, shareholder/member disputes, directors/officers, business tort, and whistleblower litigation, and he has tried many cases to verdict. He brings to the firm a unique combination of business and litigation skills developed during his career. This background is invaluable to his representation of various individuals, private and public companies, including Fortune 500 corporations, and non-profit entities in a broad range of matters. He is highly sought after by clients and insurance carriers for his ability to handle extremely complex and difficult matters.
Jonathan graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992, where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance. He obtained his juris doctor in 1996 from the University of Miami School of Law, graduating cum laude. Jonathan is admitted to the Bar of the state of Florida. He is also admitted to practice before the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida.
Results
Successfully defended West Palm Beach lawyer and law firm in a malpractice claim stemming from a former client who was prevented from exercising option to purchase property worth in excess of $2 million.
Won complete defense verdict and affirmative damages in high-profile federal court trial in Southern District of Florida in defense of auditors/accountants of public real estate company. Plaintiff had sought approximately $7 million in damages for alleged botched audit and improper withdrawal from engagement.
Prevailed at trial in Broward County in defense of a property management company of a tax-credit housing community in Lauderhill. Plaintiff, the corporate owner of the property, brought claims for negligence, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and statutory breaches in the management and operation of the property. The case was litigated over seven years and Plaintiff sought millions of dollars in damages. After a week of Plaintiff’s testimony, and eviscerating cross-examinations, we were successful in obtaining a directed verdict.
Won complete defense verdict in legal malpractice case in Broward County concerning defendant's representation of borrowers in a secured loan transaction.
Won a directed verdict at trial in $650,000 litigation on behalf of a national engineering firm in a professional negligence action in Miami-Dade County.
Summary judgment secured in defense of claims against real estate broker and agent for breach of fiduciary duty and negligence in $500,000 case in Broward County.
Successfully defended law firm and lawyer as plaintiffs walked away with no damages from a heavily litigated case concerning lawyer's representation of one of the parties to the sale of a nurse staffing business in Orange County, Florida.
Victorious after trial in Miami-Dade County in a will contest brought by three children of decedent with estate over $10 million alleging undue influence, breach of fiduciary duty, and lack of capacity.
Successfully defended title agent against claims brought by title insurer. Tracked down and collected the ill-gotten gains from the beneficiary of an unrecorded mortgage so that client did not have to satisfy those losses.
Counsel for a leading provider of outpatient information systems in successful $12 million federal litigation in Northern District of California regarding development of software application for radiology facilities.
Counsel for partner in South Florida real estate conglomerate in successful action to terminate partnership agreement and buy out other partners in development deal for Miami-Dade County multi-use project.
Victorious after trial against one of largest U.S. spirits distributors, alleging breach of distribution agreement, business torts and copyright infringement causes of action.
Thought Leadership
Anatomy of a Real Estate Transaction: How Actions of Participants Give Rise to Claims, Client Presentation, July, 2019
FDIC Actions Against Appraisers, 2012 - 2013
Trends in Florida Real Estate E&O Claims, 2010 – 2013
Subprime Lending Crisis and the Growing Litigation Claims Against Real Estate Professionals: Understanding How This Happened and Planning for Actionable Defense Strategies, 2008
Internet Research for Florida Legal Counsel and Staff, CLE Speaker Series, 2000-2008
Accounting Malpractice Pre- and Post Sarbanes-Oxley and When It Is Appropriate To Withdraw From A Public Audit, 2005-2006
Case Law Alerts, regular contributor, 2010-2018
"Developer Scores Big Victory in Federal Court in Miami Concerning Condo Deposit Recovery Cases," Defense Digest, Vol. 15, No. 2, June 2009
"Subprime Woes May Lead To More Regulations And Duties Placed On Mortgage Brokers," Florida Professional Liability and Ethics Law Letter, April 2008, Vol. 4, No. 4
"Ghost of 2008 Crash Still Haunts Real Estate E&O," Insurance Journal, cover story, February 8, 2016