Biography

Christopher D. Ritchie, Esq., is a Senior Partner in the Jacksonville office. Martindale-Hubbell and his peers rated him AV® Preeminent™. For more than 25 years, his practice has been devoted exclusively to civil defense litigation throughout Florida, representing insurers, transportation companies, commercial property owners, hospitality businesses, retailers, homeowners’ associations, and corporate clients in high-exposure and complex litigation matters.

Christopher focuses his practice on premises liability, negligent security, automobile negligence, transportation and trucking litigation, insurance coverage disputes, first-party and third-party insurance claims, bad faith litigation, and property damage matters. He routinely defends catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims involving significant damages exposure, complex medical issues, and aggressive litigation strategies by plaintiffs’ counsel.

Throughout his career, Christopher has handled all phases of litigation in both state and federal courts, including pre-suit investigations, dispositive motion practice, complex written discovery, expert witness development, depositions, mediations, arbitrations, trials, and appellate matters. He is known for his thorough preparation, strategic case analysis, and practical approach to resolving difficult cases efficiently and effectively for his clients. Christopher is recognized for his practical, client-focused approach and his ability to navigate challenging litigation environments while maintaining focus on efficient and effective case resolution.

Christopher has extensive experience defending businesses and property owners in premises liability and negligent security actions involving hotels, bars, restaurants, apartment complexes, retail establishments, commercial properties, and homeowners’ associations. He also regularly handles transportation and trucking litigation involving catastrophic injuries, disputed liability, comparative fault issues, and regulatory compliance matters. In addition, Christopher's practice includes advising insurers and businesses regarding litigation exposure, risk management, claim evaluation, and early resolution strategies.

Over the course of his career, Christopher has worked extensively with nationally recognized experts in medicine, biomechanics, accident reconstruction, engineering, human factors, fire origin and cause, and vocational and economic damages. His experience includes defending claims involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, wrongful death allegations, disputed causation, and complex damages presentations. Christopher is frequently involved in matters requiring extensive motion practice, expert challenges, and sophisticated defense strategies in demanding litigation venues throughout Florida.

Christopher earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature, with a minor in Philosophy, from the University of North Florida (1994). He obtained a Juris Doctor, graduating cum laude, from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law (1998). While in law school, he served on the Board of Editors of the Nova Law Review and authored a published legal article.

Christopher is admitted in Florida (1998). He is also admitted in the United States District Court for the Northern (1998), Middle (1998), and Southern (1998) Districts of Florida, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (1998).

Practice Areas

Practice Areas

• Auto & Fleet Liability
• Excess | Wrongful Death
• Federal Practice
• General and Retail Liability
• Liquor Liability
• Negligent Security
• Premises Liability
• Product Liability
• Trucking Liability

Experience

Martindale Rating

• AV® Preeminent^TM

Awards & Honors

• Nova Law Review, Articles Editor, 1997-1998

Bar/Court Admission

• 1998, Florida.
• 1998, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
• 1998, United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
• 1998, United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
• 1998, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Education

• University of Florida, B.A., 1994.
• Nova Southeastern University, J.D., cum laude 1998

Industries Represented

Verdicts

Verdicts

Presentations

Presentations and Speaking Engagements

Publications

Articles