Ben J. Whitman

Ben is known for his ability to navigate even the most complex injury cases, earning him a reputation as a tenacious trial lawyer. Ben J. Whitman is a partner at Clark Fountain in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He focuses his nationwide practice on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving defective products, commercial trucking accidents, and other complex liability matters. Ben’s work on a particularly compelling case resulted in a record-setting settlement in excess of $86,000,000.00, which is one of the largest pre-verdict settlements arising from a single wrongful death in the country. He has also handled other cases resulting in recoveries exceeding $5,000,000.00 and $10,000,000.00 and has been involved in at least 40 cases with seven-figure results. Ben is honored when clients and co-counsel turn to him in the aftermath of catastrophic incidents that have resulted in life-altering damages. In 2024, Ben was retained within hours of the devastating Realty Tower natural gas explosion in Youngstown, Ohio, to represent the family of a man who was killed after contractors cut a gas service line they believed to be inactive, though it had not been turned off by the utility company. Although more than 50 claims, including injuries and commercial losses, arose from the incident, Ben and his team were the first to file suit. Relying on their experience with utility and explosion litigation, they facilitated a significant seven-figure settlement within 90 days of the tragedy to support the grieving family. Ben has litigated cases in more than twenty states across the country, including Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Illinois, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming. Many attorneys in Florida and throughout the United States refer cases to Ben or co-counsel with him because of his expertise in catastrophic exposure and complex liability matters. These cases frequently involve multiple parties, highly technical issues, and substantial financial resources to pursue effectively. Several of Ben’s cases have involved 50 or more depositions and multiple seven-figure cost investments to fully develop the liability and damages issues on behalf of the firm’s clients.