Stuart J. Freeman | Attorney

Since 1992, Stuart has been Board Certified as a Civil Trial Lawyer by
the Florida Bar. Certification is the highest level of recognition by
the Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the
areas of law approved for Certification by the Supreme Court of Florida.
Approximately 4,000 of Florida's 76,000 lawyers are board certified. In
1994, he was also certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National
Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA). NBTA certification is a credential above
and beyond a license to practice law. Lawyers certified by the NBTA
posses an enhanced level of skill and expertise in trial advocacy and
have demonstrated integrity and dedication to the interests of their
clients. Stuart has also been awarded an AV rating, the highest rating
for both legal ability and ethical standards, by Martindale-Hubbell, a
nationally recognized authoritative source on the legal profession.

Stuart is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates
(ABOTA). His member status is that of an "advocate" which status is
based on the number of jury trials he has tried. Membership in ABOTA is
extended by invitation only in recognition of an individual's high
personal character, honorable reputation and proficiency as a trial
lawyer. Members generally are considered the nation's elite litigation
practitioners, and must meet standards for number of years of practice
and number of cases tried to conclusion.

In 2009, Stuart was again selected to be a Florida Super Lawyer by his
peers in the legal community. Super Lawyers are nominated annually in
each participating state or region by all active lawyers who have been
in practice for five years or more. These lawyers were invited to select
the best lawyers they've personally observed in action. Only five
percent of the state's attorneys were selected as Florida Super Lawyers
this year. Stuart was previously awarded this distinction in 2007 and
2008.

Stuart is a member of the adjunct faculty of Stetson University College
of Law where he teaches Trial Advocacy, a course wherein the techniques
involved in the trial of cases are taught, and then practiced, by the
students. Stetson has been consistently ranked by U.S. News & World
Reports among the top law schools in the nation for Trial Advocacy.

Stuart is a member of the Defense Research Institute, Inc., with an
additional membership in the Trial Tactics Committee. He is also a
member of the Florida and American Bar Associations, with additional
memberships in the Trial Lawyer and Tort/Insurance Sections,
respectively. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of
Florida, the United States District Court for Middle District of
Florida, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit,
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and the United States Court of
Federal Claims, Washington, D.C.

Before joining this firm, Stuart was an Assistant Public Defender in St.
Petersburg, Florida, from 1977 until 1981, during which time he tried in
excess of 50 felony jury trials. Stuart then joined Nationwide Insurance
Company, in 1981, as Staff Counsel serving the Tampa Bay Area.

In 1983, he came to this firm and has been actively representing our
clients through trial in both State and Federal Courts. Stuart has
handled a wide variety of cases including serious personal injury and
wrongful death, premises liability, construction defects involving
multi-million dollar projects, condominium liability, insurance
coverage, toxic torts including silica and asbestos, and products
liability cases. During that time, Stuart has also personally
represented the interests of our clients by handling their cases in the
Florida appellate courts.

Stuart is well respected in the legal profession by both his colleagues
as well as by his adversaries. If you retain him, you can be assured
that your case will be handled aggressively and in a most professional
manner.


Representative Cases


Allstate Indemnity Company v. Wise , 818 So.2d 524 (Fla. 2d DCA 2001),
rev. denied, 817 So.2d 844 (Fla. 2002) (Automobile insurance coverage
case involving the "intentional acts" exclusion)

Furman's Inc. v. Cameron , 816 So.2d 1265 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002) (discovery
case based on "work product privilege")

Essex Builders Group, Inc v. Amerisure Ins. Co., 485 F. Supp. 2d 1302
(M.D.Fla 2006) (Construction coverage case involving issues of "trigger
of coverage" and "consequential damages" under a Comprehensive General
Liability policy. This firm represented PGIC)


Bar Admissions


State of Florida, 1977
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1978
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, 1977
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, 1981
U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1990


Education


Stetson University College of Law, Gulfport, Florida, 1977, J.D.
The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, 1973,
B.A. Political Science


Personal Information


Born on July 25, 1952 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Married in 1979 to Carol with two adult children