 |
 |
Stuart J. Freeman
St. Petersburg, Florida
Partner
| Phone: | (727) 327-2258 (813) 224-0430 (Tampa) |
| Fax: | (727) 328-1340 |
| Email: | sjfreeman@brasfieldlaw.net |
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.
Stuart and his firm are members of the Council on Litigation Management (CLM), a nonpartisan alliance of law firms, insurance companies, and corporations whose goals include the promoting and furthering of the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense. Attorneys and law firms are nominated to the CLM based upon reputation and may become members by invitation only.
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
