About C. Steven Yerrid, Author of When Justice Prevails

Steve Yerrid's successful career has spanned more than twenty-five years. In 1980, he gained international attention when he successfully defended John Lerro, captain of the Summit Venture, which crashed into Florida's Sunshine Skyway Bridge, tragically killing 35 people. Then in 1997, Mr. Yerrid again made headlines by being among 11 trial lawyers selected by the Governor to represent the State of Florida in its historic lawsuit against the cigarette industry. Undertaken on behalf of Florida taxpayers and children, the case resulted in a multi-billion dollar settlement, which was, at the time, the largest in history. During the time between these two milestones, Mr.Yerrid has successfully litigated virtually all types of civil cases.

He is the founder and president of The Yerrid Law Firm, a specialty firm concentrating in state and federal civil trial practice. Consisting solely of trial lawyers, the firm represents individuals and their families in areas ranging from personal injury, wrongful death, medical negligence, product liability, premises liability, and maritime to complex commercial litigation matters. Mr. Yerrid and the Firm have earned over 50 verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more for individuals, or families of individuals, injured or killed by the negligence of others.

A Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar, Mr.Yerrid is also certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Named one of the Top Ten Litigators in Florida by the National Law Journal in 1999, he is also a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, an "invitation only" organization consisting of the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in the country. In March 2000, Mr.Yerrid was appointed as Special Counsel to the Office of the Chief Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, and argued before the Florida Supreme Court on its behalf.

Mr.Yerrid has been selected and continuously included in the publications Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in the World, Best Lawyers in America, and Law & Leading Attorneys. Two of his final arguments have been included in the audiocassette production entitled "The AFTL Masters Series," consisting of the 24 best million-dollar final arguments of Florida's trial lawyers.

Mr.Yerrid is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. He is admitted to the Bars of the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals of the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, the United States District Courts of the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, and the State Bars of Florida, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. He is proud to be a member of the following organizations:

The Florida Bar

Civil Trial Board Certification Committee, 1988-1991

Vice Chairman, 1990-1991
Chairman, 1994-1995

Hillsborough County Bar Association (HCBA)

Outstanding Lawyer, 2003
Chairman, Judicial Liaison Committee, 1990-1991
Executive Committee, Trial Lawyers Section, 1988-1989
Young Lawyers Board of Directors, 1978-79

Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (AFTL)

Board of Directors, 1989-1997, 2000-2001
Designated Continuing Legal Education Speaker, 1982-present
Endowment for Academy Giving to Law and Education

• Founder
• Crystal EAGLE - Lifetime Award for Career Accomplishments
• 1995 Golden EAGLE Exemplary Leadership Award
• 1994 EAGLE Talon - Staff Appreciation Award
• 1990 Silver EAGLE Outstanding Leadership Award

Texas Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA)

American Bar Association (ABA) (Litigation Section)

The Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA)
Sustaining Member

American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Rank of Advocate

In addition to his exceptional legal career, Mr.Yerrid is an active participant and significant contributor to a number of charitable organizations, both local and national. Mr. Yerrid is Chairman of the Board of The Yerrid Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses primarily on child-oriented causes. By proclamation by the mayor of the City of Tampa, Mr.Yerrid and The Yerrid Foundation, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation, spearhead Tampa Fights Cancer Week, a weeklong event that brings together virtually every cancer organization in the area for the purpose of promoting cancer awareness in Tampa Bay. The Yerrid Foundation is frequently the title sponsor of numerous events for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Children's Cancer Center, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Through the Foundation, Mr.Yerrid is an active wish-maker for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He has been honored to receive the Children's Cancer Center Kite Award, the Ronald McDonald Friends Award, and the American Cancer Association Excalibur Award, as well as numerous other awards and acknowledgements.

In 1990, he served as Special Counsel to the President, United Way of America, Washington, D.C. Additionally, Mr.Yerrid served as a Patron and past Chairman of the Gentlemen's Committee of the Children's Home, one of Tampa's leading charitable organizations dedicated to abused and neglected children. He is proud to be a recipient of the Ted Williams Award for Champions of Charity, an honor bestowed personally by Mr. Williams on behalf of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation recognizing his exceptional commitment to suffering children.

He has been a member of The Cousteau Society since 1987, an international organization dedicated to protecting our marine resources for future generations. In conjunction with the 2000 Olympic Games, he served as Chairman of the non-profit task force organized to promote the Americas' Boxing Qualifier, a qualifying event in which 160 athletes from more than 20 countries competed for a place in the Sydney Olympics.

Currently, Mr.Yerrid serves on the Board of Directors for the Children's Cancer Center, a non-profit organization that provides programs and services for pediatric oncology patients and their families. Several years ago The Steve Yerrid Kid's Fishing Derby was created by the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, an organization providing essential research in efforts to find treatments and a cure for pediatric cancer, to honor Mr.Yerrid and his commitment to further those efforts. The event brings 100 children from the local hospital wards, as well as those being treated at outpatient clinics, to the waterfront for a day of fishing with celebrities, professional guides, and media personalities. Mr.Yerrid considers the enjoyment provided to these children to be one of his greatest accomplishments.

Mr.Yerrid lives in Tampa, Florida, with his family.

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