The National Law Journal visits Florida

By MARGARET CRONIN FISK
NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL STAFF REPORTER

      FLORIDA IS HOME to some the most successful and prominent plaintiffs' lawyers in the United States. Several of them represented the state in its lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Four of these lawyers are on The National Law Journal's list oaf the top civil litigators in Florida.

C. Steven Yerrid
Tampa's The Yerrid Law Firm

      C. Steven Yerrid, another member of Florida's "plaintiffs' dream team," was assigned to handle the racketeering aspects of the state's claim against the tobacco industry.
      Mr. Yerrid began his career as a defense counsel at the Florida megafirm Holland & Knight L.L.P., but since then he has won two dozen verdicts of $1 million or more, including a $16 million verdict in a construction accident lawsuit; he has earned settlements of $1 million or more in approximately 50 cases. Like Messrs. Levin, Schlesinger and Montgomery, Mr. Yerrid is a member of the exclusive Inner Circle, a group of plaintiffs' attorneys that is limited to 100 member nationally.

03/99