Law Firm Overview

Scarritt Law Group was founded by Board-Certified civil trial lawyer Thomas P. Scarritt, Jr. The firm represents individuals, municipalities, and companies in all aspects of civil trial work including personal injury and wrongful death, medical negligence, product liability, insurance law, and business torts. Mr. Scarritt has handled numerous multi-million dollar cases for both plaintiff and defendant in the above areas. His record of success and commitment to excellence began in law school at the Florida State University College of Law where he graduated with honors; served on the Florida State University Law Review; was appointed Chief Justice of the Student Supreme Court; and served as a student intern to the Honorable William Stafford, U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Florida. He was awarded a Rotary Foundation International Fellowship to study law and political science at the University of Grenoble, France. He is A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell and Board-Certified in Civil Trial Law by both the Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has taught and lectured extensively on all aspects of civil trial work. Mr. Scarritt was honored to serve as President of the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), one of the most prestigious trial lawyers' organization in the country, consisting evenly of plaintiff and defense lawyers. He has served as Chairman of the Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section Executive Council, representing over 7,000 trial lawyers throughout the state. Mr. Scarritt has published numerous articles concerning all aspects of civil trial work, and has participated in civil trials and arbitrations throughout Florida and the country, including a commercial product liability arbitration that was in trial for in excess of one year in New York City.

Scarritt Law Group includes employees and staff members with numerous years of experience in the legal field, as well as fluency in both French and Spanish. The firm also offers the expertise of nurse-paralegals and business consultants on appropriate cases. Scarritt Law Group supports numerous charitable and civic organizations, particularly those affecting children.

Areas of Practice

• Catastrophic Damages Case
• Personal Injury
• Wrongful Death
• Medical Malpractice
• Civil Rights
• Premises Liability
• Products Liability
• Nursing Home Litigation

Honors and Awards

• President, Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Executive Council, 2001 - 2002

Published Works

• The Frye Hearing in Florida: An Attempt to Exclude Scientific Evidence, Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2000
• U.S. Sup. Ct. Extends Absolute Immunity to Local Legislators, The Agenda, Government Law Section, 1998
• Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities-The Telltale Signs, Pinellas County Guardianship Newsletter, 1998
• Lay and Expert Depositions, Lorman Seminar on Taking Effective Depositions, 1994-Present
• Substantive Florida Law in Premises Liability Cases, PESI Seminar on Florida Premises Liability, 1997
• Defending Damages in the Substantial Personal Injury Case, Florida Bar Seminar, 1996-Present
• Florida's Law on Apportionment of Fault, The Business of Insurance in Florida, 1995
• Pre-Trial Litigation Skills, Florida Bar Civil Trial Board Certification Seminar, 1995
• Florida's Nursing Homes - Punitive Damages for Displaying Bad Manners?, 9 Fla. B.J. 63, October, 1993
• "You the Jury", Video Premieres, The Hillsborough County Bar Association, June, 1992
• Defending the Sovereign in subsection 1983 Police Misconduct Cases: An Overview, 2 Fla.B.J. 61, February, 1992
• Domesticating a Foreign State Judgment, The Lawyer, Printed by Hillsborough County Bar Association, November, 1991
• The Practical Considerations of Applying the Seat Belt Defense to a Wrongful Death Claim, Trial Advocate Quarterly, Printed by Florida Defense Lawyers Association, July, 1990
• Florida's Seatbelt Defense Since Pasakarnis, 9 Fla.B.J. 53, October, 1989
• The Last Shot - Strict Liability for Manufacturers of Nondefective Handguns, The Advocate (Florida Trial Lawyer's Section Magazine), February, 1986
• Handbook on Discovery Practice, (Co-Editor), Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section and Conference of Circuit and County Court Judges, 1996-Present

Classes and Seminars

• Speaker, Opening Statement, Hillsborough County Young Lawyer's Division Civil Trial Practice Seminar, 2000
• Speaker, "The Application of Frye to Exclude Alcohol Evidence in Civil Cases", The American Academy of Forensic Pathologists, 1999
• Speaker, Professionalism, Florida Bar Seminar, 1998
• Speaker, Premises Liability, PESI Seminar, 1997
• Speaker, Proving and Defending Damages, Florida Bar Seminar, 1996 - Present
• Speaker, Taking Effective Depositions, Lorman Seminar, 1996 - Present
• Speaker, Civil Trial Board Certification Review, Florida Bar Seminar, 1995 - Present
• Instructor and Lecturer, Bridge-the-Gap Seminars (Intermediate and Advanced), Florida Bar Trial Advocacy School
• Lecturer, Litigation Skills, Florida State University College of Law
• Lecturer, International Law, University of South Florida
• Lecturer, Florida West Coast Claims Association
• Lecturer, Boy Scouts of America
• Lecturer, Rotary Club
• Lecturer, Lorman Business Seminars
• Lecturer, ABOTA Speaker's Forum

Pro Bono Activities

• Volunteer Attorney, Bay Area Legal Services
• Big Brothers / Big Sisters

West Practice Categories

Complex Litigation, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Defense, Premises Liability -- Defense, Property Damage -- Defense, Railroad Accidents -- Defense, Slip and Fall -- Defense, Wrongful Death -- Defense, Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff, Premises Liability -- Plaintiff, Property Damage -- Plaintiff, Railroad Accidents -- Plaintiff, Slip and Fall -- Plaintiff, Wrongful Death -- Plaintiff, Asbestos, Medical Malpractice