Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe

Directors : R. Troy Smith, Michael E. Lockamy, O. David Barksdale, Brian T. Coughlin, Lidija Barauskas

Number of lawyers : 10

Firm Overview:

As the oldest law firm in continuous existence in the State of Florida, Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe carries on its tradition of litigation excellence, both in state and federal courts. Founded in 1865, Bedell has distinguished itself both in the courtroom and as a leader in The Florida Bar.

The firm maintains a size that allows it to efficiently handle the most complicated civil, criminal, and family law cases. The attorneys of the firm continue to be listed in every annual list of notable lawyers in local, state, and national rankings, including The Best Lawyers in America, Best Law Firms, Chambers USA, Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, and Florida’s Super Lawyers.

Notable Engagements & Featured Experience :

Civil Litigation

Bedell represents businesses, corporations, governments, non-profits, and individuals in a variety of matters in state and federal courts, including appellate proceedings, as well as in arbitrations and administrative hearings. In addition to trial matters, our attorneys handle mediation, settlement conferences, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

The firm’s experience spans a broad range of matters involving business disputes, shareholder disputes, torts, commercial litigation, and insurance coverage disputes, to name a few. These matters have included class actions, multidistrict litigation, and “bet-the-company” matters.

• Lead counsel for Florida mining companies in an appeal to set aside summary judgment and injunction preventing limestone mining in the Lake Belt area of wetlands in Miami-Dade County.
• Counsel for minority shareholder in closely held corporation in action against officers and directors for misuse of corporate funds and waste. The firm helped obtain a judgment against the corporation for $129 million, which was affirmed on appeal.
• Counsel for five Florida law firms that represented the State of Florida in tobacco litigation in their dispute with private counsel in other states over entitlement to four annual payments of $125 million as part of an attorneys’ fee settlement agreement.
• Counsel for three Justices of Florida Supreme Court in action to remove their names from merit retention election ballot based on alleged violation of certain qualification statutes.
• Counsel for state university defending claims of breach of contract, public records violations, and defamation, among others.
• Represented corporation in class action brought by local firefighters claiming entitlement to overtime pay.
• Represented coal-fired generating facility in claim that it had been deprived of incentives under access agreement. The firm obtained a judgment of $18 million for the client.
• Local counsel in patent litigation alleging infringement of patents related to the methods, systems, and apparatuses used to convert electromagnetic signals from higher frequencies to lower frequencies in computer chips.

Criminal Defense

Our criminal defense team includes Florida Bar Board Certified criminal trial attorneys, former prosecutors, and a past president of The Florida Bar. The firm has had many high profile cases including those involving public officials, prominent athletes, business people, lawyers, doctors, and professionals.

• Federal investigations, indictments, and trials
• Corporate investigations
• All state criminal matters, including those involving juveniles

Appellate Litigation

Bedell has represented businesses and individuals before both state and federal appellate courts, including the Florida District Courts of Appeal, the Florida Supreme Court, the U.S Courts of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court. The firm has substantial experience in appellate advocacy and counts former federal appellate judicial clerks among its ranks. Bedell attorneys’ appellate experience ranges from criminal cases to commercial and employment disputes.

• Counsel for a large financial institution in an appeal challenging the dismissal of claims for breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, and deceptive and unfair trade practices.
• Counsel for the defendants in appellate proceedings stemming from Florida Supreme Court decisions concerning the constitutionality of a life sentence for an offense committed as a juvenile.
• Counsel for a homeowner in an appeal from a judgment invalidating an amendment to a subdivision’s declaration of restrictive covenants.
• Counsel for an individual in an appeal challenging an order disposing of malicious prosecution claims arising from divorce proceedings.
• Counsel for mining companies in an appeal challenging an order preventing limestone mining in the Lake Belt area of wetlands in Miami-Dade County.
• Counsel for the appellee in an appeal challenging a judgment determining the beneficiaries of a testamentary trust.
• Counsel for the defendants in an appeal from a summary judgment order invalidating a non-compete agreement.
• Counsel for the plaintiff in an appeal challenging rulings excluding evidence from a jury trial on a patent infringement claim.
• Counsel for a venue management company in an appeal challenging a class certification order.