Tom Scarritt

Florida State University College of Law

• J.D. with honors – 1983
• Chief Justice, Student Supreme Court
• Staff Editor, FSU Law Review
• Student Intern, U.S.D.C. Judge William Stafford (N.D. Fla.)

University of Grenoble (France) 1980-81

• Rotary Club International Graduate Fellowship (Political Science and Civil Code Law)

University of the South (Sewanee, TN)

• B.A. with honors – 1979
• Wilkins Academic Scholarship
  (English/American Literature) 

London School of Economics, 1977

• Institute of European Studies Academic Scholarship

Scarritt Law Group, P.A. (Tampa, Florida)
Founder, President, Shareholder, Senior Trial Lawyer 2000-Present

Davis & Scarritt, P.A. (Tampa, Florida)
Founder, President, Shareholder, Senior Trial Lawyer 1998-2000

Fowler, White, Boggs, Banker, P.A. (Tampa, Florida) 
Shareholder and Trial Lawyer 1983-1998

• Florida Best Mediation Practices Handbook, Hillsborough County Bar Association Mediation and Arbitration Section, co-editor, 2021. 
• 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, Govt. 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 – 2007.
• 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 – 2000.
• Florida’s Law on Apportionment of Fault, The Business of Insurance in Florida, 1995.
• Pre-Trial Litigation Skills, Fla. Bar Civil Trial Board Certification Seminar, 1995.
• Florida’s Nursing Homes – Punitive Damages for Displaying Bad Manners?, 9 Fla. B.J. 63 (Oct. 1993).
• “You the Jury” Video Premieres, (The Hillsborough County Bar Association Journal) (June 1992).
• Defending the Sovereign in §1983 Police Misconduct Cases: An Overview, 2 Fla.B.J. 61 (Feb. 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 (Oct. 1989).
• The Last Shot – Strict Liability for Manufacturers of Nondefective Handguns, The Advocate (Florida Bar Trial Lawyer’s Section Magazine) (Feb. 1986).
• Handbook on Discovery Practice, Florida Bar Trial Lawyer’s Section and Conference of Circuit and County Court Judges, co-editor, 1996 – 2002.

• Co-editor and Panelist, 2020 Florida Best Mediation Practices Handbook, (First Edition) Hillsborough County Bar Association Mediation and Arbitration Section.
• Teacher, Trial Law and Acting, Great American Teach-In, Eisenhower Elementary School (Clearwater, Florida) November 2017
• Master of Ceremonies, Fortieth Anniversary Southern Legal Counsel Banquet (Gainesville, Florida) October 2017
• Teacher, Trial Law and Acting, Great American Teach-In, San Jose Elementary School (Dunedin, Florida) November 2015, 2016
• Principal Speaker, Police Civil Rights Liability, Florida Municipal Attorneys’ Assn. State Meeting (Amelia Island) July 2013
• Visiting Lecturer, Court Procedures, Plant High School (Tampa) March 2011
• Visiting Lecturer, Law Studies, Plant High School (Tampa) February 2011
• 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, Orlando Meeting, 1999.
• Speaker, Professionalism (Florida Bar Seminar) 1998.
• Speaker, Premises Liability (PESI Seminar) 1997.
• Speaker, Proving and Defending Damages (Florida Bar Seminar) 1996 – 2000.
• Speaker, Taking Effective Depositions (Lorman Seminar) 1994 – 2007.
• Speaker, Civil Trial Board Certification Review (Florida Bar Seminar) 1995.
• Instructor and Lecturer, Florida Bar Trial Advocacy School (Intermediate and Advanced), Bridge- the-Gap Seminars.
• Lecturer, Litigation Skills, Florida State University College of Law, 1989.
• Lecturer, International Law, University of South Florida, 1988.
• Lecturer, Florida West Coast Claims Association, Boy Scouts of America, Rotary Club, Lorman Business Seminars, ABOTA Speaker’s Forum.

• Rotarian of the Year, Rotary District 6890 (four counties), 2020.
• Best Voice in Confederate Monument Debacle, Best of the Bay (Hillsborough County) 2017.
• Honorary Chairman, Hillsborough County Chapter of the NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner Gala, 2018
• Recipient, Freedom Fighter Award, Hillsborough County Chapter of the NAACP, 2018
• President, Tampa Ybor City Rotary Club, 2018
• Recipient, Award as a Top 100 High Stakes Litigator, 2017
• Recipient, Outstanding Public Service Award by Hillsborough County Democratic Party, September 2017
• Recipient, Paul Harris Fellow Award by Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, March 2017
• Recertification in Civil Trial Law with the National Board of Trial Advocacy, January 2017
• Recipient, Lifetime Achievement Award as a Top 100 Attorney, 2016
• Recipient, Mike Fogarty “In the Trenches” Award, given to top Civil Trial Lawyer for Excellence and Professionalism, 2016
• Appointment, FSU College of Law Alumni Board Emeritus Status, 2016 – 17
• Member, Board of Directors, Southern Legal Counsel (Public Interest Law Firm) (Gainesville), 2013 – present
• Member, Board of Directors, Oakhurst Square Community Partnership (No/Low Income Housing), 2012 – present
• Member and Chairman, Valencia Homeowner’s Association, 2011 – 2013
• Member, Million Dollar Advocate’s Forum, 2003 – present
• Member, Multi-Million Dollar Advocate’s Forum, 2010 – present
• The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, 2004 – present
• Commissioner, Florida Commission on Ethics, 2004 – 2008; Chairman, 2005 – 2006
• Chairman, Hillsborough County Judicial Campaign Practices Committee, 2004
• Strathmore’s and Madison’s Who’s Who, 2002 – present
• Graduate, Leadership Tampa 1994
• Highest Rating (A/V Preeminent) Martindale-Hubbell, 1993 – present
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters Board Legal Counsel, 1993 – 2005
• Florida Bar Trial Lawyer’s Section Executive Council, 1993-2003; Chairman, 2001-2002
• President, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Tampa Bay Chapter, 1993
• Board-Certified in Civil Litigation by The Florida Bar, 1989 – present; and the National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1991 – present
• Secretary, Legal Network International (international network of law firms), 1988 – 1998
• With spouse Linda, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Couple of the Year, Hillsborough County, 1987, 1989
• Hillsborough County Bar Association, 1983 – present
• Volunteer Attorney, Bay Area Legal Services, 1983 – present
• Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend, 2006, 2012, 2015 – present
• Master, Inns of Court
• Master, ABOTA Masters in Trial
• Florida Super Lawyers, 2007, 2009 – present