Even after all his accomplishments, Steve Yerrid has no plans to leave the courtroom any time soon. “Why would I stop? I love what I do. I wanted to become a trial lawyer since I was a young boy. I am grateful to have outlived my wildest dreams… so now I just need to dream new ones. But I know for certain that helping others is the treasure of a life well-lived.”
“Just as important as winning or achieving a favorable result, and oftentimes even more so, is the joy of giving back and obtaining justice, despite the odds,” says Yerrid, who has been continuously included over the last five decades in Best Lawyers®. Additionally, he has been named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in Tampa for both Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (2014) and Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs (2015) on behalf of plaintiffs on numerous occasions. “When our firm succeeds through client advocacy, we want others to benefit as well.”
Headquartered in Tampa and serving clients throughout Florida, as well as other parts of the nation, the firm has secured billions of dollars in verdicts, settlements and judgments. This includes Yerrid’s more than 300 individual verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million2 in catastrophic injury, product liability, construction defects, medical malpractice, premises liability, vehicle accidents, commercial disputes and a broad range of civil litigation.
Over the years, Yerrid has also been recognized on numerous occasions as one of Florida’s most well-known philanthropists. Since his early beginnings as a trial lawyer, Yerrid has believed that his monetary achievements at trial can transcend the courtroom and be utilized to reach deserving people and support those causes that truly make a positive difference in people’s lives.
As his successes mounted, and his results were routinely in seven figures, his ability to give back in significant ways formed the basis for the creation of The Yerrid Foundation. Self-funded, his family foundation has donated millions of dollars to more than 500 causes and charitable organizations locally, nationally and even internationally. The philanthropy has reached Africa, war-torn Lebanon, those suffering in Haiti, as well as catastrophic events in other parts of the world. Many of those charitable efforts are directed toward causes, such as pediatric cancer treatments, clinical trials and research, multiple sclerosis research, domestic abuse prevention, the Special Olympics, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Boys and Girls Club of America, UNICEF and a variety of organizations that provide opportunities, food, clothing, shelter and essentials for the disadvantaged.
“I believe our impact in the courtroom has a ripple effect and it is my hope some of those ripples turn into tsunamis of beneficial change that help others. We have been extremely fortunate to succeed in our efforts to channel that winning momentum into brighter days for children and families facing unimaginable challenges,” said Yerrid.
Indeed, his partnerships with NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning has resulted in an annual Tampa Bay Fights Cancer Night to raise awareness for all those battling this dreaded disease. In the 23 years of this special event, the Foundation has treated more than 100,000 pediatric cancer patients, their families and caregivers to a night of hockey, food, special shirts and a post-game “meet and greet” with the kids and the Lightning players. It makes for an unforgettable night for everyone involved.
“Whether it’s ‘Christmas in July’ in the cancer wards, fishing tournaments, fashion shows or virtually any of the many events we sponsor, we do our best to provide unwavering support, as well as motivation and a better life for those in need,” Yerrid says.
Yerrid has also been recognized on numerous occasions as one of Florida’s most well-known philanthropists."
In one of many initiatives, Yerrid recently donated $100,000 to Metropolitan Ministries to create a “community model,” which has subsequently been utilized in other localities. Through The Yerrid Foundation, 5,000 nonperishable “We Care” food boxes were created to feed families in distress. Each box was personally distributed by Tampa police officers and sheriff’s deputies throughout the neighborhoods of those areas they patrol. “Law enforcement and community members getting to know each other helps to lessen tensions and create personal relationships as well as trust,” Yerrid notes.
“I’m incredibly proud of the depth and breadth of our reach, as we have sought to strengthen special bonds between police and residents through these types of programs,” Yerrid says. “The concept of ‘good will toward men and women’ should not be reserved just for the holidays. It should be a year-round attitude because, quite frankly, it’s a wonderful and satisfying feeling to help others who are less fortunate.”
A Career Characterized by Overcoming Seemingly Impossible Odds
The drive to give back stems from Yerrid’s own humble beginnings and speaks to his unique ability to identify with underdogs and the need to shine a spotlight on true heroism.
This reputation among the legal profession started with an unbroken string of courtroom victories in the 1970’s including his participation in a 3-month Federal RICO trial. In 1980, as a very young lawyer, he received international recognition for his central role in one of the world’s largest maritime tragedies. Despite a virtually unanimous consensus that the trial could not be won, Yerrid utilized an “Act of God” defense to secure the complete exoneration of the accused Captain John Lerro. Lerro was in command of a large 608-foot bulk freighter which, during an unpredicted storm packing hurricane force winds, was blown off course and struck the mammoth but unprotected anchor pier of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The impact collapsed more than 1200’ of its center span and tragically claimed 35 innocent lives.
As a result, a new Skyway bridge was constructed with a modern, state-of-the-art design that featured protective piers and elaborate fendering. This safer bridge design has since been utilized as a template for bridge construction all over the world.
Following that astounding accomplishment, Yerrid has continually litigated high-stakes cases and waged legal battles against some of the largest and most well-monied entities in the country, almost always with favorable results.
One of the most lasting achievements occurred in the 1990s, when Yerrid was selected by the late Gov. Lawton Chiles as the youngest member of the 11-member “Dream Team” of private lawyers and took a leading role in Florida’s landmark lawsuit against the previously unbeaten cigarette industry. The case resulted in the biggest monetary settlement in U.S. history at the time, ultimately topping $17 billion. It also resulted in drastic advertising restrictions against the cigarette cartel and imposed severe prohibitions against pandering to America’s youth and, for the first time, truly exposed the horrific costs of cigarette addiction.
Currently, Yerrid and the firm represent the family of fallen Tampa Master Police Officer Jesse Madsen, who was killed while protecting his community on March 9, 2021. Madsen was off duty and driving home around 1 a.m. that morning when he received a call about a driver recklessly speeding the wrong way on Interstate 275.
“Within one minute of the call, Officer Madsen intercepted the vehicle and selflessly and intentionally drove head-on into the wrong way driver, resulting in a fatal collision,” Yerrid says. “His actions epitomized heroism. Had the safety apparatuses and alarms functioned properly, the wrong-way driver could and should have been prevented from entering the Busch Boulevard exit ramp, and Officer Madsen would still be with his wife and children today,” he adds. We will strive to get justice for the Madsen family and just as importantly, heighten the measures to adequately protect our citizens from ‘wrong way’ drivers. We intend to do everything possible to prevent similar tragedies from occurring to others.”
In 2022, Yerrid and partner Jeff Murphy filed a wrongful death suit on behalf of widow Danyelle Madsen and her three young children against the Florida Department of Transportation and one of its private contractors for creating what he referred to as a “foreseeable zone of risk.”
Officer Madsen’s case has been particularly gut wrenching. This real-life hero sacrificed his life in order to save the life of the young motorist he pulled in front of in order to absorb the high-speed head-on collision instead of her.
“A trial lawyer’s success can create societal change and truly make a much broader difference. Those changes can have special significance outside of a specific case,” Yerrid says. “If we can improve the lives of clients and improve the safety of our communities and neighbors through our advocacy, we can make a real contribution to creating a better world, not just for us, but for all the generations who follow. Every member of our firm is dedicated to establishing a safer and fairer landscape for all. To me, being able to give real truth to the phrase, ‘Equal Justice Under the Law’ is the epitome of success.”
