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Overview

Susan Cole is a distinguished trial lawyer with more than 40 years of trial experience. She defends clients in products liability, construction defect, wrongful death, medical malpractice and asbestos trials. Susan has tried over 150 cases to verdict, including more than 100 cases on behalf of manufacturers and distributors of friction, building supply and pump products alleged to have contained asbestos. Recognized as one of the leading asbestos defense counsel in the country on the issues of medical causation and the science of asbestos, Susan is often called upon on the eve of trial to assist defendants with the cross-examination of medical and scientific experts. 

Susan's experience in the construction space includes cases involving structure, masonry, HVAC and roofing materials, and she has tried playground equipment cases to verdict. She also has experience defending cases involving alleged psychological damage to children and adults, including severe psychiatric reactions as a result of trauma. She recently obtained a defense verdict in a case involving the device that administers electroconvulsive therapy to severely ill psychiatric patients. 

Susan applies her educational background in the sciences to her defense of products liability cases. In addition to earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in organic chemistry, biology and biochemistry, Susan previously served as an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Miami. She was introduced to the early programming of computers (mainframes) while at UM. 

Her grounding in the sciences enables her to see the strengths and weaknesses in a client’s product and to act vigorously in their defense. She brings a critical understanding of the science and technology of the product, as well as the legal application to the intricacies of the product, and can take on the scientific expert witness on the expert’s own level. 

Susan is a Supreme Court–certified circuit court mediator and a board-certified civil trial lawyer. She presents frequently at professional conferences on toxic tort litigation and ethics and teaches at the annual Advanced Trial Advocacy Workshop hosted by the Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar. 

Outside of her legal practice, Susan volunteers with the Executive Board of the Florida Foundation for Future Scientists and helps run the annual Florida State Science and Engineering Fair.

Experience

  • Won jury verdict for manufacturer of psychiatric medical device case, the first of its type to be tried to verdict.

  • Won jury verdict for major manufacturer of medical device in case where 17-year-old plaintiff suffered bad outcome in arthroscopic surgery. 

  • Won jury verdict in living mesothelioma asbestos case for manufacturer of asbestos pipe covering where product identification was contested.

  • Won jury verdict in living mesothelioma asbestos case for manufacturer of asbestos cement product where plaintiff was a US Navy servicemember where Navy directed all of plaintiff’s work activities.

  • Obtained contested binding arbitration in case where child plaintiff fell off playground equipment which had been subject to voluntary recall after the accident.

  • Obtained defense verdict in asbestos case where plaintiff claimed exposure to sealant compounds containing asbestos.

  • Obtained 17 defense verdicts and 13 verdicts below initial settlement offers in a 30-plaintiff asbestos trial lasting 4 months for a supplier and installer of asbestos insulation at several power plants and steel mills.

  • Participated for many years as member of trial team which traveled to multiple trials in 35 states to successfully defend asbestos cancer cases.

  • Obtained summary judgment for property owner in case of alleged sexual assault of a minor which took place on the property.

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America, Litigation—Construction, 2025
  • Martindale Hubbell AV-Preeminent Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence and Peer Review–Rated 5/5
  • Inducted into the National Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame, 2019
  • Rated 10/10 by AVVO
  • Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers, 2005–present

Involvement

  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Chair, Florida Bar Civil Trial Board Certification Committee, July 2023–June 2024
  • Former Chair, Florida Bar Committee for Civil Trial Board, 2010–2011
  • Member, Former Vice Chair, Florida Bar Board of Legal Education and Specialization 
  • Board Certified Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy
  • Defense Research Institute 
  • American Chemical Society
  • American Association for the Advancement of Science

Education

  • University of Miami School of Law, JD
  • University of Miami, MS, Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • University of Miami, BS, Biology and Chemistry

Bar Admissions

  • Florida

Court Admissions

  • US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • US District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • US District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • US District Court, Southern District of Florida