Chris S. Coutroulis

Overview

Chris Coutroulis handles business and complex litigation matters in a wide range of areas, including antitrust, class actions, mass torts, environmental, professional and accounting malpractice, securities fraud, and insurance coverage. His clients operate in numerous industries. 

Chris has particular experience with class actions, and successfully defending against class certification. He has served as lead trial counsel in numerous cases, including trials on the issue of class certification. Additionally, he has significant experience in antitrust cases. He has handled many of these cases through trial and binding arbitration on behalf of clients including credit card companies; professional sports leagues; and insurance, automotive, and energy companies. 

Experience

Antitrust Litigation

• Segal v. PEMEX, No. 8:05-cv-2390, 2008 WL 4900257 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 12, 2008).
• Gilchrist v. State Farm Mut. Auto Ins. Co., 390 F.3d 1327 (11th Cir. 2004).
• JES Props., Inc. v. USA Equestrian, Inc., 253 F. Supp. 2d 1273 (M.D. Fla. 2003).
• Execu-Tech Bus. Sys., Inc. v. Appleton Papers, Inc., 743 So. 2d 19 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999) (denying class certification).
• Metro. Dade Cty. v. Fla. Power Corp., No. 96-594 (S.D. Fla. June 25, 1998) (unpublished, granting summary judgment in alleged monopolization case).
• State ex rel. Atty. Gen. Morales v. Zeneca Inc., No. 3:97-cv-01526, 1997-2 Trade Cas. (CCH) 71,888 (N.D. Tex 1997).
• In re Agric. Chems. Antitrust Litig., No. 4:94-cv-402016, 1995-2 Trade Cas. (CCH) 71,197 (N.D. Fla. 1995) (denying class certification).
• Henry v. Chloride, Inc., 809 F.2d 1335 (8th Cir. 1987).
• Nat'l Bancard Corp. (NaBanco) v. VISA U.S.A. Inc., 596 F. Supp. 1231 (S.D. Fla. 1984), aff'd, 779 F.2d 592 (11th Cir. 1986).

Business Litigation

• Wellcare v. AISLIC, 16 So. 3d 904 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009).
• Riddle v. Mobil Oil Corp., No. 8:86-cv-01636, 1992 WL 81321 (M.D. Fla. 1992).
• In re ESM Gov't Sec., Inc., 52 B.R. 372 (S.D. Fla. 1985).

Class Action Litigation

• Nolen v. Fairshare Vacation Owners Ass'n, No. 6:20-cv-00330 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 10, 2022). Obtained final summary judgment against plaintiffs in a 900,000-plus certified class action in federal court.
• DeCastro vs. Small Planet, No. 9:14-cv-80033 (S.D. Fla. 2014) (class action involving alleged mislabeling of natural snack foods; case dismissed).
• Heretick v. Publix Super Markets, Inc., 841 F. Supp. 2d 1247 (M.D. Fla. 2012) (class action involving alleged improper charges at ATMs; order denying motion to remand putative consumer class action removed to federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (CAFA); case dismissed).
• Perret v. Wyndham Vacation Resorts, Inc., 889 F. Supp. 2d 1333 (S.D. Fla. 2012) (order granting motion to dismiss and closing case). 
• Lam v. Gen. Mills, Inc., 859 F. Supp. 2d 1097 (N.D. Cal. 2012) (dismissing in part consumer protection claims challenging labeling of defendant’s fruit snack products; case subsequently resolved with no class certified).
• Veal v. Crown Auto Dealerships, Inc., No. 8:04-cv-00323, 2007 WL 2700969 (M.D. Fla. 2007).
• Bragg v. Bill Heard Chevrolet, Inc.-Plant City, No. 8:02-cv-00609, 2007 WL 2781105 (M.D. Fla. 2007).
• Grimes v. Fairfield Resorts, Inc., No. 6:05-cv-01061 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 27, 2006) (denying class certification of putative class of vacation class holders).
• Hoyte v. Stauffer Chem. Co., No. 98-3024-CI-7, 2002 WL 31892830 (Fla. Cir. Ct. Nov. 6, 2002).
• Mills v. Stauffer Chem. Co., No 8:97-cv-01197 (M.D. Fla. May 12, 1999) (unpublished) (denying class certification of putative class of property owners adjacent to Superfund site).

Multidistrict Litigation

• In re Chinese-Manufactured Drywall Prods. Liab. Litig., 626 F. Supp. 2d 1346 (J.P.M.L. June 15, 2009).
• In re Seroquel Prods. Liab. Litig., No. 6:06-md-01769, 2009 WL 618240 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 12, 2009).
• In re Seroquel Prods. Liab. Litig., 598 F. Supp. 2d 1271 (M.D. Fla. 2009).

Recognition

• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Chambers USA (2003–2018, 2021–2023)
• The Best Lawyers in America
  • Tampa "Lawyer of the Year," Antitrust Law (2022, 2024)
  • ​Administrative/Regulatory Law, Antitrust Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law (2005–2024)
• Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine (2005, 2007–2009)
• Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2006–2023)
• BTI Client Service All-Stars (2017)

Professional & Community Involvement

• American Bar Association
  • Vertical Restraints Past Chair, Antitrust Law Section
• American Bar Foundation
• American Law Institute
• The Florida Bar
  • Antitrust and Trade Regulation Law Certification Committee, Business Law Section
• Hillsborough County Bar Association
• Leadership Tampa
• Master, Cheatwood Inn of Court
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Principal author of the annual Carlton Fields Class Action Survey report

Speaking Engagements

• “Class Action Survey and Trends,” Carlton Fields In-House Counsel Forum, Orlando, FL (March 2017)
• “Class Action Survey and Recent Developments,” Carlton Fields In-House Counsel Forum, Orlando, FL (March 2016)
• “Class Action Update,” Carlton Fields In-House Counsel Forum, Orlando, FL (March 2015)
• "Presentation of 2013 Class Action Survey," Carlton Fields Class Action Symposium, New York (June 2013)
• "McCarran-Ferguson Immunity, the Gilchrist Decision and Implications in Other Contexts," ABA Antitrust Law Section Spring Meeting (2006)
• "High Hurdles in Certifying Indirect Purchaser Class Actions," National CLE Conference, Vail, CO (2000)
• "Indirect Purchaser Price Fixing Litigation," The Cutting Edge Seminar, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (1998)
• "Dealing with Big Buyers Under the Robinson-Patman Act," ABA Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (1994)
• "Dealer/Franchisee Collaboration," ABA Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (1992)
• "Fundamentals of Antitrust Law," ABA Antitrust Law Section Spring Meeting, Washington, D.C. (1991 and 1992)
• "Living With the Robinson-Patman Act," Northwestern University Antitrust Seminar (1989)
• "Price-Discrimination," ABA Young Lawyers Division (1989)
• "Antitrust Developments Under the Robinson-Patman Act," ABA Annual Meeting, Hawaii (1989)
• "Competitive Injury Under the Robinson-Patman Act," ABA Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada (1988)

Pro Bono

• State v. Ronnie Lee Jones, Florida Supreme Court. Death penalty case, post-trial proceedings, obtained reversal of conviction and death sentence.

Credentials