Gary L. Sasso

Experience

• Consumer fraud class action against information services firm for violation of consumer privacy rights (resolved through settlement).
• Securities fraud case brought by former shareholders of a company acquired by the defendant (class certification denied and state claims dismissed as preempted).
• Securities fraud class action against issuer for misleading disclosures and violation of accounting irregularities (resolved through settlement).
• Securities fraud class action against financial services firm alleging stock analyst had conflict of interest (resolved through settlement).
• Class action brought against a financial institution for aiding and abetting a Ponzi scheme (dismissed with prejudice).
• Multiple, consolidated securities fraud cases brought by investors in a closed-end investment fund (class certification denied).
• Environmental class action brought against various chemical manufacturers in state court by landowners situated near a Superfund site in central Florida (resolved through settlement).
• Professional liability claim brought on behalf of FDIC against law firm that represented failed bank (obtained $21 million jury verdict).
• Multi-plaintiff products litigation brought by South American plaintiffs against European chemical manufacturers (case dismissed on grounds of forum non conveniens).
• Office Depot, Inc. v. AIG Specialty Insurance Co., Ninth Circuit. Represented appellee in upholding summary judgment against claim for insurance coverage and indemnification of Office Depot's fees and settlement of qui tam action brought under California False Claims Act on behalf of state purchasers of office supplies.
• Citrus Cty. Hosp. Bd. v. Citrus Mem’l Health Found., Inc., Florida Supreme Court. Represented hospital from trial through appeals in challenge successfully invalidating special law enacted by the Legislature that transferred control over hospital as violative of the Contracts Clause of the Florida Constitution.
• O’Halloran v. First Union Nat'l Bank of Fla., Eleventh Circuit. Represented appellee defending dismissal of claims brought against national bank, alleging that the bank aided and abetted a faith-based Ponzi scheme.
• Lee v. Russell Cty. Bd. of Educ., Eleventh Circuit. Represented appellant in discrimination case establishing standard for adjudicating mixed-motive cases under Title VII.
• Sadlowski v. United Steelworkers of Am., AFL-CIO-CLC, District of Columbia Circuit. Represented appellant in OSHA case establishing workplace hazard communication standards.
• Tampa Elec. Co. v. Garcia, Supreme Court of Florida. Represented appellant in challenge to order by Florida Public Service Commission authorizing development of “merchant” electrical power plants in Florida.
• Citizens Nat'l Bank &Tr. Co. v. Stockwell, Supreme Court of Florida. Represented appellee in action brought to challenge action by national bank in terminating executive officers and abrogating employment contracts.
• Am. Optical Corp. v. Spiewak, Supreme Court of Florida. Represented defendants in asbestos litigation seeking reversal of ruling that asbestos reform law may not be applied constitutionally to pending litigation.
• City of Winter Park v. Fla. Power Corp., Supreme Court of Florida. Represented appellant in challenge to ruling by intermediate appellate court upholding permanent injunctive relief requiring utility to pay “franchise” payments to local government previously paid under expired agreement.
• Walter Goldberg v. Fla. Power & Light Co., Supreme Court of Florida. Represented appellee in lawsuit in which jury awarded $30 million to parents of decedent killed in intersection accident attributed to interruption of power to traffic signal.
• Home Shopping Network, Inc. v. Jovon Broad. Corp., Florida Second District Court of Appeal. Represented appellee in defending summary judgment terminating option agreement.
• Fernandez v. Union Carbide, Florida Third District Court of Appeal. Represented appellee in appeal from defense verdict in asbestos personal injury case.
• Inter-Tel, Inc. v. Executone of Fla., Inc., Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal. Represented appellant on appeal from $7 million jury verdict for breach of contract.
• Nuko Holdings I, LLC v. Mobile Mini, Inc., Florida Second District Court of Appeal. Represented appellee in appeal from $14 million jury verdict for tortious interference with business acquisition contract.

Featured Insights

Law360: “Carlton Fields Promotes 8 Shareholders in 5 Offices”

News

Carlton Fields President and CEO Gary Sasso Recognized as a “Power 100 Leader”

News

International

Carlton Fields Named Top Firm and Attorneys Named Legal Leaders in Florida Trend’s 2022 “Legal Elite”

News

Recognition

• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Power 100, Tampa Bay Business Journal (2021–2022)
• The Best Lawyers in America
  • Tampa “Lawyer of the Year”
    • Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2018)
    • Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2017)
    • Appellate Practice (2013)
  • Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Legal Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2005–2023)
• Legal Elite Hall of Fame, Florida Trend Magazine (2004–2021)
• Florida 500, "Most Influential Business Leaders," Florida Trend Magazine (2018–2021)
• Florida Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers Magazine (2010–2022)
• Chambers USA (2006–2018)
• Florida Super Lawyers Top 10 and Top 100, Super Lawyers Magazine (2013)
• Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame (2014)
• Tampa Connection's Tampa Citizen of the Year Award (2010)
• Diversity Best Practices' CEO Diversity Leadership Award (2008)
• Top Managing Partners: Head of the Firm, Florida Legal Elite, Florida Trend Magazine (2006–2007)
• 100 Lawyers You Need to Know in Securities Litigation, Lawdragon

Professional & Community Involvement

• International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Fellow
  • Membership limited to 500 trial lawyers, by invitation only
• American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
  • Fellow
  • Membership limited to 500 appellate lawyers, by invitation only
• American Law Institute
  • Council (2011–present)
  • Executive Committee (2012–2018)
• American Bar Association
  • Death Penalty Steering Committee (2008–2010)
  •  Section of Litigation
    • Jury Innovation Task Force (2009–2010)
    • Council Member (2003–2006)
    • Co-Chair, Task Force on Independence of the Judiciary (2006–2007)
    • Task Force on Vision Implementation (2006)
    • Editor in Chief, Litigation (published by the ABA Section of Litigation) (2001–2002)
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
  • Board of Directors (2012–2017)
  • Vice Chair, Talent Development (2012–2017)
• The Florida Bar
  • Gender Diversity Task Force (2016–2017)
• The Florida Council of 100 (2010–present)
  • Board of Directors (2017)
• Straz Center for the Performing Arts
  • Board of Trustees (2008–present)
  • Chair (2014–Present)
  • Vice Chair (2012–2014)
  • Chair, Broadway Ball (2011)
• Tampa Museum of Art
  • Board of Trustees (2013–2016)
• Tampa Bay Partnership
  • Chair, Board of Directors (2009–2010)
  • Executive Committee (2008–2016)
• United Way Suncoast
  • Chair, Regional Board of Directors (2012–2013)
• Tocqueville Society
  • Chair, United Way of Tampa Bay (2010)
• American Heart Association
  • Chair, Heart Ball (2008)
• Tampa Arts Alliance
  • Board of Directors (2021-present)

Speaking Engagements

• "Corporate America Has Failed Black Lawyers – Time for Real Change – Empower the Black Partner," National Bar Association (November 12, 2020)
• "C-Suite + PR Pro Panel," Public Relations Society of America, Tampa, FL (October 8, 2019)
• "Forging Ahead: Tackling Challenges and Embracing Opportunities in Tampa Bay's Transport Sector," Tampa, FL (June 13, 2019)
• "Lessons Learned From Leading Transportation Initiatives," Café con Tampa, Tampa, FL (February 16, 2018)
• "May It Please the Court: Effective Appellate Oral Advocacy," American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, University of Texas at Austin School of Law, Austin, TX (June 23, 2017)
• "Diversity in All Things," Greater Cincinnati Minority Counsel Program, Cincinnati, OH (May 10, 2012)
• "Appellate Advocacy," Stetson University College of Law (March 2010)
• "Harnessing the Winds of Change to Bring Balance and Meaning to the Workplace," ABA Section of Litigation (August 2008)
• "Opposing Class Certification in the United States," Barreau du Quebec, Montreal, Canada (October 2006)
• "Defending Class Actions," Practicing Law Institute, New York, NY (July 2006)
• "Florida Supreme Court Advocacy Seminar," Government Law Section, The Florida Bar (June 2005, June 2006)
• "Energy Policy Act of 2005," Emerging Issues Policy Forum, Orlando, FL (October 2005)
• "Preserving Error for Appeal in Civil Cases, Federal Practice and Courtroom Advocacy," New Orleans, LA (April 2005)
• "Preservation of Error in Civil Cases," 20th Annual Federal Practice & Advocacy Seminar, New Orleans, LA (April 7–8, 2005)
• Annual Program on Successful Appellate Practice sponsored by Stetson University College of Law and the Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar. As a core faculty member, presented demonstration oral arguments and lectured on appellate practice, brief writing, and oral advocacy (2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999)
•  "Defense of Federal Question Class Actions,” Practicing Law Institute, New York, NY (July 2005, 2004, 2003)
• "Innovation and Investment in Telecommunications," Emerging Issues Policy Forum, Orlando, FL (April 2004)
• "Preserving the Record on Appeal – An Exercise in Trial Advocacy," Fifth Circuit Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA (January 2004)
• Florida Circuit Judges Conference, Class Action Litigation, Orlando, FL (June 2003)
• "Effective Oral Argument," demonstration oral argument, Practice Before the First District Court of Appeal (January 1999)
• "Effective Oral Argument," demonstration oral argument, Third Annual Liability Claims Institute (July 1999)
• "Appellate Ethics," Annual Meeting of The Florida Bar (1998)

Credentials

Background

• Litigator, Bredhoff & Kaiser, Washington, D.C. (1979–1987)
• Law Clerk to the Honorable Byron R. White, U.S. Supreme Court (1978–1979)
• Law Clerk to the Honorable Spottswood W. Robinson III, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (1977–1978)

Areas of Focus