Derek Angell was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2009, and he is currently one of only seven Florida attorneys board certified in both civil trial law and appellate practice. In addition to trials throughout Florida’s state and federal courts, he has won appeals in the Florida Supreme Court, all five Florida District Courts of Appeal, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Mr. Angell received his Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from the University of Florida in 2006 and his Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco in 2009.

Mr. Angell maintains an extensive trial practice that includes government liability, general liability, construction claims, and commercial litigation. He has tried over twenty cases in state and federal courts. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Angell interned with two national general contractors assisting projection management teams on high profile construction projects. In law school, he completed two externships with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, located in downtown San Francisco.

Mr. Angell enjoys traveling with his wife Andie, recording music, and construction crossword puzzles for the New York Times and other national publications.

Practice Areas

  • Appeals
  • Civil Rights
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Litigation
  • General Liability
  • Governmental Litigation
  • Product Liability

Selected Honors & Recognition

  • Mr. Angell has received several accolades for his commitment to pro bono representation, including a 200-hour service award from the Ninth Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee in 2017.
  • He is also active with the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, who conferred him the 2020 Amicus Award for his brief in the Florida Supreme Court decision of Citizens Property Insurance Co. v. Manor House, LLC, 313 So. 3d 579 (Fla. 2021).
  • Finally, Mr. Angell has given numerous CLE credit-earning presentations to trade organizations, in-house attorneys, and insurance professionals and is available for similar services upon request.

Admitted to Practice

  • Florida
  • United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Florida
  • United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Representative Cases

  • Reversing denial of motion to transfer venue from Miami-Dade to Volusia County in wrongful death case where only tie to Miami was one defendant’s corporate headquarters. SMA Behavioral Health Servs., Inc. v. Loewinger, 355 So. 3d 988 (Fla. 3d DCA 2023).
  • Reversing denial of discovery seeking medical provider’s sale of bills to a factoring company and holding the sale as relevant to the measure of damages. Osceola Cty. Bd. of Cty. Comm’rs v. Sand Lake Surgery Ctr., LLC, 320 So. 3d 950 (Fla. 5th DCA 2021).
  • Reversing grant of new trial and reinstating defense verdict where the plaintiff failed to preserve arguments necessary to obtain new trial. Orange Cty. v. Ferguson, 290 So. 3d 1031 (Fla. 5th DCA 2020).
  • Reversing denial of qualified immunity to the county jail’s medical director after a dog bitten, HIV-positive inmate died from sepsis following a nurse’s misdiagnosis of malingering. Bryant v. Buck, 793 F. App’x 979 (11th Cir. 2019).
  • Granting certiorari to quash order severing third-party action in property damage and mold suit by unit owners against their COA. Martinique Condos., Inc. v. Short, 230 So. 3d 1268 (Fla. 5th DCA 2017).
  • Reversing enforcement of attorney’s charging lien against an insurance carrier where the carrier’s due process rights had been violated. Mid-Continent Cas. Co. v. R.W. Jones Constr., Inc., 227 So. 3d 785 (Fla. 5th DCA 2017).
  • Approving intermediate appellate court’s finding that governing deeds and restrictions barred surgical abortions in medical office park. Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando, Inc. v. MMB Props., 211 So. 3d 918 (Fla. 2017).
  • Disapproving decisions from four out of five state appellate districts and enforcing pre-injury release in personal injury action. Sanislo v. Give Kids the World, Inc., 157 So. 3d 256 (Fla. 2015).