Scott Shelton, Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. Photo

Scott A. Shelton

Partner

Overview

Overview

Scott Andrew Shelton is a Trial Partner in the firm’s Orlando office. His practice includes the defense of various types of claims including personal injuries, wrongful deaths, premises liability, education law, security negligence, child welfare litigation, dram shop/liquor liability, commercial transportation/trucking, construction defects, marine/admiralty, as well as defective products. 

Mr. Shelton has worked at Cole, Scott & Kissane since 2006. He started in the firm’s Tampa office and later opened/managed the firm’s Bonita Springs/Naples office. He was then the Managing Partner of the firm’s Orlando office for approximately ten years where it grew from 17 to approximately 95 attorneys. Since transitioning to focus on his trial practice, he has tried approximately 75 cases around the state of Florida. Prior to joining CSK, Mr. Shelton worked for a prominent civil defense litigation firm located in New Orleans, LA where he defended marine/admiralty claims arising under the Jones Act.

Mr. Shelton obtained his undergraduate degree, with honors, from the University of South Florida while working full-time and paying his way through college. He then obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University School of Law located in New Orleans, LA. During law school, he was a member of multiple moot court teams, including Loyola’s National Team, which was limited to three participants out of a class of approximately 300. He also represented and tried cases for indigent clients through the school’s Law Clinic including the active participation in a first-degree murder trial.

In his spare time, Mr. Shelton participates in various endurance sporting events. He has run over a dozen marathons including Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Austin and Aspen, and he has run over 70 half-marathons. Mr. Shelton was also a former U.S. Category 1 cyclist from the United States Cycling Federation and previously raced all of the U.S.     

Associations

  • The Florida Bar
  • Orange County Bar Association
  • Claims Litigation Management, Member
  • Florida Defense Trial Lawyers Association

Awards & Recognitions

Super Lawyers® Rising Stars: 2013 - 2014

Recent Verdicts

Representative Matters

Williams v. Madison
Plaintiff’s Requested Award:  $3 + million
Verdict: $123,000 (near amount suggested by defense and less than Defendant’s PFS)
Date: 2026
Summary: This was an admitted liability motor vehicle case that was tried on causation / damages only   Plaintiff had an immediate on-set of pain and subsequently underwent surgery to her shoulder as well as procedures to her neck and back.  This post-tort reform case resulted in Plaintiff boarding approximately $63,000 in past medical expenses and Plaintiff requested over $800,000 through a Life Care Plan.  The jury awarded Plaintiff’s past medical expenses and a small fraction of the requested future medical expenses.  The jury also found Plaintiff did not sustain a permanent injury which resulted in no money for pain and suffering.  The verdict was slightly above the amount suggested by the defense during closing arguments and lower than Defendant’s expired Proposal for Settlement.

Martinez v. Gar Shing Realty Corp
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $6.1 Million+
Verdict: $0 – Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2025
Summary: Slip and fall case where Plaintiff shattered his knee after falling in Defendant’s parking lot and immediately underwent surgery. Plaintiff asked for over $6 million before the jury returned a complete defense verdict.

Paulus v. Washington
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $2 Million+
Verdict: $10,000 (Defense Win; reduced to $0 after set-offs)
Date: 2025
Summary: Rejected tender case following an admitted liability auto accident. Plaintiff alleged extensive neck and back injuries and underwent surgery. Jury awarded $10,000, later reduced to $0.

Howard v. Smith and Jeri
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $1 Million
Verdict: Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2025
Summary: Slip and fall incident in client’s kitchen in Palm Beach County. Plaintiff sought just under $1 million in closing arguments. Jury returned a complete defense verdict.

Gillette v. Archway International, Inc.
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $4 Million+
Verdict: $17,000 Verdict; 50% Comparative Fault; Net Zero (Defense Win)
Date: 2025
Summary: Plaintiff alleged injury after stepping on a nail following Defendant’s roof renovation. Jury found Plaintiff 50% negligent and awarded limited past damages with no future damages.

Murphy v. Suncoast Laundromats
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $1.4 Million
Verdict: Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2024
Summary: Slip and fall at laundromat with alleged neck and back injuries requiring surgery. Plaintiff boarded $240,000 in past medical bills. Jury returned a complete defense verdict.

Goods v. ABG 13 LLC
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $500,000+
Verdict: Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2024
Summary: Plaintiff alleged toxic mold exposure at apartment complex causing respiratory issues and loss of a singing career. Jury found no breach of lease and returned a defense verdict.

Spears v. Storage Strategies
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $3 Million+
Verdict: $94,000+ (Defense Win)
Date: 2024
Summary: Rear-end collision involving a motorcycle. Plaintiff boarded approximately $210,000 in past medical expenses. Jury awarded past medical expenses only, with no future medical care or pain and suffering.

Bennett v. Raulerson
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: Over $500,000
Verdict: $11,000
Date: 2024
Summary: Rear-end collision involving a disabled plaintiff. Liability was admitted but causation was contested. Jury awarded approximately $11,000.

Martin v. Gil
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $1.5 Million+
Verdict: $0 – Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2024
Summary: Alleged side-swipe collision with significant vehicle damage and claimed future medical expenses exceeding $800,000. Jury returned a complete defense verdict.

Hernandez v. Progressive
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $1.6 Million
Verdict: $0
Date: 2024
Summary: Rear-end collision with approximately $220,000 in past medical expenses. Jury found Defendant’s admitted negligence was not the legal cause of Plaintiff’s injuries.

Hancock v. Florida Farm Bureau
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $13.5 Million
Verdict: $0
Date: 2024
Summary: Bad faith case arising from a fatal bicycle accident. Jury found the carrier’s alleged bad faith was not the legal cause of the excess judgment.

O’Neil v. Seascape Towers
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $1.7 Million
Verdict: $12,000
Date: 2024
Summary: Trip and fall at a condominium resulting in leg and foot surgery. Jury awarded $12,000.

Silvestri v. Allstate
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: Just under $1 Million
Verdict: $172,000 (Past Medical Expenses Only; Below Pre-Trial Offer/PFS)
Date: 2023
Summary: Rear-end accident with emergency room treatment. Jury awarded only past medical expenses and found no permanent injury.

Ruiz v. Colexpress
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $1.6 Million
Verdict: Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2023
Summary: Rear-end collision with admitted liability and cervical fusion surgery. Jury found Defendant’s negligence was not the legal cause of Plaintiff’s injuries.

Jundi v. Robinson
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $1.1 Million
Verdict: Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2023
Summary: Admitted liability motor vehicle accident with alleged surgical neck and back injuries. Jury returned a complete defense verdict.

Dominguez v. Preferred Materials
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $700,000+
Verdict: Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2023
Summary: Alleged lane-change collision involving a commercial vehicle on I-4. Jury returned a complete defense verdict.

Stenike v. Young’s Garbage Service
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $700,000
Verdict: $3,335; Net Zero After Set-Off
Date: 2023
Summary: Head-on collision involving a commercial garbage truck. Liability was admitted, but causation and damages were disputed. Jury awarded $3,335.

Diaz v. NASCAR
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $650,000
Verdict: Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2023
Summary: Vendor injury at speedway resulting in partial finger amputation. Defense called no experts. Jury returned a complete defense verdict.

Irvin v. Winn-Dixie
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $2 Million+
Verdict: Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2022
Summary: Slip and fall captured on surveillance video with approximately $300,000 in medical bills. Jury returned a complete defense verdict.

Brown v. Camuy Genesis Trucking
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $6 Million
Verdict: Approximately $234,000 (Beat Defendant’s PFS)
Date: 2022
Summary: Tractor-trailer rear-end collision involving neck and back surgery. Jury awarded approximately $234,000 and found no permanent injury.

Robinson v. Freeman
Plaintiff’s Requested Award: $900,000
Verdict: Complete Defense Verdict
Date: 2022
Summary: Rear-end collision at a red light with admitted liability. Jury found Defendant’s negligence was not the legal cause of Plaintiff’s injuries.

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