Attorney Profiles
STEVEN E. EARLE
Steven E. Earle was raised in Destin, Florida. His father was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, and his mother continues to work as a teacher in Florida public schools. Mr. Earle graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School and followed Danny Wuerffel from Destin to the home of the Gators: the Swamp. At the University of Florida, Mr. Earle graduated with honors, obtaining a degree in Business B.S.B.A in Finance, Minor in Economics, and a Juris Doctorate of Law in 2000.
While in law school, Mr. Earle worked as a certified legal intern representing clients in criminal cases within Gainesville and Alachua County. During the summers, he worked for William Dennis Brannon in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, doing research for his personal injury practice, and also studied abroad at the University of Montpellier in Montpellier, France, with the University of Florida’s Summer Law program. Following graduation he continued representing clients in criminal cases within the Ninth Judicial Circuit (Orange and Osceola County), gaining valuable courtroom experience with a number of successful jury trials.
In 2001, Mr. Earle began working with James N. Powers representing personal injury clients. As an attorney in civil practice, Mr. Earle has represented hundreds of clients in cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, premises liability, railroad crossing accidents, negligent security, products liability, defective pharmaceuticals, workplace injuries, life insurance, homeowners insurance, health insurance, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, prescription errors, injuries to children, brain injuries, and wrongful death. As a result of working on numerous complex cases, Mr. Earle has cultivated relationships with experts in various fields including accident reconstruction, human factors experts, road and bridge engineering, OSHA regulations, FDA regulations, FHSMV, FDOT, DOT, and state/local building codes. In 2006, Mr. Earle founded the law firm of Earle & Smith with C. Todd Smith. The firm’s mission is to help people in need who have been injured due to the negligence of others by focusing on service to clients.
Mr. Earle is a member of the Florida Bar and is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Mr. Earle is a member of the Florida Justice Association (formerly known as the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers), American Association for Justice (formerly known as the American Trial Lawyer Association), Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association, Orange County Bar Association, and is a Guardian Ad Litem Volunteer for the Orlando Legal Aid Society.
In addition to his work in the legal community, Mr. Earle is proud to support the Edgewood Children's Ranch providing a safe, supportive, Christ-centered educational opportunity to troubled youth and their families. Mr. Earle also supports the Christ School and the Weekday School in Orlando. The Earles are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Orlando and Mr. Earle has been honored to serve as a deacon. Mr. Earle has been tremendously blessed with his lovely wife, Cari, and their two daughters, Caroline and Ava.
C. Todd Smith
C. Todd Smith grew up in Central Florida and attended Apopka High School before obtaining a degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. He then attended the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and graduated in 1994. While in law school, Mr. Smith was a member of the American Trial Lawyer Association Trial Team, Henry Upson Sims Moot Court Board, Order of the Barristers, and International Law Moot Court Team. Mr. Smith was awarded several honors in law school including the Best Advocate Award in the Robert Donworth Freshman Moot Court Competition.
As an attorney, Mr. Smith began his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in Orange County, Florida. Mr. Smith maintained a large case load representing clients charged with all types of misdemeanor and felony offenses, and gained valuable experience as a trial attorney handling many jury trials to verdict. Mr. Smith went into private practice in 1998 and began representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases. Since that time, Mr. Smith has represented hundreds of clients in all aspects of personal injury cases, including wrongful death cases, automobile accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, negligent security cases, products liability, false arrest, and first party insurance disputes. In 2006, Mr. Smith founded the law firm of Earle & Smith with Steven E. Earle. The firm’s mission is to help people in need who have been injured due to the negligence of others by focusing on service to clients.
Mr. Smith was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1994 and is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Mr. Smith is a member of the Florida Justice Association, American Association for Justice, Central Florida Trial Lawyers Association, Orange County Bar Association, and is a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer for the Orlando Legal Aid Society. Mr. Smith is a member of the Kiwanis Club of East Orlando and a past president. Mr. Smith has also served as Chair of Interclub Relations for the Florida District of Kiwanis. Through his involvement with Kiwanis, Mr. Smith participates in numerous charitable service projects benefiting the Orlando community, including projects to help UCP of Central Florida, Boys and Girls Club, Cherokee School, Esteem Academy of Hospital Homebound, Meals on Wheels, and the Hubbard House. Mr. Smith has also served two terms as president of Executive Exchange of Central Florida.