Jeffrey Crockett
Partner
jcrockett@coffeyburlington.com
Jeff Crockett is a lawyer’s lawyer. He has an “exceptional command of the law.” Jeff’s more than 40 years of trial and appeals has covered a vast legal landscape. Board Certified in Appellate Law, his practice focuses on commercial litigation, trial and appeals, and white-collar criminal defense in state and federal trial and appellate courts. He has tried more than fifty jury trials to verdict and argued more than fifty appellate matters. In addition, Jeff has been involved in a wide range of matters involving breach of contract and various business torts, securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty (including partnership disputes), civil rights violations, defamation, and constitutional law issues.
Representative Experiences
Though all cases vary and none is predictive, Jeff’s recent experience includes:
- Lead counsel at trial and successfully argued Eleventh Circuit appeal upholding $4 million damages award in section 1983 constitutional claim proving that county government violated the commerce clause. Transp. Servs., Inc. v. Miami-Dade Cnty., 703 F.3d 1230 (11th Cir. 2012). After the Supreme Court denied certiorari, fees and costs of $2 million were paid.
- Succeeded in the Eleventh Circuit in reversing a district court order vacating a multi-million dollar arbitration award in favor of our client. Gherardi v. Citigroup Global Markets, 975 F. 3d 1232 (11th Cir. 2020).
- Succeeded in the Third District Court of Appeals in upholding a trial court order in favor of the borrower, finding a $1.6 million dollar mortgage agreement to be unconscionably harsh. Shedd 2-FL1, LLC v. 801 Hialeah Drive LLC, 365 So.3d 1158 (Fla. 3d DCA 2023).
- Succeeded in trial and appellate court in upholding landlord’s right to remove commercial tenant and reject attempted right of option to purchase property. FM3 Liquors Inc. v. Bien-Aime, 319 So. 3d 706 (Fla. 3d DCA 2021).
- Part of trial team which won in federal district court a multi-million dollar verdict against a major manufacturer by its Florida distributor.
- Won jury trial with partner Robert Burlington in a white collar economic crimes prosecution in federal district court in which the firm’s client was acquitted on every count (19) alleged against him by the government.
Professional and Community Involvement
- Board member and Officer, Third District Court of Appeal Historical Society, President 2024
- Board of Directors and Officer, Harvard Club of Miami
- Past President and Board member, Federal Bar Association
- Past President and Board member, Legal Services of Greater Miami
- Board member, Legal Services of Greater Miami Foundation
- Plymouth Congregational Church, active member
Awards and Recognition
- AV rated by Martindale Hubbell
- Miami Legal Elite
- Top Attorneys in Florida, 2024
- Super Lawyers
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Miami White Collar Crime Squad’s award for sustained prosecutorial excellence.
VCARD
Education
- Yale Law School, JD, 1981
- Harvard College, Economics, Phi Beta Kappa, 1978
Admitted to Practice
- The Florida Bar
- Board Certified in Appellate Law
- Supreme Court of the United States
- Former Assistant United States Attorney, 1985-1989
- US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Trial Bar
- Eleventh Circuit, Ninth Circuit, Second Circuit Federal Courts of Appeal
Teaching
- Taught Florida Constitutional Law at University of Miami Law School, 2013-2022
Clerkships
- Law Clerk, Judge Anthony Kennedy, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Practice Focus
- Appellate Law
- Constitutional Law
- Professional Liability
- Complex Commercial and Trial Practice
- Federal White-Collar Crime and Trial Practice