Ernest "Ernie" J. Myers has over 30 years of experience and is a member of the firm’s General Liability practice defending a broad range of insurance defense cases ranging from premises liability, negligent security, construction litigation, and automobile accidents. He is also an experienced appellate practitioner and commercial litigator. Ernie also has experience in first-party and third-party property and casualty insurance litigation, insurance coverage litigation, bad faith litigation, insurance fraud and SIU support, and firearms law. He is also available to represent attorneys on Florida Bar grievance matters.
Ernie earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Temple University and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida in 1992. Ernie is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Education:
- J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law
- B.A., in Real Estate and Business Law, magna cum laude, Temple University
Professional Affiliations:
- Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, 1993-present (charter member)
- Orange County Bar Association, 1995-present
Honors & Distinctions:
- AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
- The Florida Bar Meritorious Public Service Award, Grievance Committee Chair
Speaking Engagements:
- “Ethical Claims Adjustment & Investigation,” Nationwide Insurance Company; Metropolitan Property & Casualty Insurance Company; Seminole Casualty Insurance Co.
- “Florida Assignment of Benefits Reform,” Safe Harbor Insurance Company
- “Auto Insurance: Uninsured, Underinsured and Accident Litigation,” Lorman Education Services
- “Third-Party Accident Litigation,” Lorman Education Services
- “Ethical Considerations for Attorneys and Adjusters,” Lorman Education Services
- “Lawyers, Guns & Money: Ingredients for Ethical Challenges,” NRA Annual National Firearms Law Seminar
- “State and Federal Firearms Law,” National Business Institute (NBI)
- “Auto Bad Faith,” Lorman Education Services
- “A Review of the Adjuster Code of Ethics,” Orlando Claims Association; DIF-SIU Conference
- “Spoliation of Evidence,” Orlando Claims Association
Representative Experience:
- Williams-Yulee v. Florida Bar, 575 U.S. 433 (2015) (The State may conclude that judges, charged with exercising strict neutrality and independence, cannot supplicate campaign donors without diminishing public confidence in judicial integrity)
- Blitz Telecom Consulting, LLC v. Peerless Network, Inc., 727 Fed. Appx. 562 (11th Cir. 2018) (Affirmance of jury verdict for over $2 million in favor of client in complex telecommunication commercial litigation)
- Doyle v. Liberty Life Assur. Co. of Boston, 542 F.3d 1352 (11th Cir. 2008) (Changed the Eleventh Circuit’s standard of review for ERISA disability cases)
- The Florida Bar v. Williams-Yulee, 138 So. 3d 379 (Fla. 2014), aff’d sub nom. Williams-Yulee v. Florida Bar, 575 U.S. 433 (2015) (Disapproving referee’s findings of fact and recommendation of guilt of client accused of violating Rules Regulating The Florida Bar)
- Spruce Creek Dev. Co., of Ocala, Inc. v. Drew, 746 So. 2d 1109 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999) (Reversal of jury verdict against client due to errors made pre-trial and compounded at trial)
Community Involvement:
- United States Naval Academy, Admissions Office, Blue and Gold Officer, 2021-present
- Town of Windermere, Florida, Code Enforcement Special Magistrate, 2013-present
- Orange County Teen Court, Judge, 2003-present
- Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Member of Board of Directors, 2022-present
- Commonwealth of Kentucky, The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, 2025-present