Susan Cole is a distinguished trial lawyer with more than 40 years of trial experience. She defends clients in products liability, construction defect, wrongful death, medical malpractice and asbestos trials. Susan has tried over 150 cases to verdict, including more than 100 cases on behalf of manufacturers and distributors of friction, building supply and pump products alleged to have contained asbestos. Recognized as one of the leading asbestos defense counsel in the country on the issues of medical causation and the science of asbestos, Susan is often called upon on the eve of trial to assist defendants with the cross-examination of medical and scientific experts. 

Susan's experience in the construction space includes cases involving structure, masonry, HVAC and roofing materials, and she has tried playground equipment cases to verdict. She also has experience defending cases involving alleged psychological damage to children and adults, including severe psychiatric reactions as a result of trauma. She recently obtained a defense verdict in a case involving the device that administers electroconvulsive therapy to severely ill psychiatric patients. 

Susan applies her educational background in the sciences to her defense of products liability cases. In addition to earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in organic chemistry, biology and biochemistry, Susan previously served as an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Miami. She was introduced to the early programming of computers (mainframes) while at UM. 

Her grounding in the sciences enables her to see the strengths and weaknesses in a client’s product and to act vigorously in their defense. She brings a critical understanding of the science and technology of the product, as well as the legal application to the intricacies of the product, and can take on the scientific expert witness on the expert’s own level. 

Susan is a Supreme Court–certified circuit court mediator and a board-certified civil trial lawyer. She presents frequently at professional conferences on toxic tort litigation and ethics and teaches at the annual Advanced Trial Advocacy Workshop hosted by the Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar. 

Outside of her legal practice, Susan volunteers with the Executive Board of the Florida Foundation for Future Scientists and helps run the annual Florida State Science and Engineering Fair.