Steven E. Sellers practices in business litigation with an emphasis on construction law, and he is certified by The Florida Bar as having expertise in Business
Litigation, Civil Trial, and Construction Law. He is available as an arbitrator through the American Arbitration Association or as a private arbitrator.
Areas of Practice
Arbitrator
Construction Law
Business Litigation
Legal Involvement
The Florida Bar (FBN 0002828), admitted April 1994 (high score on the bar exam in the First District)
Board Certified in Construction Law (2005-present)
Board Certified in Business Litigation (2012-present)
Board Certified in Civil Trial (2013-present)
Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section, member (2006-present)
Construction Law Committee
Peer review on construction law article (December 2010)
Instructor for Annual Certification Review Course on Prompt Pay Laws (March 2012)
Case reviewer for monthly phone meetings (2014-2017)
Construction Law Certification Committee (2012-2017)
Vice-Chair (2015-2016)
Chair (2017)
Construction Law Annual Meeting Committee (2014-2017)
Prepared materials for Construction Law Update (2015 and 2016)
Presenter on Case Law and Legislative Update (2016)
Presenter on Case Law and Legislative Update (2017)
Civil Trial Section, member (2012-present)
Grievance Committee (A), Second Circuit (2014-2017)
Vice-Chair (2015-2017)
Chair (2017)
United States District Court, Northern District, admitted March 1996
Tallahassee Bar Association, member (2000-present)
Nominating Committee (2013)
Membership Committee (2013-2014)
Co-Chair (2014)
Budget Committee (2014)
YLD Award Committee (2016)
CLE Committee (2016-2017)
Jefferson County Bar Association, member (2011-present)
Stafford Inn of Court, Master Attorney (2011-2018), Alumni Status (2018-present)
Co-presenter on ethical issues in To Kill A Mockingbird (January 2012)
Co-presenter on jury selection and related issues (January 2013)
Co-presenter on attorneys' fee (2016)
Membership Chair (2013-2015)
Treasurer (2015-2018)
Presenter for Continuing Legal Education
Co-presenter to the Florida Association of Legal Support Specialists on Mediation and Arbitration (January 2013)
Presenter for The Tallahassee Bar First Annual Legal Community Conference on Civil Law Review (September 2013)
Co-preparer of materials at The Construction Law Institute on Civil Case and Statutory Law Review (March 2015, 2016, and 2017, with Harry Malka)
Presenter for Construction Education
Presenter on construction issues at the University of Florida School of Building Construction
Co-presenter to Tallahassee Builders Association on Lien Law and Practical Issues (February 2015, with Fred Dudley)
Presenter for Justice Teaching
Co-Presenter to AMIKids (October 2013, November 2013, January 2014, February 2014, March 2014)
Judge for Legal Education and Competitions
University of Florida Appellate Advocacy Oral Arguments (April 2009)
University of Florida Appellate Advocacy Oral Arguments (April 2010)
University of Florida Appellate Advocacy Oral Arguments (April 2011)
Leon County Teen Court (September 2011)
Deerlake Middle School Mock Trial (March 2012)
Montford Middle School Mock Trial (March 2012)
Leon County Teen Court (March 2012)
University of Florida Appellate Advocacy Oral Arguments (April 2012)
1984-1990 Building Contractor (Florida license no. CBC034444)
Sellers Construction, Inc. (1987-1990)
1993-1995 Law Clerk to the Honorable Ben F. Overton, Florida Supreme Court
1995-2000 Associate Lawyer for Cummings, Lawrence & Vezina, P.A. and Vezina, Lawrence & Piscitelli, P.A.
2000-2014 Sellers Law Firm, P.L., Tallahassee, Florida. Sole practitioner with general practice concentrated in civil litigation and construction law matters
including construction defects, contract drafting and disputes, performance and payment bond claims, bid protests, lien claims, and professional negligence. Clients
include plaintiffs and defendants, public and private owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, sureties, corporations and individuals. Representative clients
include the Florida Supreme Court, Florida State University, the Seminole Boosters, and Alachua County. Venues include state and federal courts, appellate courts,
administrative entities, and arbitrations.
2014-present Dudley, Sellers & Healy, P.L., Tallahassee, Florida. Member of firm with general practice concentrated in civil litigation and construction law
matters including construction defects, contract drafting and disputes, payment bond claims, lien claims, and professional negligence. Clients include plaintiffs
and defendants, private owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, corporations and individuals.
In excess of 28 trials and arbitrations in commercial cases since 2005.
Arbitration Experience
Continuing Education
Administered v Ad Hoc Arbitration – Which Should You Choose? (AAA, 2016)
Arbitration Your Way – Considerations When Drafting Arbitration Clauses (AAA, 2016)
Drafting Arbitration Clauses – The Basics and Beyond (AAA, 2016)
Developments in Arbitration Law: Non-Signatories, Discovery and Vacatur (AAA, February 2017)
American Arbitration Association Panel Member (2017-present)
Expert Witness
2010 – Attorneys' fee expert for client in first party property insurance case ($237,600 awarded)
2010 – Attorneys' fee expert for Florida Department of Transportation
2011 – Attorneys' fee expert for client in construction defect litigation ($254,013 awarded)
2013 – Attorneys' fee expert for The Florida Bar in a disciplinary case
Admissions
The Florida Bar
All State Courts in Florida
Federal Court – Northern District of Florida
Education
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
Bachelor of Building Construction (May 1983)
Student Senate
Beta Theta Pi social fraternity
House Manager
Big Brothers/Big Sisters, volunteer
Juris Doctor, High Honors, University of Florida (August 1993)
Order of the Coif
Book Awards in Federal Civil Procedure and Legal Drafting
Teaching Assistant in Appellate Advocacy
Journal of Law and Public Policy, member
Community Involvement
Boy Scouts of America
Cub Master, Pack 194 (2002-2003)
Christ Classical Academy - Private School
Board Member (2005-2010)
Board Vice President (2005-2008) Board President (2008-2010)