Eric J. Stockel

Partner / Boca Raton

P: 561.990.1699

Eric J. Stockel is recognized as both an accomplished general liability defense attorney who has represented many of the largest insurance companies and commercial businesses and an experienced admiralty and maritime law civil litigator in the United States and internationally. In his role as a general liability defense attorney, he concentrates on claims related to first-third-party property damage, construction defect, premises/product liability, complex general liability matters, insurance subrogation and coverage litigation, among other areas. In maritime cases, he represents employers and insurance carriers in all aspects of claims under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (and its extensions), the Jones Act and general maritime law.

Eric is frequently asked to analyze insurance policy language and render opinions on the scope and extent of an insurer’s responsibilities in underlying personal injury or casualty litigation and regularly serves as coverage counsel, in addition to representative for insurance carriers in declaratory judgment actions concerning coverage issues – providing him with invaluable insight into clients’ needs and the most efficient, effective and creative measures to accomplish in depth, practical business solutions. With utmost integrity and a focus on open and authentic communication with both clients and colleagues, Eric finds success based on the balance of evidence and his ability to understand and empathize with his clients.

Practice Areas

Practice Areas

  • General Liability
  • Admiralty and Maritime
  • Business Transactions
  • Defense Base Act
  • Federal Workers’ Compensation
  • Insurance
  • Labor and Employment
  • Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
  • Premises Liability
  • Subrogation
  • Transportation
  • Trucking
  • Commercial Litigation

Education

  • B.A., Syracuse University
  • J.D., Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
    • Touro Law Review
      • Associate Editor (1995-1996)
      • Research Editor (1996-1997)

Court Admissions

  • All Florida State and Federal Courts
  • All New York State Courts
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • All New Jersey State and Federal Courts

Representative Cases

  • Crigler v. Chemonics Int’l, Inc., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 138520 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 16, 2018) – Summary
    • Judgment granted, dismissing case for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction, after demonstrating that the petitioner failed to present a final, formal compensation order capable of judicial enforcement pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 921(d) of the Longshore and Harbors Workers’ Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 901 et. seq., as extended by the Defense Base Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1651 et. seq.
  • Chubb Indemnity Ins. Co. v. Stoyanovich, 121 So.3d 607 (Fla. 4th DCA 2013) – Reversal of the trial court’s dismissal of claims of negligence and breach of bailment on erroneous grounds that any causes of action for damages arising out of an oral contract to marry are barred in Florida pursuant to Gill v. Shively, 320 So.2d 415 (Fla. 4th DCA 1975).
  • Cinematropical Pictures (LLC) v. Collins Fish & Seafood, Inc., (Miami-Dade Circuit Court Case No. 2007-CA-000603) – $300,000 subrogation recovery after tainted fish shut down a movie set while filming in South Florida. Approximately 24 members of a movie cast and crew experienced immediate and classic symptoms of food poisoning after they were served marlin fish for lunch.
  • Presuit Subrogation Recovery for Fire From Spontaneous Combustion – $1,000,000 subrogation recovery after the owner of a $35 million home hired a painting company to perform painting and staining work in the home; a fire broke out causing substantial damage.
  • Presuit Subrogation Recovery Against Negligent Security Company – $700,000 subrogation recovery against a security company, hired by the landlord to guard a warehouse park, after the insured/tenant had its inventory of computer hardware — PCs, disk drives, monitors, etc. — stolen from the storage facility at the warehouse park.
  • Pagenet, Inc. v. Fla. Dept. of Revenue, 896 So.2d 824 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005) – Reversal of the trial court, agreeing that a taxpayer who sues in circuit court to challenge an assessment has the right to petition for other security arrangements in lieu of paying or posting a bond for the full amount of the contested taxes.
  • Nationwide Mutual Ins. Co. v. Sun-Kissed Promotions, Inc., et al., Case No. 05-CIV-61281 (S.D. Fla. 1999) – Settlement for a client in excess of $170,000 after successfully obtaining a declaration that the insured’s liability policy, which excluded coverage for the employer’s obligation under Florida’s workers’ compensation laws, did not apply to an independent contractor working for the employer.
  • Johnson v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd., Case No. 99-cv-02396-PCH (S.D. Fla. 1999) – Defense verdict in an employment liability/discrimination action alleging age and sex discrimination under state and federal laws, violation of the Equal Pay Act, breach of contract and retaliation.
  • Hutton v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd. and Stewart v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd., Case No. 99-2383-CIV-Moreno (S.D. Florida 2000) – Class certification denied in consolidated cases brought by passengers for emotional distress and personal injury claims after a collision in the English Channel.
  • United States of America v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd., Case No. 01-00244-CIC-King (S.D. Fla. 2001) – Americans With Disabilities Act violation claim brought by the Department of Justice wherein a favorable settlement was achieved.
  • United States of America v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd., 2001 WL 34677399 (S.D. Fla., May 25, 2001) – Favorable ruling on the Department of Justice’s motion for order to show cause as to why the cruise line should not be held in contempt.

Honors and Distinctions

  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Top Lawyer in Florida, The Legal Network, 2013-2020
  • Top Lawyer in South Florida, South Florida Legal Guide, Classes of 2016-2020
  • Lead Counsel Rated

Published Works

  • “Recent Developments in Admiralty and Maritime Law,” ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal, Winter 2017 (Contributing Author)
  • Comment, Mixture or Substance: Continuing Disparity Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines §2D1.1, 12 TOURO L. REV. 205 (Fall 1995)
  • New York State Constitutional Decisions: 1995 Compilation, 12 TOURO L. REV. 1113-31, 1136-46, Spring 1996 (Contributing Author)
  • Note, United States v. Virginia: Does Intermediate Scrutiny Still Exist? 13 TOURO L. REV. 229, Fall 1996
  • Note, Brown v. State of New York: Judge Simons Says New York State Can Be Held Liable for Money Damages, 13 TOURO L. REV. 653, Spring 1997
  • Notice of Alibi – Procedures and Pitfalls, 26 N.Y. CRIM. L. NEWS 1, 1997
  • New York’s Expanded D.N.A. Database, 35 N.Y. CRIM. L. NEWS 1, 1999 (Coauthor)

Classes and Seminars Taught

  • Bodily Injury Case Law, CEU Institute for Allstate Insurance, February 2018
  • Jurisdictional Considerations in Longshore, Jones Act & State Workers’ Compensation Claims (and a few other items), for Zurich, North America, May 2017
  • Marine Workers Compensation: An Introduction, WCI Annual Workers’ Compensation Educational Conference, August 2017
  • Spoliation of Evidence: Smoking Gun or Just a Toy?, CEU Institute for Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc., September 2016
  • Taxing Issues Concerning Workers’ Compensation–Longshore & Jones Subrogation Recovery Principles, CEU Institute for Sedgwick CMS, April 2016
  • Liability Defense & Subrogation, CEU Institute for York Insurance Group, July 2015
  • Subrogation Recovery Principles, CEU Institute for AIG, July 2015
  • Subrogation Recovery, CEU Institute for Sedgwick CMS, February 2015
  • Subrogation Recovery Principles, CEU Institute for CNA National Webinar, February 2015
  • Recognized Potential Subrogation With Emphasis on Initial Investigation, CEU Institute for NARS, July 2014

Professional Memberships

  • Claims Litigation Management
  • Defense Research Institute
  • National Association of Subrogation Professionals
  • Broward County Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar
  • New York State Bar Association
  • New Jersey State Bar Association