Bull & Associates, P.A.
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Stephen M. Bull 
Orlando, Florida
President, since 1978
phone (407) 843-5291
fax (407) 843-4920
email smbull@bull-law.com

Our founding attorney, Stephen M. Bull, graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 1968 and with a law degree in 1973.   Prior to law school, he worked as a facilities engineer (mainly piping design) for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Company in West Palm Beach, a project engineer for E.I. duPont deNemours in Richmond, Virginia, and a co-op engineer in the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Georgia Power Company in Atlanta, Georgia.

After law school, Mr. Bull served as in-house counsel for a consulting environmental and civil engineering firm, Black Crow and Eidsness, Inc. in Gainesville, Florida from 1974 to 1976.  In 1976, he moved to Orlando to enter the private practice of law concentrating in the area of construction law, representing owners, architects, engineers, surveyors, sureties, insurers, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.  Since entering private practice, Mr. Bull has been involved in legal disputes in over 900 construction projects throughout Florida from Key West to Pensacola and in the southeast.

In the general insurance area, Mr. Bull has represented insurers and defendants on personal injury and property damage cases involving damages from high voltage switchgear and underground lines, ultralight aircraft, fire extinguishers, fire sprinkler systems, slip and falls, termiticide, termite damage, PCE contamination, premises liability, road construction accidents, auto accidents, train accidents, all terrain vehicles, industrial machinery, tie-down clamps, roof collapses, mold, mildew, indoor air quality contamination, and coverage disputes.  In the personal injury and property damage cases, he has gravitated toward those cases involving complex technical issues, due to his mechanical engineering background.

He is active on various committees of The Florida Bar and American Bar Association dealing with construction and surety law.  He is also an approved attorney for the Attorney's Title Insurance Fund for the real property title and conveyance matters.  He has an AV rating (highest available) from Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Bull has served on the Board of the Central Florida Advisory Council, and his is presently serving on the National Panel of Construction Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association. In 1993, he was the recipient of the American Arbitration Association's Distinguished Service Award.  He served as a Board Member on the City of Orlando Historic Preservation Commission from 1983-1985.  Mr. Bull is active in several professional groups such as the Florida Defense Lawyers Association, Associated General Contractors of America, Associated Builders and Contractors, and the Florida Engineering Society, having served as Chairman of the Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee of the Central Florida Chapter from 1993 to 1996.  He is also a Certified Circuit Court and Appellate Mediator.

Areas of Practice:
Business & Commercial Law
Commercial Mediation and Arbitration
Construction Law
Environmental Law
Fidelity & Surety
Government Contracts
Litigation
Personal Injury -- Defense
Premises and Product Liability
Products Liability Law
Bar Admissions:
Florida, 1974
U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida, 1976
U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 1976
U.S. Supreme Court, 1988
U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1981
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1977
Education:
University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida, 1973
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence


University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1968
B.S.M.E., Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering


Published Works:
Remedies, Exaggerated Liens, Misapplication of Funds, and Statutory Interpretation of Florida's Construction Lien Law, Lorman Education Services, April 30, 2004


Legal Aspects of the Practice of Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, Jan. 14, 2002


Construction Contracting - Bonding on Public Works Projects, Lorman Education Services, July 13, 2000


Construction Lien Law and Strategies in Florida - Enforcement of Construction Liens, National Business Institute, March 17, 2000


Construction Contracting for Public Entities- Bonding on Public Works Projects, Lorman Education Services, July 29, 1999


Advanced Construction Law - Contract Clauses; Ethical Considerations for Construction Lawyers, National Business Institute, Sept. 24,1998


Advanced Construction Law, National Business Institute, Apr. 17, 1997


Construction Law - From Contract to Chain of Liability - Owners and Sureties - Recent Case Developments, CLE International Construction Committee Conference, Feb. 28, 1997


Construction Liens in Florida, Lorman Education Services, Jan. 21, 1994


Statute of Limitation for Design Professionals - Review and Update, VOSC - Invited Attorney's Conference, May 9, 1988


Professional Liability - Recent Case Developments, Florida Engneering Society Journal, November, 1985


In Defense of the Design Professional, Florida Bar CLE - Construction Contract Litigation VIII, May 25, 1984


Florida's New Statutes of Limitations for Engineers: What Liability After 15 Years? Florida Engineering Journal, Vol. 34, January, 1981


Surety's Dilemma: Contest Over Stored Materials-Performance and Payment Bond Obligations v. Trustee's Right to Recover, 1978


Minimizing Professional Hazards, Journal of American Society of Agricultural Engineers


Voidable Preference: Surety's Dilemma Contest Over Stored Materials, Westfield 4th Annual Bond Claim Seminar


Representative Cases:
CH2M Hill Southeast, Inc. v. Pinellas County, 598 So.2d 85 (Fla.App. 2 Dist. 1992)
Holsapple v. Ducker, 721 So. 2d 1254 (Fla 5th DCA 1998)
City of Wildwood v. Gibbs & Register, Inc., 694 So. 2d 763 (Fla 5th DCA 1997)
Utica Mut. Ins. Co. v. Pennsylvania Nat. Mut. Cas. Ins. Co., 639 So. 2d 41 (Fla 5th DCA 1994)
Aagaard - Juergensen, Inc. v. Lettelier, 579 So.2d 404 (Fla 5th DCA 1991)
Post Tensioned Engineering Corp. v. Fairways Plaza Associates, 429 So. 2d 1212 (Fla 3d DCA 1983)
Black, Crow & Eidsness, Inc. v. Asphalt Paving Company of Florida, Inc., 372 So. 2d 1011 (Fla 4th DCA 1979)
Suckle v. Cincinnati Ins. Co., 348 So. 2d 1161 (Fla 2d DCA 1977)
Reliance Ins. Co. v. Barile Excavating & Pipeline Co. Inc., 685 F. Supp. 839 (M.D. Fla 1988)
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Legislation Relating to Transportation Engineers, Orlando, FL - ASCE, June 28, 2007


Law of Surveying, Orlando - Corporate Seminar, June 1, 2007


Legal Issues for Florida Professional Engineers, Orlando - Half Moon, LLC, November 10, 2005


Florida Construction Lien Law, Orlando - Lorman Education Services, April 30, 2004


Construction Liens, Sanford, FL - Corporate Seminar, November 5, 2003


Legal Aspects of the Practice of Engineering, Orlando - American Society of Civil Engineers, January 14, 2002


Construction Contracting - Bonding on Public Works Projects, Orlando - Lorman Education Services, July 19, 2000


Construction Lien Law and Strategies in Florida, Orlando - National Business Institute, March 17, 2000


Construction Lien Law and Strategies in Florida - Enforcement of Construction Liens, Orlando - National Business Institute, April 23, 1999


Construction Insurance, Orlando - University of North Florida Business Fraternity, February 27, 1999


Advanced Construction Law in Florida - Construction Management; Contract Clauses; and Ethical Considerations for Construction Lawyers, Orlando - National Business Institute, September 24, 1998


Construction Contracting for Public Entities - Resolving Construction Claims, Orlando - Lorman Education Services, October 15, 1997


Construction Law - Contract Documents, Orlando - AGC, June 2, 1997


Advanced Construction Law - Contract Clauses and Delay Claims, Orlando National Business Institute, April 17, 1997


Construction Law Conference, Orlando - CLE International, February 28, 1997


Construction Law for Business Attorneys, Orlando - Orange County Bar Association Committee on Business Law, January 9, 1997


Individual Liability of Contractors for Workplace Injuries, Orlando - AGC, September 11, 1996


Liability Concerns of Mechanical Engineers, Melbourne - Florida Institute of Technology Department of Mechanical Engineering, September 9, 1996


Use of Experts in Construction Cases, Gainesville - University of Florida Law School, March 20, 1996


Construction Claims, Orlando - American Society of Plumbing Engineers, February 28, 1996


Claims Against Surveyors, Orlando - Florida Society of Professional Land Surveyors, October 5, 1995


Liability from the Operator to the CEO, Las Vegas - Professional Development Conference, November 5, 1993


Claims Involving Land Surveyors, Orlando - Florida Society of Professional Land Surveyors, July 21, 1993


Engineering Aspects of Product Liability, Gainesville - University of Florida Law School, November 12, 1992


Advanced Arbitration Training, American Arbitration Association, December 12, 1991


Choices for Dispute Resolution, Orlando - Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers, February 1, 1991


Construction Claims, Orlando - American Society of Plumbing Engineers, September 26, 1989


Claims Avoidance, Tampa - Florida Engineering Society, May 18, 1989


Reducing Liability in Professional Practice, Miami - American Society of Landscape Architects, 1988


Design and Construction Claims against Landscape Architects, Miami - American Society of Landscape Architects, 1986


Statutes of Limitation for Design Professionals - Review and Update, Savannah - VOSC - Invited Attorneys' Conference, May 9, 1985


In Defense of the Design Professional, Tampa - Florida Bar CLE - Construction Contract Litigation VIII, May 25, 1984


Minimizing Professional Hazards, Orlando - American Society of Agricultural Engineers


Honors and Awards:
American Arbitration Association's Distinguished Service Award, 1993


Selected by his peers to be included in the List of Orlando's Best Lawyers 2007 under Construction Law, Orlando Magazine, February, 2007


Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Bar Association, 1974 - Present
Member


Florida Bar Association, 1974 - Present
Member


Orange County Bar Association, 1976 - Present
Member


Florida Engineering Society, 1974 - Present
Associate Member


National Society of Professional Engineers, 1974 - Present
Associate Member


American Arbitration Association Central Florida Advisory Council, 1991 - 1993
Board Member


American Arbitration Association
Member, Natonal Panel of Construction Arbitrators


Associated Builders and Contractors, 1978 - Present
Associate Member


Associated General Contractors of America, 1976 - Present
Associate Member


City of Orlando Historic Preservation Commission, 1983 - 1985
Board Member


Attorney's Title Insurance Fund, 1976 - Present
Member


Past Employment Positions:
Black Crow and Eidsness, Inc. (Civil and Environmental Engineering Firm), House Counsel, 1974 - 1976


Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Co., Facilities Engineer, 1969 - 1971


E.I. duPont deNemours, Project Engineer, 1968 - 1969


Georgia Power Company, Co-op Engineer, 1965 - 1967



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B&A



Bull & Associates, P.A.
Suite 950, 111 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: (407) 843-5291   Fax: (407) 843-4920   E-mail: bullfirm@bull-law.com