Derrick R. Connell is the managing partner of the Melbourne and Titusville, Florida offices of Morgan & Morgan, P.A. Derrick’s primary practice focuses on representing clients injured in serious automobile collisions, wrongful death, premises liability, general personal injury cases, and other forms of negligence. Derrick believes that everyone deserves the best possible representation no matter how big or small their case. Each of his cases is handled with the same focus and care.
Over the years, Derrick has obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients. He is no stranger in the courtroom. Some of Derrick’s recent verdicts include: $1.6 million (motor vehicle crash); $1.14 million (motor vehicle crash), $150,000 (trip and fall), $327,000 (auto negligence), $106,000 (motor vehicle crash), $75,000 (pedestrian accident), and $550,000 (auto negligence). Additionally, in what was said to be the first successful trial of its nature, Derrick helped his client prevail in a multi-week complex product liability trial against a major corporation. Derrick has secured excess verdicts in numerous motor vehicle collision trials. In addition to trial victories, Derrick has recovered millions of dollars in settlements for his deserving clients.
Derrick has been named Top 40 under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers for six straight years; named a “Rising Star” by Florida Super Lawyers magazine- an annual publication that recognizes the top 2.5% of the state’s young lawyers; and given an AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell - this rating signifies that his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence for his legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. In 2018, he was selected as a Top Ranked Lawyer by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell.
Derrick is a member of the Brevard County Bar Association and the Florida Justice Association. He is a recipient of the Bronze Eagle Award, presented by the FJA; recipient of the Judge T. Mitchell Barlow Young Lawyer Professionalism Award; and is a past BCBA Young Lawyers Board Member.
Derrick, a Lanier County Georgia native, earned his Bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University, his Master of Business Administration from Stetson University, and his Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law with a Concentration in Advocacy. While in law school, Mr. Connell was a teaching assistant, Stetson Ambassador, Student Bar Association Member and recipient of the William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award. Mr. Connell was honored as a recipient of the Victor O. Wehle Trial Advocacy Award, inducted into The National Order of Barristers and awarded the prestigious Edward D. Foreman Most Distinguished Student Award. In 2015, Valdosta State University presented Derrick with the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus award. As a member of Stetson’s nationally ranked Trial Team, Mr. Connell was a two-time National Trial Champion. He first won the AAJ STAC, beating over 240 teams from law schools around the country. Then in 2009, Mr. Connell won the National Civil Trial Competition, where he was named the Best Advocate in both the preliminary and final rounds - a first for this event. He was also a Moot Court Board Associate Justice - winning the 2009 E. Earle Zehmer Moot Court Competition.
Mr. Connell was a Judicial Intern to the Honorable Judge D. Horrox and the Honorable Judge D. Demers, a Certified Legal Intern in The Sixth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office and a Legal Intern for the United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida. Derrick is married to Kelly R. Connell and together they have two sons and daughter.
Awards & Recognitions
•Top 40 Under 40 should have 2014, 2015, 2016
•Super Lawyers Rising Star 2015, 2016
•2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award: Valdosta State University
•10 Best in Client Satisfaction: American Institute of Personal Injury Lawyers - 2015
•AV Preeminent: Martindale-Hubbell
•National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Top One Percent - 2015
•The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40
•Judge T. Mitchell Barlow Young Lawyer Professionalism Award, 2014
•Lawyer to Legacy 2011 Bronze Eagle Award, Florida Justice Association
•Edward D. Foreman Award
•Victor O. Wehle Trial Advocacy Award
•2009 National Civil Trial Competition: National Champion & Overall Best Advocate
•2009 AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition, National Champion
•2009 E. Earle Zehmer Moot Court Competition, Champion
•William F. Blews Pro Bono Service Award
•2018 Top Ranked Lawyer, American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell
News & Insights
Florida Jury Awards $2 Million Verdict in Personal Injury Case
Brevard County jury awards Palm Bay man $400,000 in case involving 2018 crash with police patrol car
Recent Wins
Wilson, Milton vs. Home Depot USA, Inc.
$7,167,345
Personal Injury
2022
Carvajal, Alexander vs. Javiar Parra et al.
$5,460,072
Car Accident
2025
Manuel Vieira vs. Dennis Payne and Seal Tight Roofing Experts, LLC
$4,624,467
Car Accident
2019
White, William vs. Amezquita, Jennifer
$4,132,480
Car Accident
2025
Manes v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
$3,676,749
Car Accident
2025
LAZARUS WRIGHT v. WAL-MART STORES EAST, LP AND JANNET WILKS
$2,387,906
Slip and Fall
2023
Harp, Ronald vs. Arnoldy, Michael Allen
$2,200,000
Car Accident
2025
Lum, Randall v. Tammy Jester Johnson and Donnie Lee Johnson
$2,144,511
Car Accident
2024
Jarvis Bush vs. City Electric
$2,005,664
Car Accident
2021
Castillo, Angelica v.s. State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Comp
$1,964,725
Car Accident
2024
Alexis Hernandez v. Charles Rainier, Jr.
$1,730,872
Dog Bite
2024
Helmes v. State Farm Automobile Insurance Company
$1,729,082
Car Accident
2025
Linda E. Bergen vs. Ted Landgraff
$1,619,088
Car Accident
2018
Gabriel, Scott v. Rhonda Scofield and Sandra Burton
$1,554,311
Car Accident
2023
Grant, Jonathan vs. Mariana Jr., Miguel
$1,500,000
Trucking Accident
2025
Maria Teresa Sanchez Bello
$1,348,546
Slip and Fall
2024
Richardson, Melissa-Jo vs. City of Melbourne
$1,300,000
Car Accident
2021
Passley, Iona vs VF Kipling Warehouse
$1,250,000
Personal Injury
2024
Barnes v. Fitzpatrick
$1,140,000
Car Accident
2014
Gail Pressley v Janelle K Galasso
$1,100,000
Car Accident
2024
Private Settlement
$1,000,000
Car Accident
2019
Jessica Brassard vs. Travelers Insurance
$987,820
Car Accident
2021
Jessica Brassard v. Travelers Property Casualty Company of America
$987,000
Car Accident
2021
Alec Moore vs. Sentry Management, Inc. and The Association at Royal Palms
$898,720
Slip and Fall
2021
Moore, Alec v. Sentry Management, Inc.
$898,720
Slip and Fall
2021
Gonzalez vs. Kipp Cooper and Classic Plumbing of Brevard LLC
$897,760
Car Accident
2021
Sluder vs. Smith and Health First, Inc
$750,000
Car Accident
2020
Andres Gonzalez vs. Erick Sanz and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
$742,000
Car Accident
2021
Gordon, Vivian v. Jean Whittle
$606,000
Car Accident
2022
Donnelly Jr., Patrick v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co
$574,162
Car Accident
2024
Private Settlement
$500,000
Car Accident
2018
Joseph Bunch v. Brevard Feed and Seed
$500,000
Slip and Fall
2025
Renfro, Laura v. Wal-Mart
$416,000
Personal Injury
2023
Ricardo Madrigal vs. City of Palm Bay
$416,000
Car Accident
2021
Avraham, Ayala vs. Shaw, William
$404,131
Car Accident
2024
Nicole Kylin vs. Grills Riverside
$357,979
Car Accident
2021
Edwards v. Kyle
$327,497
Car Accident
2017
Timothy Rubin vs. Grills Riverside
$305,493
Car Accident
2021
Carolin Adams vs. Guy Halgren
$297,000
Car Accident
2019
Spears, Nathan
$250,000
Car Accident
2024
Gillette, Danielle v. Archway International, Inc.
$175,000
Premises Liability
2025
Richard Moronez v. Walmart Stores East, LP
$164,764
Personal Injury
2021
C. Bartley vs. LM General Insurance Company
$160,000
Car Accident
2018
Chaires v. Cocoa Expo
$150,000
Slip and Fall
2015
Valerie Cooper vs. Danielle White and State Farm Mutual Insurance Company
$62,000
Car Accident
2019
