Ryon L. Little

Ryon Little devotes his practice to maritime law. He regularly handles the defense of personal injury claims that occur on board commercial and private vessels, including crew, longshore and passenger claims. He draws directly on his nearly 10 years of active duty service in the United States Coast Guard following his graduation from the United States Coast Guard Academy.

He also assists protection and indemnity clubs with a broad range of legal issues, including collisions, groundings, cargo damage, products liability, wreckage removal and environmental damage. In addition, Ryon works with hull insurers to investigate, evaluate, adjust and litigate their hull claims.

A portion of Ryon’s practice includes regulatory compliance. He counsels and guides vessel owners and licensed mariners regarding compliance under the regulations set forth by various agencies, such as the Federal Maritime Commission and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). He has experience conducting internal investigations, as well as representing clients during investigations conducted by outside agencies, including the United States Coast Guard and the State of Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation. Ryon’s ten years of service to the United States Coast Guard has given him particular insight into maritime issues and regulation.

Representative Matters

United States of America v. Stephen R. Barlow, et al., 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102228 (S.D. Fla. 2008). Successfully represented defendants against environmental and maritime claims involving in excess of $600,000.

Selected Speaking Engagements

Speaker, "Seagrass and Coral Reef Damage Cases. Anatomy of Defending Environmental Damages Cases in Florida and in National Underwater Parks," Maritime Law Update, Florida Bar, 2010

Professional & Civic Involvement

The Florida Bar, Young Lawyers Division and Admiralty Law Committee
Dade County Bar Association
Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Justice Teaching Program

Practice

Maritime
Areas of Concentration
Hull Claims
Maritime Litigation
P&I Clubs
Regulatory Compliance

Admissions

Florida
U.S. District Court
Northern District of Florida
Middle District of Florida
Southern District of Florida U.S. Court of Appeals
Eleventh Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

Education

University of Florida
Levin College of Law, J.D.
U.S. Coast Guard Academy, B.S. With Honors

Accolades

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, 2004
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, 2004

Noteworthy

Served as Law Clerk Intern for Criminal Division of the Eight Judicial Circuit of Florida