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Francis H. Sheppard

Partner
Orlando Office
407.839.4541
Email

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Practices

  • Employment and Labor
  • Professional Liability
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Education
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    Profile

    Frank Sheppard serves as Managing Partner of RumbergerKirk and focuses his practice in the areas of professional liability, employment and commercial litigation. A seasoned trial lawyer, Frank represents companies and individuals in complex civil matters, as well as appeals,  in both state and federal courts throughout the state of Florida. His practice includes cases that are often high profile and which involve numerous and complex issues including claims for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and statutory violations.

    Frank defends professionals from a variety of industries including legal, healthcare, construction, and financial institutions against claims of malpractice. Frank’s years of experience as Managing Partner have been particularly helpful in his defense of lawyers and law firms in legal malpractice matters.  Frank also represents physicians, nurses, physician’s assistants and mental healthcare providers, as well as other business professionals including accountants, insurance agents, real estate agents, architects and engineers. Such claims are brought alleging failure to perform on the part of, financial loss caused by, an error or omission in the service or product sold. Frank was selected as The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” for Professional Malpractice Law- Defendants, honor received by only one attorney for each specialty and location.

    He represents employers in the public and private sectors  in cases involving claims of harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, and violations of civil rights. Frank defends clients against claims of discrimination based on gender, age, ethnicity, religion and disability under the ADA. He has particular experience in defending school boards and other educational institutions, including claims based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Outside of the courtroom, he speaks to clients and public groups on topics pertaining to employment litigation and counsels clients on a variety of employment matters.

    Frank also represents individuals and companies in commercial litigation matters including contract disputes, non-compete agreements, real estate disputes and claims under the Uniform Commercial Code.

    Active in local civic organizations, Frank serves the community as Chair of the Board of Directors for Hospice of the Comforter and as a member of the Florida Hospital Foundation Executive Board.

    Details

    U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27776 (M.D. Fla. 2006)

    Summary judgment in favor of client rejecting claim of racial discrimination on behalf of school board.

    Middle District of Florida
    936 F.Supp. 900 (M.D. Fla. 1996)

    Affirming summary judgment in favor of client after excluding Plaintiff’s expert witness following the first Daubert evidentiary hearing in the Middle District of Florida.

    2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1452 (M.D. Fla. 2006)

    Summary judgment granted on Plaintiff’s Section 1983 due process and state law claims arising out of a commercial lease dispute with the government authority responsible for management of Port Canaveral and Florida’s East Coast.

    110 F.3d 797; (U.S. Ct.App. 1997)

    Affirming summary judgment in favor of client defending First Amendment and religious discrimination claims.

    Eleventh Circuit on appeal

    Multi-plaintiff racial discrimination case tried for two and a half weeks in federal court to a defense verdict and affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit on appeal.

    86 F.2d 1169; 1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 13531

    Affirming summary judgment on employment case.

    974 F.2d 1347; (U.S. Ct.App. 1992)

    Obtained summary judgment rejecting sexual harassment claim on behalf of the school board; summary judgment affirmed on appeal.

    634 So. 2d 806; (Fla. Ct.App. 1994)

    First Amendment case challenging the observation of Halloween in the schools.

    2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36766 (D.Fla. 2005)

    Summary judgment in favor of client rejecting First Amendment Retaliation Claim and Florida Whistleblower claim on behalf of the school board.

    84 F.3d 1376; (U.S. Ct.App. 1996)

    Summary judgment in favor of client defending IDEA claim by parents of hearing impaired child; decision affirmed by the 11th Circuit on appeal.

    Florida Supreme Court
    629 So.2d 835 (Fla. 1993)

    Florida Supreme Court ruled that a psychologist was not a health care provider for the purpose of the Medical Malpractice Act.

    2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22179 (M. Dist. Fla. 2008)

    Obtained summary judgment in favor of Seminole County School Board in federal court, in an ADA failure to accommodate case.

    Obtained summary judgment in a highly publicized case. Plaintiff sued the OCSB claiming that the School Board retaliated against her in violation of her first Amendment Rights and claimed damages in excess of $20 million.

    • Insurance
    • Banking and Financial Institutions
    • Healthcare

    • Professional Liability Defense Federation
    • American Bar Association
    • Orange County Bar Association
    • Defense Research Institute
    • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
    • Federal Bar Association
    • Florida Defense Lawyers Association
    • George C. Young American Inn of Court
    • The Florida Bar

      Committee on Student Education and Admissions to the Bar — Former member

    • Florida State University College of Law Alumni Association

      Former member, Board of Directors

    • Florida Hospital Foundation, Executive Board Member
    • Hospice of the Comforter Foundation

      Chairman, Board of Directors

    Florida State University College of Law — J.D., with honors, 1984

    • Florida State University Student Court, Chief Judge

    Florida State University — B.S., Finance, cum laude, 1981

    • Florida — 1984

    • U.S. District Courts of Florida (Northern, Middle, Southern)
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
    • U.S. Supreme Court

    • AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

    • Best Lawyers in America, "Lawyer of the Year," Professional Malpractice Law-Defendants, Orlando, 2024
    • Best Lawyers in America, Professional Malpractice Law- Defendants, 2015, 2017-2025
    • Florida Trend Legal Elite for Labor and Employment
    • Florida Super Lawyers 2007, 2008, 2009

    • Co-author, "Florida Legislature Seeks To Rescind Restrictions On Medical Malpractice Damages," April 2025
    • Co-author, "Court Finds School Board Erred in Punishing Teacher for Political Activity on Social Media," February 2025
    • Co-author, "Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Nation’s First Religious Charter School," January 2025
    • Co-author, "Viewpoint: Early Action Key to Mitigating Risk in Professional Liability Claims," Insurance Journal, September 2024
    • Panelist, "Inside the Minds of Today's Law Firm Leaders," Special Managing Partner Forum Webinar, June 2023
    • Author, "Florida Supreme Court Resolves Conflict Among District Courts of Appeal over MedMal Notice Period," July 2022
    • Co-author, "Recent U.S. Supreme Court Decision Alters the Scope of Recoverable Damages Under Anti-Discrimination Statutes Enacted under the Spending Clause Amendment," June 2022
    • Author, "How Attorneys Can Benefit From Being in the Office (at Least Some of the Time)," Daily Business Review, May 2022
    • Author, "Florida Supreme Court: Insurers can Sue Attorneys for Malpractice Under Subrogation Provision," June 2021
    • Author, "Fourth DCA Reinforces Chapter 395 Discovery Immunity and What it Takes to Waive It," June 2021
    • "What to Do When Faced with a Complaint Against Your Professional License," Orlando Business Journal, July 2018
    • Co-author, "Morris v. Muniz: A Sword Against Whom?" October 2018

    Frank's News and Insights

    See All News See All Insights Read Beyond the Bio
    Drag
    04.18.2025
    Professional Liability

    Florida Legislature Seeks To Rescind Restrictions On Medical Malpractice Damages

    With another legislative session nearing the end, many continue to...

    Photo: Shutterstock/Lightspring
    02.28.2025
    Education

    Court Finds School Board Erred in Punishing Teacher for Political Activity on Social Media

    Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal (Fifth DCA) recently determined...

    Photo: Shutterstock/Kaspars Grinvalds
    01.31.2025
    Education

    Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Nation’s First Religious Charter School

    On January 24, 2025, the United States Supreme Court granted...

    Photo:Shutterstock/Billion Photos
    09.12.2024
    Professional Liability

    Viewpoint: Early Action Key to Mitigating Risk in Professional Liability Claims

    Professional liability claims impact a multitude of professions, including those...

    Photo: Shutterstock.com/EliteExposure
    08.15.2024
    Firm News

    Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Edition Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys

    Two Named  “Lawyer of the Year” and Two Named “Ones...

    09.06.2023
    Media Mentions

    Survey Says: New Partner Training Is a Key Component of Law Firm Success, Law.com

    RumbergerKirk managing partner Frank Sheppard is quoted in an article...

    08.17.2023
    Firm News

    Best Lawyers in America© Recognizes 24 RumbergerKirk Attorneys with Managing Partner Frank Sheppard Named Lawyer of the Year

    ORLANDO, FL – August 17, 2023 – Best Lawyers has...

    06.15.2023
    Events

    Inside the Minds of Today’s Law Firm Leaders

    Frank Sheppard joined a panel discussion for a Special Managing...

    03.01.2023
    Beyond the Bio

    Celebrating Women’s History Month: Honoring a Legend of Our Own

    A Closer Look at RumbergerKirk’s First Female Attorney – Lori...

    12.08.2022
    Media Mentions

    3 Keys to Succession Planning, According to People Who Do It, ALM Mid-Market Report

    RumbergerKirk Managing Partner Frank Sheppard provides tips on succession planning...

    See All News See All Insights Read Beyond the Bio

    Offices

    Orlando

    300 South Orange Avenue
    Suite 1400
    Orlando, FL 32801

    407.872.7300

    Miami

    80 Southwest 8th Street
    Suite 3000
    Miami, FL 33130

    305.358.5577

    Tampa

    100 North Tampa Street
    Suite 2000
    Tampa, FL 33602

    813.223.4253

    Tallahassee

    101 North Monroe Street
    Suite 1050
    Tallahassee, FL 32301

    850.222.6550

    Birmingham

    2001 Park Place North
    Suite 1300
    Birmingham, AL 35203

    205.327.5550
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