About Fred Cunningham

Fred A. Cunningham is a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and shareholder in the law firm of Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa.  He has a statewide and national practice devoted solely to trial work with a focus on litigating complex cases involving insurance company bad faith, insurance coverage, and catastrophic injuries.  Many of Florida’s best personal injury attorneys rely upon Mr. Cunningham to handle insurance bad faith claims arising out of their clients’ personal injury claims.  Mr. Cunningham has recovered close to 500 million dollars in settlements and verdicts for his clients.

  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers (2019-2022)
  • Palm Beach Illustrated “Top Lawyer” (2018-2022)
  • National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • South Florida Legal Guide “Top Lawyer” (2017-2021)
  • Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” Insurance Law, West Palm Beach (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021)
  • Florida Super Lawyers Top 100 (2012, 2013, 2015, 2019-2022)
  • Miami Super Lawyers Top 100 (2015, 2016, 2018-2022)
  • Florida Super Lawyers (2006-2022)
  • Florida Trend Legal Elite (2009-2016, 2018, 2021)
  • The Best Lawyers in America© (2001-2023)
    • Insurance Law
    • Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
    • Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
  • Florida Justice Association
    • Jon E. Krupnick Award (2019)
    • W. Mckinley Smiley Jr. Award (2018)
    • Centurion Award (2017)
    • Perry Nichols Award (2015)
    • President’s Award (2015)
    • FJA PAC Leadership Award – Excellence in Political Fundraising (2014)
    • “Rough Riders” Legislative Service Award (2011)
    • Crystal Eagle (2008)
    • Vanguard Award (2007)
    • #1 Eagle Recruiting Champion Award (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015)
    • FPP “Tiger in the Bush” Award (2005)
    • Gold Eagle Award (2001, 2005, 2007-2015)
    • Silver Eagle Award (1999, 2000, 2003, 2017)
    • Talon/Bronze Eagle Award (1998, 2016)
    • EAGLE Workhorse Award (1998)
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
    • Board Member (2018)
    • Inducted in 2014
  • International Society of Barristers
    • Inducted in 2018
    • Fellow
  • Florida Bar Association
  • Florida Justice Association
    • President (2011-2012)
    • President-Elect (2010-2011)
    • Treasurer (2009-2010)
    • Secretary (2008-2009)
    • Executive Committee Member
    • Board Member (1997 – Present)
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel
    • Fellow
  • The Melvin M. Belli Society
  • Palm Beach County Justice Association
    • President (2009)
    • Former Board Member
  • Palm Beach County Bar Association – North County Section
    • Past President
    • Former Board Member
  • American Association for Justice
  • Palm Beach County Bar Association
  • Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
  • Lecturer: “Choice of Law in Insurance Bad Faith Cases: Finding Bad Faith in Unexpected Places” Melvin M. Belli Society Webinar (2021)
  • Faculty Member: “Demonstration: Direct and Cross Examination of a Lay Witness,” Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute (2021)
  • Program Co-Chair and Lecturer: “Finding Bad Faith in Unexpected Places” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice (2021)
  • Lecturer: “Bad Faith: You Have Your Verdict, Now What?” Palm Beach County Justice Association Webinar (2021)
  • Panelist: “Think Outside of the Box – Expanding Your PI Practice,” Broward County Trial Lawyers Association (2021)
  • Guest: “Titans of Trial” Podcast – Florida Justice Association (2020)
  • Panelist: “Insurance and Bad Faith Seminar,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Convention (2020)
  • Panelist: “Law Firm Lessons from Covid-19 – What Worked, What Didn’t, and What Steps you can Take to Get Insurers to Stop Delaying and Settle Cases Now,” Melvin M. Belli Society Webinar (2020)
  • Lecturer: “Bad Faith in Business Interruption Claims,” Florida Justice Association (FJA) Business Interruption Claims Webinar (2020)
  • Lecturer: “Loss of Business Claims,” Mass Torts Made Perfect and The National Trial Lawyers Webinar (2020)
  • Lecturer: “Bad Faith in Business Interruption Claims,” Florida Justice Association Webinar (2020)
  • Lecturer: “Business Interruption Losses from COVID-19,” Mass Torts Made Perfect Webinar (2020)
  • Lecturer: “Current State of Bad Faith Law – How Did We Get Here and How Do We Not Screw it Up?” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Convention (2019)
  • Lecturer: “Bad Faith Basics,” HLF Seminar (2019)
  • Panelist: “Bad Faith and First Party Property: Weathering the Storm,” Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench Bar (2019)
  • Lecturer: “Trial Interstate & Intrastate Components of Bad Faith,” The National Trial Lawyers Summit (2019)
  • Program Co-Chair: “Insurance and Bad Faith Seminar,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Convention (2018)
  • Lecturer: “Applying Florida Bad Faith Law Beyond the Sunshine State,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Convention (2018)
  • Lecturer: “Insurance Bad Faith Law Update: What You Need to Know,” Broward County Trial Lawyers Association (2018)
  • Lecturer: “Choice of Law: How to Get More Out of Your Bad Faith and Trucking Cases,” Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention (2018)
  • Panelist: “SuperStars in Trial: Miami vs. Broward & Palm Beach” Dade County Bar Association (2018)
  • Panelist:  “Advancement of Women in Law,” Palm Beach County Bar Association and Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (2018)
  • Lecturer: “Who Will Pay the Excess Verdict? Identifying Bad Faith in Trucking Cases,” AAJ Trucking Litigation Members Only Seminar (2017)
  • Lecturer: “Nuts and Bolts of First Party Bad Faith ” American Association for Justice Annual Convention (2017)
  • Lecturer: “Significant Changes in Bad Faith Law,” The Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America National Interstate Trucking Super Summit (2017)
  • Lecturer: “Help Me Help You:  Don’t Let Your Handling of The Personal Injury Case Lose The Insurance Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2017)
  • Lecturer: “Recognizing and Preserving the Insurance Bad Faith Claim in Trucking Litigation,” APITLA National Interstate Trucking Super Summit (2016)
  • Lecturer: “The Current State of Florida Insurance Bad Faith Law,” Palm Beach County Justice Association (2016)
  • Lecturer: “Winning the Powell Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2016)
  • Lecturer: “Insurance bad faith in Interstate Trucking Cases,” Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, National Trial Lawyers Summit (2016)
  • Workshop Leader: Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute (2015)
  • Lecturer: “Applying Florida Bad Faith Law to Florida Accidents with Non-Florida Drivers Insured Outside the State of Florida,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2015)
  • Lecturer & Program Co-chair: “Bad Faith in Florida: the Past, the Present, and the Future,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice, Insurance Bad Faith (2014)
  • Lecturer & Workshop Leader: “Demonstration from the Plaintiff: Direct Examination of an Expert Witness,” Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute (2014)
  • Lecturer: “Third Party Bad Faith Law and Strategy – The Four Most Important Things You Need to Know About First Party Bad Faith Law in the Handling/Litigation of Automobile Neck and Back Injury Cases,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2014)
  • Lecturer: “Creating the Proper ‘paper trail’ of the Settlement Opportunity(ies),” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice, Insurance & Bad Faith Seminar (2013)
  • Lecturer: “Handling Cases in Light of the Recent Developments in Florida Bad Faith Law,” Florida Justice Association Annual Convention Advanced Trial Skills Seminar (2013)
  • Lecturer & Program Co-Chair: “The Future of Bad Faith in Florida,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice, Insurance & Bad Faith Seminar (2013)
  • Lecturer: “Steps You Can Take to Strengthen the Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse (2012)
  • Lecturer: “The Behind-the-Scenes Analysis of Goheagan,” Florida Justice Association Case Law Insider Call (2012)
  • Lecturer: “An Insurance Bad Faith Recap of 2011 and the Forecast for 2012,” Florida Justice Association Insurance Bad Faith (2012)
  • Panelist: “Bad Faith,” Manatee Trial Lawyers (2012)
  • Lecturer: “The Trial of the Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Annual Convention Trial Skills (2011)
  • Program Co-Chair: Florida Justice Association Annual Review (2011)
  • Lecturer: “Update, Overview, and Analysis of First Party Bad Faith Law,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse (2011)
  • Program Co-Chair: “Considerations in Handling the Underlying Tort Case,” Florida Justice Association Insurance (2010)
  • Lecturer: “Brainstorming on Bad Faith”?(Session Theme: Paradigms in Advocacy – Changing Times), Florida Justice Association Workhorse (2010)
  • Lecturer: “Necessary Steps Which Must be Taken by Trial Counsel in the Underlying Case in Order to Prevail in the Bad Faith Case – Third Party Bad Faith,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse (2008)
  • Lecturer: “Gauging the Complexities:? Multiple Claim Insurance Cases,” Florida Justice Association Insurance (2008)
  • Program Co-Chair: Florida Justice Association Annual Convention (2007)
  • Lecturer: “Nuts and Bolts of a Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Insurance Bad Faith (2007)
  • Program Chair: “New Horizons for Your Practice: Emerging Areas of Law Providing Opportunities for Firm Expansion,” Florida Justice Association (2007)
  • Lecturer: “Bad Faith: Getting to the Heart of the Matter at Mediation,” Florida Justice Association Mediation (2006)
  • Lecturer: “Tips for Proving the Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Insurance (2006)
  • Lecturer: “Recognizing and Preserving the Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Civil Litigation For Paralegals and Legal Assistants Seminar (2006)
  • Co-Lecturer: “Law 102: First Party, Third Party Practice,” Florida Justice Association Insurance Bad Faith Seminar (2005)
  • Medical Malpractice – “Dealing with the Medical Malpractice Bad Faith Law,” (2005)
  • Program chair: “A Comprehensive Review of the Theory and Practice of Insurance Bad Faith,” Florida Justice Association Insurance (2004)
  • Lecturer: “The Basics of Bad Faith”, Florida Justice Association Insurance (2003)
  • Lecturer: “Litigating Bad Faith Cases in the 21st Century,” Florida Justice Association Fall Convention (2003)
  • Lecturer: “Preserving a Bad Faith Claim in the Auto Case,” Florida Justice Association Auto Negligence (2003)
  • Program Co-Chair: Florida Justice Association Insurance (2001)
  • “Bad Faith Basics” AAJ TRIAL Magazine, February 2020
  • Harvey v. Geico: Florida Supreme Court Clarifies Florida Bad Faith Law,” Palm Beach County Justice Association News,  Feb 2019
  • Columnist: Florida Justice Association Journal
  • Choice of Law and Insurance Bad Faith In Trucking Litigation: Don’t Assume that You Don’t Have an Insurance Bad Faith Case,” AAJ Trucking Litigation Group Journal of Trucking Litigation, Fall 2014

“I was involved in a permanently life changing injury and needed the very best representation available. Fortunately I was introduced to Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa. At forty three years old they made the difference between me living the rest of my life independently at home instead of at an assisted living facility. There abilities and professionalism are allowing me to have a life of my own and raise my son. There is no better choice than this law firm.”

  • Jack M.

The Legal Journey

Service to the legal profession is paramount to Mr. Cunningham.  In 1997, he was elected by his peers to serve on the Board of Directors of the Florida Justice Association (FJA), a statewide organization of attorneys who fight to preserve the civil justice system. Over the past two decades, he has served on and chaired numerous FJA committees, and ultimately served as FJA President in 2012. His service has earned him numerous awards, including the President’s Award for leadership in 2015 and the W. Mckinley Smiley Jr. award in 2018.  In 2016, the FJA honored him with the Perry Nichols Award, the most prestigious award given by the organization, to an attorney whose “perseverance, commitment, and unmatched dedication to the civil justice system is at the forefront of their lives.” In addition to the FJA, Fred has served on the Board of Directors and as President of both the North County Section of the Palm Beach County Bar and the Palm Beach County Justice Association.

Since 2001, Mr. Cunningham has been included in every issue of The Best Lawyers in America in the field of personal injury and insurance.  In 2015, 2017 and 2018, Best Lawyers recognized him as the best insurance lawyer in Palm Beach County.  Since 2006, he has been included in the Florida Trend “Legal Elite”, as well as Florida “Super Lawyers”, including being voted by his peers to be one of the “Top 100” lawyers in the state of Florida in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2019.  As a result of his courtroom success and professionalism, he is a sought after lecturer on the topics of trial practice and insurance company bad faith.

Mr. Cunningham serves on the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an esteemed, invitation-only privilege that is limited to 500 active trial lawyers in the United States and 100 trial lawyers outside the United States.  Mr. Cunningham is also a Fellow of the American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel and the International Society of Barristers. In 2016, he was inducted as a member of The Melvin M. Belli Society, a national organization whose stated purpose is to promote the international exchange of ideas among lawyers through meetings and education. In 2017, Mr. Cunningham was inducted as a member of The American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only organization whose membership is extended only to trial lawyers with high personal character and an honorable reputation.

Mr. Cunningham earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1988 and was admitted to practice in Florida in October of 1988.  He and his wife, Robin, and their son, Sebastian, live in North Palm Beach, and are active in many local charitable and philanthropic organizations.

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Fred Cunningham N/A Fred Cunningham
Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa
The personal injury team at Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa is proud to serve the Palm Beach Gardens community and to represent those seeking justice in the face of harm they have suffered