Fred A. Cunningham
Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & YaffaPractice Areas: Personal Injury, Insurance Coverage; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1988
Education: University of North Carolina School of Law
Call today:
561-907-8767
Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa
2401 PGA Blvd.Suite 140
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410 Visit website
Details
A board-certified civil trial lawyer by The Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, Fred A. Cunningham is a shareholder at Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. His legal practice is exclusively dedicated to trial work, concentrating on prosecuting complex litigation involving insurance company bad faith, coverage disputes, catastrophic injury cases and wrongful death claims.
Renowned among Florida's most proficient personal injury lawyers, Mr. Cunningham is frequently entrusted with managing insurance bad faith actions related to their clients' personal injury cases. His skill and keenness have led to approximately $700 million in settlements and verdicts for his clients.
Recognized consistently for his capability, Mr. Cunningham has been featured in every edition of The Best Lawyers in America for Personal Injury and Insurance since 2001. He has made the Florida Trend "Legal Elite" list annually since 2007 in both personal injury and insurance law categories. Additionally, he holds an AV Preeminent* peer-review rating through Martindale-Hubbell.
Having obtained his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1988, Mr. Cunningham was licensed in Florida that same year, along with admissions to the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Northern and Middle Districts of Florida. Before his legal studies, he acquired his B.A. summa cum laude in 1985 from Belmont Abbey College.
A testament to his devotion to the legal community, Mr. Cunningham's professional commitments include serving on the board of directors of The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, being a fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel and being an associate of the International Society of Barristers. Furthermore, he is actively involved in the American Association for Justice, The Florida Bar and the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association.
Moreover, Mr. Cunningham was elected by his peers in 1997 to serve on the board of directors of the Florida Justice Association (FJA). His service extends beyond the FJA, as he has held positions on the board of directors and presidencies within the North County Section of the Palm Beach County Bar Association and the Palm Beach County Justice Association. He was also inducted into The Melvin M. Belli Society in 2016 and became a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Insurance CoverageFocus areas
Animal Bites, Assault, Bad Faith Insurance, Brain Injury, Construction Accident, Dram Shop Laws, Insurance, Insurance Defense, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Personal Injury - Defense, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Premises Liability - Plaintiff, Sexual Abuse - Plaintiff, Slip and Fall, Toxic Mold, Trucking Accidents, Wrongful Death
- 50% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
- 50% Insurance Coverage
First Admitted: 1988, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://www.pbglaw.com/attorneys/fred-cunningham/
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2016
- Florida Bar, 1988
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Board Member (2018), Inducted in 2014
- Florida Bar Association
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- The Melvin M. Belli Society
- Palm Beach County Bar Association – North County Section, Past President, Former Board Member
- Palm Beach County Bar Association
- International Society of Barristers, Inducted in 2018, Fellow
- Florida Justice Association, President (2011-2012)
- Florida Justice Association, President-Elect (2010-2011)
- Florida Justice Association, Treasurer (2009-2010)
- Florida Justice Association, Secretary (2008-2009)
- Florida Justice Association, Executive Committee Member
- Florida Justice Association, Board Member (1997 – Present)
- American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel, Fellow
- Palm Beach County Justice Association, President (2009), Former Board Member
- American Association for Justice
- Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
- Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer - Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
- The Best Lawyers in America© “Lawyer of the Year” Insurance Law, West Palm Beach (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024)
- The Best Lawyers in America© (2001-2024)
- Florida Super Lawyers Top 100 (2012, 2013, 2015, 2019-2023)
- Miami Super Lawyers Top 100 (2015, 2016, 2018-2023)
- Florida Super Lawyers (2006-2023)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers (2019-2024)
- Palm Beach Illustrated “Top Lawyer” (2018-2023)
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- South Florida Legal Guide “Top Lawyer” (2017-2021)
- Florida Trend Legal Elite (2009-2016, 2018, 2021)
- 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)
- #1 Eagle Recruiting Champion Award (2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015)
- Vanguard Award (2007)
- 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)
- University of North Carolina, J.D. degree, 1988
- Belmont Abbey College, (Summa Cum Laude), B.A., 1985
- “Harvey v. Geico: Florida Supreme Court Clarifies Florida Bad Faith Law,” Palm Beach County Justice Association News, Feb 2019
- “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
- Columnist: Florida Justice Association Journal
- “Bad Faith Basics” AAJ TRIAL Magazine, February 2020
- Lecturer: “Bad Faith Post 837,” Florida Justice Association Winter Ski Seminar (2023)
- Program Co-Chair: Florida Justice Association Insurance (2001)
- Lecturer: “Preserving a Bad Faith Claim in the Auto Case,” Florida Justice Association Auto Negligence (2003)
- Lecturer: “Litigating Bad Faith Cases in the 21st Century,” Florida Justice Association Fall Convention (2003)
- Lecturer: “The Basics of Bad Faith”, Florida Justice Association Insurance (2003)
- Program chair: “A Comprehensive Review of the Theory and Practice of Insurance Bad Faith,” Florida Justice Association Insurance (2004)
- Medical Malpractice – “Dealing with the Medical Malpractice Bad Faith Law,” (2005)
- Co-Lecturer: “Law 102: First Party, Third Party Practice,” Florida Justice Association Insurance Bad Faith Seminar (2005)
- Lecturer: “Recognizing and Preserving the Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Civil Litigation for Paralegals and Legal Assistants Seminar (2006)
- Lecturer: “Tips for Proving the Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Insurance (2006)
- Lecturer: “Bad Faith: Getting to the Heart of the Matter at Mediation,” Florida Justice Association Mediation (2006)
- Program Chair: “New Horizons for Your Practice: Emerging Areas of Law Providing Opportunities for Firm Expansion,” Florida Justice Association (2007)
- Lecturer: “Nuts and Bolts of a Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Insurance Bad Faith (2007)
- Program Co-Chair: Florida Justice Association Annual Convention (2007)
- Lecturer: “Gauging the Complexities: Multiple Claim Insurance Cases,” Florida Justice Association Insurance (2008)
- 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: “Brainstorming on Bad Faith” (Session Theme: Paradigms in Advocacy – Changing Times), Florida Justice Association Workhorse (2010)
- Program Co-Chair: “Considerations in Handling the Underlying Tort Case,” Florida Justice Association Insurance (2010)
- Lecturer: “Update, Overview, and Analysis of First Party Bad Faith Law,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse (2011)
- Program Co-Chair: Florida Justice Association Annual Review (2011)
- Lecturer: “The Trial of the Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Annual Convention Trial Skills (2011)
- Panelist: “Bad Faith,” Manatee Trial Lawyers (2012)
- Lecturer: “An Insurance Bad Faith Recap of 2011 and the Forecast for 2012,” Florida Justice Association Insurance Bad Faith (2012)
- Lecturer: “The Behind-the-Scenes Analysis of Goheagan,” Florida Justice Association Case Law Insider Call (2012)
- Lecturer: “Steps You Can Take to Strengthen the Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse (2012)
- Lecturer & Program Co-Chair: “The Future of Bad Faith in Florida,” 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: “Creating the Proper ‘paper trail’ of the Settlement Opportunity(ies),” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice, Insurance & Bad Faith Seminar (2013)
- 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 & Workshop Leader: “Demonstration from the Plaintiff: Direct Examination of an Expert Witness,” Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute (2014)
- 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: “Applying Florida Bad Faith Law to Florida Accidents with Non-Florida Drivers Insured Outside the State of Florida,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2015)
- Workshop Leader: Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute (2015)
- Lecturer: “Insurance bad faith in Interstate Trucking Cases,” Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America, National Trial Lawyers Summit (2016)
- Lecturer: “Winning the Powell Bad Faith Case,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2016)
- Lecturer: “The Current State of Florida Insurance Bad Faith Law,” Palm Beach County Justice Association (2016)
- Lecturer: “Recognizing and Preserving the Insurance Bad Faith Claim in Trucking Litigation,” APITLA National Interstate Trucking Super Summit (2016)
- 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: “Significant Changes in Bad Faith Law,” The Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America National Interstate Trucking Super Summit (2017)
- Lecturer: “Nuts and Bolts of First Party Bad Faith” American Association for Justice Annual Convention (2017)
- Lecturer: “Who Will Pay the Excess Verdict? Identifying Bad Faith in Trucking Cases,” AAJ Trucking Litigation Members Only Seminar (2017)
- Panelist: “Advancement of Women in Law,” Palm Beach County Bar Association and Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers (2018)
- Panelist: “Super Stars in Trial: Miami vs. Broward & Palm Beach” Dade County Bar 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)
- Lecturer: “Insurance Bad Faith Law Update: What You Need to Know,” Broward County Trial Lawyers Association (2018)
- Lecturer: “Applying Florida Bad Faith Law Beyond the Sunshine State,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Convention (2018)
- Program Co-Chair: “Insurance and Bad Faith Seminar,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Convention (2018)
- Lecturer: “Trial Interstate & Intrastate Components of Bad Faith,” The National Trial Lawyers Summit (2019)
- Panelist: “Bad Faith and First Party Property: Weathering the Storm,” Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench Bar (2019)
- Lecturer: “Bad Faith Basics,” HLF Seminar (2019)
- 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: “Business Interruption Losses from COVID-19,” Mass Torts Made Perfect Webinar (2020)
- Lecturer: “Bad Faith in Business Interruption Claims,” Florida Justice Association 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 (FJA) Business Interruption Claims Webinar (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)
- Panelist: “Insurance and Bad Faith Seminar,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Convention (2020)
- Guest: “Titans of Trial” Podcast – Florida Justice Association (2020)
- Panelist: “Think Outside of the Box – Expanding Your PI Practice,” Broward County Trial Lawyers Association (2021)
- Lecturer: “Bad Faith: You Have Your Verdict, Now What?” Palm Beach County Justice Association Webinar (2021)
- Program Co-Chair and Lecturer: “Finding Bad Faith in Unexpected Places” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice (2021)
- Faculty Member: “Demonstration: Direct and Cross Examination of a Lay Witness,” Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute (2021)
- Lecturer: “Choice of Law in Insurance Bad Faith Cases: Finding Bad Faith in Unexpected Places” Melvin M. Belli Society Webinar (2021)
Office location for Fred A. Cunningham
2401 PGA Blvd.
Suite 140
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Phone: 561-907-8767
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2025
Top Lists
Top 100: Miami Super Lawyers: 2015 - 2016, 2018 - 2025- Top 100: 2025 Miami Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2024 Miami Super Lawyers
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- Top 100: 2025 Florida Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2024 Florida Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2023 Florida Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2022 Florida Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2021 Florida Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2020 Florida Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2019 Florida Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2015 Florida Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2013 Florida Super Lawyers
- Top 100: 2012 Florida Super Lawyers
Certificates and credentials
Civil Trial