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Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell Professional AssociationPartner
Francis H. Sheppard
Pro

Francis H. Sheppard

4.8
14 reviews

300 South Orange Avenue, P.O. Box 1873, Orlando, FL 32801

Employment and Labor, Professional Liability, Commercial Litigation and 4 more

About Francis H. Sheppard

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.

Community

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

Chairman, Board of Directors

Certifications

•AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Awards & Honors

•Best Lawyers in America, 'Lawyer of the Year,' Professional Malpractice Law-Defendants, Orlando, 2024
•Best Lawyers in America, Professional Malpractice Law- Defendants, 2015, 2017-2026
•Florida Trend Legal Elite for Labor and Employment
•Florida Super Lawyers 2007, 2008, 2009

Articles & Presentations

•Co-author, 'Supreme Court Sides with Alabama Plaintiffs Caught in “Catch-22”, June 2025
•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

08.21.2025
Firm News

27 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America

Dan Gerber and Leonard Dietzen Named “Lawyer of the Year;”...

06.04.2025
Employment and Labor

Supreme Court Sides with Alabama Plaintiffs Caught in “Catch-22”

In Williams v. Reed, 145 S. Ct. 465 (2025), the...

Photo: Shutterstock.com/Steve Heap

05.28.2025
Education

Supreme Court Denies First Religious Charter School, Leaves Question Over Constitutionality Unresolved

On May 22, 2025, the United States Supreme Court issued...

Photo: Shutterstock.com/Davizro Photography

04.18.2025
Professional Liability

Florida Legislature Seeks To Rescind Restrictions On Medical Malpractice Damages

IMPORTANT UPDATE: On May 29, 2025, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced...

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...

 

Francis H. Sheppard (Orlando, Florida) View website

Awards

AV Preeminent Peer Rated
This elite award is granted to attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for their very high ethical standards, with an average peer review score of 4.5 or higher.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV

Client Champion Awards

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service. Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.

Champion Badge Silver

At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.

Champion Badge Gold

At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.

Champion Badge Platinum

At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.

Martindale Peer Awards

A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:

Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

Francis H. Sheppard got this award in 2021

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished Rating

Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Notable Rating

Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Avvo Awards

Avvo Top Contributor

Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A, publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.

Avvo Client Choice

Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Reviews for Francis H.

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Overall Rating
4.8
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14
Lawyers.com
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4.8
Martindale
14
Avvo
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Services

Areas of Law

  • Professional Liability
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Insurance
  • Other 4
    • Employment and Labor
    • Education
    • Banking and Financial Institutions
    • Healthcare

Practice Details

  • Firm Information
    Position
    Partner
    Firm Name
    Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell Professional Association
  • Representative Cases & Transactions
    Cases
    Notable Cases: Autry v. Nassau County School Board: 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.
    Cartwright v. Home Depot, Behr Paint
    Sherwin Williams: 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.
    Cascella v. Canaveral Port District: 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1452 (M.D. Fla. 2006)
    Summary judgment granted on Plaintiff's Section 1983 due process
    state law claims arising out of a commercial lease dispute with the government authority responsible for management of Port Canaveral
    Florida's East Coast.
    Church of Iron Oak v. Palm Bay: 110 F.3d 797
    (U.S. Ct.App. 1997)
    Affirming summary judgment in favor of client defending First Amendment
    religious discrimination claims.
    Cohen v. City of Ocala: Eleventh Circuit on appeal
    Multi-plaintiff racial discrimination case tried for two
    a half weeks in federal court to a defense verdict
    affirmed by the Eleventh Circuit on appeal.
    Cooper v. School Board of Brevard County: 86 F.2d 1169
    1996 U.S. App. LEXIS 13531
    Affirming summary judgment on employment case.
    Denbo v. School Board of Brevard County: 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.
    Guyer v. Alachua County School Board: 634 So. 2d 806
    (Fla. Ct.App. 1994)
    First Amendment case challenging the observation of Halloween in the schools.
    Jones v. School Board of Orange County: 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36766 (D.Fla. 2005)
    Summary judgment in favor of client rejecting First Amendment Retaliation Claim
    Florida Whistleblower claim on behalf of the school board.
    N.B. by D.G. v. Alachua County 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.
    Weinstock v. Groth: 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.
    Marilyn Woodruff v. The School Board of Seminole County, Florida: 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.
    Hall v. Orange County School Board: 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
    claimed damages in excess of $20 million.

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1984, Florida
    U.S. District Courts of Florida (Northern, Middle, Southern)
    U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
    U.S. Supreme Court
    Memberships

    Professional

    •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

  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    Florida State University, College of Law
    Class of 1984
    J.D.
    with honors, Florida State University Student Court, Chief Judge
    Other Education
    Florida State University
    Class of 1981
    B.S.
    Finance, cum laude
  • Personal Details & History
    Age
    Born in 1960
    Pensacola, Florida, February 4, 1960

Activity

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Attorneys FAQs

  • What year was this attorney first admitted to the bar?
    Francis H. Sheppard was admitted in 1984 to the State of Florida.
  • Is this attorney admitted to practice in any U.S. Federal Courts?
    Francis H. Sheppard is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and United States Supreme Court.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    Francis H. Sheppard attended Florida State University, College of Law.
  • What year was this attorney's law firm established?
    Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell Professional Association was established in 1978.

Attorney information displayed in this FAQ section is based upon information the lawyer has included on their profile, in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals.

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