Sean C. Domnick is an experienced civil trial lawyer and shareholder in the law firm of Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa. He has a statewide and national practice devoted solely to trial work and has dedicated his practice to seeking justice for clients who have suffered catastrophic injuries. He is a national leader in the plaintiff’s bar and currently serves as Immediate Past President of the American Association for Justice.
Mr. Domnick has tried cases throughout the country and recovered multi-million dollar verdicts for his clients. His areas of specialization include litigating cases involving wrongful death, medical malpractice, product liability, and nursing home abuse. His notable results have earned him #1 ranking on the Jury Verdict Round-Up “Top Medical Malpractice Verdicts of 2014” and the Daily Business Review “Verdicts Hall of Fame” Award in 2015. One of his landmark cases resulted in a $20M jury verdict in favor of his client, Darian Wisekal, who died of cervical cancer due to a medical misdiagnosis in which the lab failed to accurately read her pap smear results.
Mr. Domnick has earned Florida Bar Board Certification, which is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar for competency and experience within civil trial law. His considerable jury trial experience and demonstrated knowledge of the law have resulted in several high-profile cases that have attracted local, state, and national attention. His legal accolades include recognition in The Best Lawyers in America©, Florida Super Lawyers, and inclusion on Florida Trend’s Legal Elite list. He is also the 2015 recipient of the BJ Masterson Award, an award distinguishing attorneys who display the highest degree of ethical professionalism. Mr. Domnick serves as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, two prestigious and highly selective organizations that are only accessible to distinguished members of the trial bar.
Beyond his professional success, Mr. Domnick has a distinguished record of leadership rooted in his commitment to professional service. In addition to his AAJ leadership, he is a Past President of the Palm Beach County Justice Association and the Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers Association. He has served on the Board of the Florida Justice Association since 1996 and plays an instrumental role in mentoring lawyers across the nation.
Mr. Domnick received both his Juris Doctorate and undergraduate degree from the University of Florida.
Recognition and Achievements
Thought Leadership
Publications
- “Tossing Damages in Florida Hospital Case Shakes Faith in Justice,” Bloomberg Law (November 21, 2025)
- “‘Publix Carry’ isn’t safety policy — it’s a liability countdown | Opinion,” Sun Sentinel (November 11, 2025)
- Featured in “Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa Earns Top Rankings in 2026 Best Law Firms® for Excellence in Personal Injury, Product Liability, and Insurance Litigation,” PR Newswire (November 10, 2025)
- Featured in “Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa Files Lawsuit Against Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Alleging Negligence in Bone Marrow Transplant That Led to 9-Year-Old’s Death,” PR Newswire (November 6, 2025)
- Featured in “Sean C. Domnick to Speak at Injury Board Summit on “How I Use AI to Be a Better Trial Lawyer“,” PR Newswire (October 8, 2025)
- “Immigration crackdown is leading to collapse in nursing-home care | Opinion,” Sun Sentinel (July 23, 2025)
- Featured in “Two RDCY Shareholders Named to Florida Super Lawyers Top 100 List–Again,” PR Newswire (July 14, 2025)
- Featured in “Never Give Up: How Two Trial Lawyers Held an AM Law 200 Firm and a Major Hospital Accountable for Years of Concealed Evidence,” PR Newswire (July 11, 2025)
- Featured in “Law Firm Sanctioned for ‘Systemic Disobedience’ and Discovery Violations,” Law.com (June 10, 2025)
- “Two Children Dead After Gene Therapy: Florida Attorney Raises Alarms About FDA Oversight,” PR Newswire (June 24, 2025)
- Author “Two Children Have Died After Taking a Duchenne Drug. What Went Wrong?” RDCY Blog (June 24, 2025)
- “Wall Street’s Influence Over Medicine Is Costing Patients Their Lives, Says Florida Trial Lawyer Sean C. Domnick,” PR Newswire (June 10, 2025)
- Author “Empowering Our Collective Voice,” Trial (Vol. 60, Issue 5) American Association for Justice (May 2024)
- Author “Commentary: Why stroke misdiagnosis is a medical-malpractice crisis,” Orlando Sentinel (June 5, 2025)
- Author “Putting AAJ’s Mission Into Action,” Trial (Vol. 60, Issue 7) American Association for Justice (July 2024)
- Author “Being Prepared on All Fronts,” Trial (Vol. 60, Issue 4) American Association for Justice (April 2024)
- Author “Building a Well-Rounded Firm,” Trial (Vol. 60, Issue 3) American Association for Justice (March 2024)
- Author “The Enduring Value of AAJ,” Trial (Vol. 60, Issue 2) American Association for Justice (February 2024)
- Author “Treating Workers Fairly,” Trial (Vol. 60, Issue 1) American Association for Justice (January 2024)
- Author “A Collective Effort,” Trial (Vol. 59, Issue 12) American Association for Justice (December 2023)
- Author “Uncharted Terrain,” Trial (Vol. 59, Issue 11) American Association for Justice (November 2023)
- Author “Demanding a Higher Bar,” Trial (Vol. 59, Issue 10) American Association for Justice (October 2023)
- Author “Safeguarding Civil Rights,” Trial (Vol. 59, Issue 9) American Association for Justice (September 2023)
- Author “Our Fighting Spirit,” Trial (Vol. 59, Issue 8) American Association for Justice (August 2023)
- “Litigation and the Evolution of Strokes,” AIEG VOICE, Winter 2022 Medical Malpractice Edition AIEGVoice Magazine – Winter 2022 – SCD Stroke Article
- “Time Limits on Jury Selection,” Palm Beach County Justice Association Newsletter, 2019
Lectures/Presentations
- Lecturer: “How I use AI to be a Better Trial Lawyer,” Florida Justice Association Winter Ski Seminar (2026)
- Lecturer: “How I use AI to be a Better Trial Lawyer,” Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (2025)
- Lecturer: “How I use AI to be a Better Trial Lawyer,” Injury Board Summit (2025)
- Lecturer: “Closing Argument,” Florida Justice Association Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute (2025)
- Lecturer: “How to Prepare a Closing Argument,” Florida Justice Association Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Seminar (2025)
- Lecturer: “Smarter, Faster, Riskier? AI in Law Firm Operations,” AAJ COO Connect Program(2025)
- Lecturer: “How to Exclude an Expert: Entirely or Particular Opinions,” American Association for Justice Annual Convention (2025)
- Lecturer: “Deposing Expert Witnesses,” Florida Justice Association Winter Ski Convention (2025)
- Panelist: “How the Best Did It: Leadership Lessons from our Top Presidents,” ABOTA Leadership Conference (2025)
- Lecturer: “Are you ready to elevate your practice and accelerate growth in 2025?” Peak Practice Summit (2025)
- Lecturer: “Advocacy Track: Everything to Know on Experts,” American Association for Justice Winter Convention (2025)
- Lecturer: “How to try a case without asking for medical bill economic damages – pain and suffering only,” Florida Justice Association Annual Convention (2024)
- Lecturer: “The Epidemic of Missed Strokes,” The Western Trial Lawyers Association (2024)
- Lecturer: “Opening Statements,” Florida Justice Association Winter Ski Seminar (2024)
- Lecturer: “Human Damages,” Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Convention (2023)
- Lecturer: “Human Damages,” South Carolina Association for Justice Annual Convention (2023)
- Lecturer: “Lessons From Legends,” Florida Justice Association (2023)
- Lecturer: “Artificial Intelligence and How it Impacts the Practice of Law,” Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association Convention (2023)
- Lecturer: “Closing Argument: Framing Universal Issues,” Maryland Association for Justice Annual Convention (2023)
- Lecturer: “Human Damages,” North Dakota Association for Justice (2023)
- Panelist: “The Most Effective Ways to Win with Experts and Evidence,” The Miami-Dade Bar Association Florida Law Con (2023)
- Lecturer: “Grocery Store Negligence,” The Western Trial Lawyers Association (2023)
- Lecturer: “Jury Selection,” Florida Justice Association Winter Ski Seminar (2023)
- Faculty: “New Lawyers Section Bootcamp,” American Association for Justice (2023)
- Lecturer: “Human Damages,” Indiana Trial Lawyers Association 58th Annual Institute (2022)
- Faculty: “New Lawyers Section Bootcamp,” American Association for Justice (2022)
- Lecturer: “Deposing Defense Experts,” Miami Dade Trial Lawyers Association Past President CLE Series (2022)
- Lecturer: “Why We Do What We Do,” Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention (2022)
- Lecturer: “Human Damages,” Texas Trial Lawyers Association Midyear Conference & CLE Seminar (2022)
- Lecturer: “Pre-Suit Investigation: You Don’t Have a Desk Job,” American Association for Justice New Lawyers Bootcamp (2022)
- Lecturer: “The Psychology & Sociology of Trial on Damages Issues,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2022)
- Lecturer: “Combating Dirty Tricks at Trial,” Florida Justice Association Webinar (2022)
- Lecturer: “Stroke Litigation: Failure to Diagnose and Treat,” Louisiana Association for Justice Winning with the Masters Seminar (2021)
- Lecturer: “Birth Injury Litigation Webinar,” CaseMetrix (2021)
- Lecturer: “The Jury Thinks What?” Podcast Lawyer Minds (2021)
- Lecturer: “Hospital Liability for Doctors,” The Western Trial Lawyers Association (2021)
- Lecturer: “Legislative and Case Law Updates,” Palm Beach County Justice Association (2021)
- Lecturer: “Jury Selection,” Arkansas Trial Lawyers Association Annual Convention (2021)
- Lecturer: “Stroke Cases: Failure to Diagnose and Treat,” Attorneys Information Exchange Group (2021)
- Guest: “Trial Lawyer View,” Podcast – Synergy Settlement Services (2021)
- Lecturer: “Maximizing Human Damages,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2021)
- Lecturer: “Trains, Brains and Biomechanics,” Trial Structure Webinar (2020)
- Lecturer: “Titans of Trial” Podcast – Florida Justice Association (2020)
- Lecturer: “The Modern Day Art of Storytelling at Trial” Florida Justice Association Convention (2020)
- Lecturer: “Jury Selection: Who Are the Leaders? Who Are the Followers? Who Are the Troublemakers?” 62nd Annual West Virginia Convention (2020)
- Lecturer: “The Modern Day Art of Storytelling at Trial,” Florida Justice Association Annual Convention (2020)
- Lecturer: “Nursing Home Claims,” Pan European Organisation of Personal Injury Lawyers (PEOPIL’s) 5th Webinar (2020)
- Lecturer: “Jury Selection: Who Are the Leaders? Who Are the Followers? Who Are the Troublemakers?” West Virginia Association for Justice (2020)
- Lecturer: “Running Your Law Firm Remotely During Covid-19,” Palm Beach County Justice Association (2020)
- Expert Depositions at the KTLA Annual Meeting (2019)
- Lecturer: “How to Pick a Jury in an Hour,” Western Trial Lawyers Winter Ski Conference (2019)
- Panelist: “Bad Faith and First Party Property: Weathering the Storm,” Palm Beach County Bar Association Bench Bar (2019)
- Featured Speaker: “Being an Advocate and Courtroom Warrior,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2019)
- Lecturer: “Hospital Vicarious Liability: Learn Why All Doctors Are Agents of Every Hospital Where They Have Privileges,” DCY Hospital Liability Seminar (2019)
- Keynote Speaker: “The Trial Lawyer – Promoting Safety -Demanding Accountability-Forcing Change,” Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Fall Conference (2018)
- Panelist: “Discussion on Tomorrow’s Tech Trends,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Convention (2018)
- Program Co-Chair: “Technology Seminar,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Convention (2018)
- Moderator: Palm Beach County Justice Association Business of Law Seminar (2018)
- Panelist: Annual Education Program of the Florida Conference of Circuit Judges (2018)
- Lecturer: “Jury Selection in the Age of Polarization,” Ohio Association for Justice (2018)
- Lecturer: “Winning the Shell Game – Finding Coverage in Nursing Home Neglect Cases,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2017)
- Workshop Leader & Lecturer: Al J. Cone Trial Advocacy Institute (2016)
- Co-Chair, Florida Justice Association Annual Convention (2016)
- Lecturer: “Using Agency to Rope in Hospitals,” Florida Justice Association Annual Convention (2016)
- Lecturer: “Orthopedic Experts,” Florida Justice Association Experts Webinar Series (2016)
- Lecturer: “War Games and Northrup Issues,” Florida Justice Association Workhorse Seminar (2016)
- Lecturer: Florida Justice Association Experts Webinar Al J. Cone (2015)
- Lecturer: “Embracing and Defeating Daubert in Malpractice Cases,” Florida Justice Association Masters of Justice Medical Malpractice Seminar (2014)
- Lecturer: “Orthopedic Expert,” Florida Justice Association Experts Webinar (2014)
- Lecturer: “Hey Buster, What Now? Amendment 7 and What It Means to Your Cases,” Florida Justice Association Medical Malpractice (2010)
Awards & Honors
- Top 100: 2025 Florida Super Lawyers Top List
- The Best Lawyers in America© (2005-2026)
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- The Best Lawyers in America© “Lawyer of the Year” (2024)
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers (2020 – 2025)
- American Association for Justice
- Joe Tonahill Award (2023)
- AAJ Wiedemann & Wysocki (2019)
- AAJ Certificate of Recognition (2018)
- Above and Beyond Award (2017)
- Distinguished Service Award (2012, 2014, 2016)
- Florida Super Lawyers Top 100 (2016-2017, 2019-2024)
- Miami Super Lawyers Top 100 (2016-2024)
- Florida Super Lawyers (2006-2024)
- Palm Beach Illustrated “Top Lawyer” (2018-2019, 2023)
- Florida Trend Legal Elite (2004-2022)
- Florida Justice Association
- Jon E. Krupnick Award (2018)
- W. McKinley Smiley Jr. Award (2018)
- BJ Masterson Award for Professionalism (2015)
- Crystal Eagle Recipient (2007)
- Gold Eagle Recipient (2000, 2004)
- Bronze Eagle Recipient (2001)
- Legislative Leadership “Shoe Leather Award” (2001, 2003-2004)
- Silver Eagle Recipient (1998, 1999, 2003, 2007)
- AV Rated – Martindale-Hubbell
- The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100
- AVVO “Superb Rated Attorney”
- Best Lawyers in South Florida (2016)
- Daily Business Review, Verdicts Hall of Fame Award Winner (2015)
- The Best Lawyers in America© “Lawyer of the Year” (2014)
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- South Florida’s Top Lawyers, The Miami Herald (2010)
- Florida Monthly – Florida’s Top Lawyers as Chosen by Their Peers (2004)
- Florida Trend Magazine – The State’s Legal Leaders (2004)
Professional Associations
- American Association for Justice
- Immediate Past President (2024-2025)
- President (2023-2024)
- President-Elect (2022-2023)
- Vice President (2021-2022)
- Secretary (2020-2021)
- Treasurer (2019-2020)
- Parliamentarian (2018-2019)
- Co-Chair, IMPACT Campaign (2021)
- Executive Committee (2016-2018)
- Chair, Budget Committee (2016-2018)
- Board of Governors (2007-2019, 2024)
- National Finance Council (2007-2025)
- AAJ PAC Board of Trustees (2014-2020, 2024)
- Membership Oversight Committee (2012-2024)
- Chair, Leaders Forum Advisory Board (2016-2017)
- Leaders Forum Advisory Board (2017-2019)
- AAJ PAC Task Force (2015-2019)
- Budget Committee (2015-2019, 2024)
- Audit Committee (2016-2024)
- Evergreen Advisory Board (2016-2018)
- Organization Review Committee (2016-2018, 2024)
- Public Affairs Committee (2009-2027)
- Retirement Plans Oversight Committee (2016-2024)
- Trial Lawyers Care (2015-2021)
- Voter Protection Committee (2014-2025)
- Chair, Best Ideas
- Civil Justice Foundation Officers & Board of Trustees (2009-2015)
- Compliance Committee (2010-2014)
- Justice List Committee (2009-2012)
- Co-chair, Key Person Committee (2011-2013)
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Inducted in 2017
- Board of Directors (2022)
- International Relations Committee – Vice Chair (2022)
- International Society of Barristers
- Selected for Fellowship in 2019
- Florida Justice Association
- Board Member: (1996 – present)
- Chair, FJA Task Force on the Special Committee Report (2021 – Present)
- Executive Committee (2003 – 2005)
- Distinguished Fellow of the Academy (Inducted in 2013)
- Florida Bar Association
- Civil Procedure Rules Committee (2023-2024)
- Vice-Chair of the Code & Rules of Evidence Committee (2020-2022)
- Code & Rules of Evidence Committee (2008-2011, 2017-2020)
- Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors (1999)
- Palm Beach County Justice Association
- President (2018)
- President-Elect (2017)
- Secretary (2016)
- Board Member (2009 – Present)
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Miami Dade Justice Association
- President, (1999)
- President-Elect (1998)
- Secretary (1997)
- Treasurer (1996)
- Palm Beach County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Public Citizen
- Pound Civil Justice Institute
- Pan European Organisation of Personal Injury Lawyers (PEOPIL)
- Ontario Trial Lawyers Association
- National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Board Certification in Civil Trial Law
Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2018
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida – 2002
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida – 1991
- Florida Bar – 1990
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
Education
- University of Florida, J.D., 1989
- University of Florida, B.S., 1986
Certifications
- Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer,
- Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education
- Board Certified Advocate, Civil Trial
- National Board of Trial Advocacy
