Nicholas A. Shannin Attorney

First Admitted: 1994, Florida

Professional Webpage: https://shanninlaw.com/nicholas-a-shannin/

Bar / Professional Activity:

Florida
Director, Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida Board, 2015-present
Member, National Association of Parliamentarians, 2011-present
President, Orange County Bar Young Lawyers Section, 2003-2004
Member, Florida Bar Board of Governors, Young Lawyer Section, 2005-2006
President, Orange County Bar Foundation, 2005-2007
President, Orange County Legal Aid Society Board of Trustees, 2008-2009
President, Orange County Bar Association, 2014-2015
Chair, Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, 2019-2020
Chair, Florida Bar Council of Sections, 2021-2022
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Courts for the Middle Districts of Florida
U.S. District Courts for the Southern Districts of Florida
U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Florida
U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 11th Federal Circuit
U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 5th Federal Circuit

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results):

BUSINESS LAW APPEALS: Darden Restaurants v. Singh (Fla. 5th DCA 2019) (Won a reversal for Darden Restaurants, which had been charged millions more than justified by Property Appraiser)Ford, Josephine v. JPMorgan Chase Bank (Fla. 5th DCA 2015) (Reversing trial court, dismissing mortgage foreclosure action)Lake Buena Vista Vacation Resort v. Gotham Insurance Co. (U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals 2014) (Affirming positive result regarding client’s commercial insurance coverage)Marian Farms, Inc. v. SunTrust Banks, Inc. (Fla. 5th DCA 2014) (Reversing trial court, reinstating $7.5 million claim for banking negligence)HDRE Business Partners v. Rare Hospitality Int’l (U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals 2014) (Affirming judgment on behalf of Darden Restaurants involving complex business litigation and novation of contracts)Pierce v. Kroha (Fla. 5th DCA 2016) (Reversing trial court, overturning default judgment against client)
CIVIL APPEALS:Reynolds v. Anixter Power Solutions (Fla. 1st DCA 2019) (Reversed order that had denied employee compensation for ankle injured while bowling at event arranged by employer as a work retreat)Ranger Construction v. Brand (Fla. 1st DCA 2021) (Affirmed award of workers’ compensation benefits to employee who suffered a rotator cuff tear due to construction job repetitive motion)Demoura v. Travelers Insurance (Fla. 5th DCA 2021) (Reversing trial court’s directed verdict for insurance company on the basis of evidentiary errors, allowing a new trial for injured party)Conrad v. Boat House of Cape Coral (Fla. 2d DCA 2021) (Reversing trial court’s summary judgment, finding that genuine issue of material fact existed as to whether boat repair shop breached its duty to maintain safe premises for its customers)Marian Farms v. Suntrust Banks, Inc. (Fla. 5th DCA 2014) (Reversing trial court, reinstating $7.5 million dollar claim for banking negligence)Persis, Carl v. Dept. of Management Services (Fla. 5th DCA 2014) (Reversing trial court, allowing client to receive his full pension from the Division of Retirement)Townes, Denise & Perry, Cinnette v. National Deaf Academy (Fla. Supreme Court 2018) (Florida Supreme Court upheld reversal of summary judgment, allowing the disabled Ms. Perry to pursue remedy for her significant injuries over the medical malpractice defenses raised by the National Deaf Academy)Vazquez v. Martinez (Fla. 5th DCA 2015) (Affirmance obtained, allowing client to retain compensation for past medical expenses resulting from car crash)
FAMILY LAW APPEALS:Muszynski v. Muszynski (Fla. 5th DCA 2020) (Preserving on appeal, for the second time, a former wife’s $1.3 million judgment against former husband)Martinez v. Lebron (Fla.5th DCA 2019) (Affirming trial court’s time-sharing schedule that gave the majority of the time to father in Florida over mother in New York, who had gone to “breathtaking” lengths to anger father and thwart time-sharing with the child)Barber v. Ghenassia (Fla. 5th DCA 2020) (Reversing trial court, which had improperly vacated an injunction for protection against domestic violence)Lamb v. Lamb (Fla. 5th DCA 2014) (Reversed final judgment on multiple issues, including the enforcement of a prenuptial agreement made under Scottish law)Tucker v. Liebknecht (Fla. 5th DCA 2012) (Reversed denial of of modification, allowing client to relocate while retaining majority custody of her child)Sheldon v. Sheldon (Fla. 5th DCA 2012) (Affirmed a major equitable distribution resolution in favor of client)Westwood v. Westwood (Fla. 5th DCA 2015) (Affirmed decision of trial court allowing client to relocate with children to the United Kingdom)
ATTORNEY FEE LITIGATION CASES: Lizardi v. Federated National Insurance Co. (Fla. 2d DCA 2021) (Reversing trial court’s reduction in hours and hourly rate of attorney’s fees awarded to homeowners in an underlying homeowners’ insurance dispute).
MEDIATIONS:Circuit Civil Cases — from personal injury to contract disputes to defamation issues and more. Foreclosure Issues — assisting banks and homeowners with circuit and appellate disputes. Federal Cases — Middle District of Florida cases involving consumer and trademark issues. Appellate Mediations — civil, family, and probate issues for both the 2nd and 5th District Courts of Appeal.
GOVERNMENT CASES: Scott v. Thompson (Fla. 1st DCA 2021) (Represented the Orange County Supervisor of Elections in lawsuit against multiple supervisors of elections, obtaining reversal and successfully defending the rights of supervisors to be sued only in their home counties)Jenkins v. M.F. (Fla. 5th DCA 2019) (Represented the Orange County School Board and obtained reversal on due process grounds of 27 improperly entered trial court orders)Persis, Carl v. Dept. of Management Services (Fla. 5th DCA 2014) (Reversing trial court, allowing client to receive his full pension from the Division of Retirement)Signature Pharmacy v. Wright (U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals 2011) (Represented the City of Orlando and its employee Wright in successfully defending Wright’s execution of a search warrant)Osceola Co. School Board v. Stone (Fla. 1st DCA 2016) (Affirmed administrative decision and secured worker’s entitlement to benefits)Mitchell, Pamela v. Osceola Co. School Board (Fla. 1st DCA 2015) (Obtained reversal and established that Mitchell qualified for worker’s compensation as a statutory employee of Osceola Co. School Board)Orange Co. School Board v. Rhea (Fla. 1st DCA 2017) (Represented Orange Co. School Board in lawsuit against several school boards, obtaining reversal and successfully defending the school boards’ right to be sued only in their home counties)
Litigation & Trials: · Assisted personal injury claimants in achieving recovery of full policy limits before filing a complaint. · Assisted family law clients with resolution of equitable distribution, alimony, and child support in dissolution cases. · Assisted business owners with analyzing litigation options to maximize cost-effective representation. · Partnered with board certified construction law attorneys to achieve positive trial results. · Assisted employees with analysis of noncompete agreements and drafted federal litigation pleadings. · Partnered with board certified worker’s compensation attorneys to guide claimants through administrative process. · Advised individuals in guardianship cases regarding probate litigation options.
TRIAL SUPPORT & LOCAL COUNSEL: Marian Farms, Inc. v. SunTrust Banks, Inc. (Fla. 5th DCA 2014) (Reversing trial court, reinstating $7.5 million claim for banking negligence)Brokaw v. National Air Cargo Holdings (U.S. Middle Dist. of Fla. 2015) (Served as local counsel for Chicago-based firm representing plaintiffs in wrongful death actions against NACH)Energy Air v. Lalonde (Fla. 1st DCA 2014) (Affirmed that Energy Air was responsible for Lalonde’s on-the-job heat exhaustion, allowing Lalonde to receive compensation for his past medical bills)

Special Licenses / Certifications:

Certified Circuit and Appellate Court Mediator
Florida Bar Board Certified Appellate Attorney

Pro bono / Community Service:

Orlando Shakespeare Theater Mock Trial Advocate, 2015-present
West Orange Habitat for Humanity, Legal Advisor, 2021-present
West Orange Habitat for Humanity, Board of Directors 2000-2012
President, West Orange Habitat for Humanity, 2005-2007
Cubmaster, Pack 6, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 2008-2010
Guardian Ad Litem, over 50 children represented, 1994-present
Chair, Great Oaks Village (Orphanage) Campaign, 1999-2000
Coach, West Orange High School Mock Trial and Moot Court Teams, 1998-2000
Judge, Orange County Teen Court, 2001-2004

Honors:

Florida Trend’s Legal Elite (top 2% of lawyers), 2007 – present
Rated “Superb” on Avvo
Orange County Bar Lawrence Matthews Professionalism Award recipient, 2005
Orange County Bar William Trickle, Jr. Professionalism Award recipient, 2019
Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Assoc. Jake Stone Pro Bono Award, 2020
Pro Bono Award, Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, 2010
AV+ Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2006 – present

Educational Background:

Rice University in Houston, Texas, B.A., Double Major in Political Science and Sociology, 1990

Industry Groups:

Local Government

Contact Nicholas

All the below fields are required