Patrick J. Duggan

Partner, Public Sector Co-Chair

Shumaker Professionals Patrick J. Duggan
Patrick J. Duggan
Patrick J. Duggan

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Education
  • J.D., Stetson University College of Law, 2004
  • B.A., with honors, History, University of Florida, 2000
Service Lines
Business Sectors

Experienced in both state and federal courts, Patrick practices employment law and litigation primarily on behalf of management in a variety of complex workplace public sector and business disputes. His specific litigation practice areas include:

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA)
  • Florida Whistleblower Act
  • Genetic Information and Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
  • Open government and open meeting laws
  • Title VII
  • Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
  • Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act)
  • Use of force
  • Contractual and other business-related disputes
  • 1981 and 1983 actions

Patrick has an extensive background representing a variety of governmental entities and public sector employees in Florida, including in law enforcement, fire and rescue, and education. Patrick is one of three Shumaker lawyers who represent the School Board of Sarasota County.

Patrick also represents employers in pre-litigation matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Florida Commission on Human Relations.

He routinely advises employers regarding workplace concerns such as:

  • Discrimination
  • Public sector collective bargaining
  • Harassment
  • Hostile work environments
  • Retaliation
  • Interference
  • Hiring matters
  • Contractual matters
  • Reasonable accommodations
  • Documenting workplace conduct
  • Employee drug testing
  • Workplace investigations
  • Employee grievances
  • Terminating employees
  • Post-employment hearing
  • Education law

Having a passion for sharing his knowledge, Patrick is a frequent lecturer and trainer on a variety of employment-related topics and consistently drafts, reviews, and enforces employment policies and handbooks, employee contracts, restrictive covenants, and severance agreements.

After earning his law degree from the Stetson University College of Law, Patrick served as an Assistant State Attorney in both Sarasota and Manatee Counties where he prosecuted some of this area’s most notorious criminals. He also served as in-house counsel for the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office for eight years. As a result, Patrick possesses extensive knowledge of governmental affairs, constitutional law, and criminal law. He was previously a registered lobbyist before Florida’s executive branch and lobbied on behalf of clients before Florida’s most recent Constitutional Revision Commission.

In his free time, Patrick enjoys spending time with his family.

Media Mentions:

  • As first chair, litigated more than 30 jury trials to verdict, achieving the winning verdict in the overwhelming majority.
  • As first chair, won all five litigated employment termination appeal hearings, all on behalf of management.
  • As first chair, authored legal briefs and made oral argument before Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal.
  • Regarding legislative initiatives, either co-wrote or significantly contributed to the drafting of the final version of five different enacted county ordinances and contributed to drafting and revising numerous bills presented to the Florida legislature, including some that became law.
  • As a registered lobbyist, appeared on the record before Florida’s Constitutional Revision Commission in furtherance of client interests.
  • As in-house counsel, helped manage a legal team for high liability entity with nearly 1000 employees and operating budget exceeding $110 million dollars.

 

  • Business Sectors
  • Service Lines
  • Education
    • J.D., Stetson University College of Law, 2004
    • B.A., with honors, History, University of Florida, 2000
  • Bar and Court Admissions
    • Florida, 2004
    • United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • Professional and community affiliations
    • Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC), Board Chair
    • Sarasota County Gator Club, Board Member
    • Sarasota Tiger Bay Club. Board Member
    • Judicial Advisory Commission, Middle District of Florida (118th Congress)
    • Sarasota County Bar Association
    • The Federalist Society - Sarasota Chapter Executive Committee Member
    • The Florida Association of Police Attorneys, Member
    • Florida School Board Attorneys Association, Member
    • The Ringling College Library Association, 2017 Town Hall Lecture Series Chair
  • Honors
    • SRQ Magazine: Elite Top Attorneys, Labor and Employment, 2020 - 2022
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