Eric D. Dunlap

Eric D. Dunlap serves as a full-time neutral dispute resolution professional (mediator and arbitrator) practicing in areas such as personal injury, employment/labor, ADA disability, Title VII and civil rights, EEOC, homeowners association matters, contractual/business disputes, police liability, and insurance claims. In addition to certification as a Circuit, County, and Appellate Mediator, State Court Arbitrator, and Federal Court Mediator, he is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Primary Trainer for Circuit and County and Appellate Mediation Certification Training Programs. Eric serves as a mediator for the Florida Department of Financial Services Insurance Claims mediation program, a mediator for the Florida Bar Grievance Mediation Program, a county court mediator at the Orange County Courthouse, and an Adjunct Professor (County Mediation Certification Programs) at Barry University School of Law. Eric also previously served as a mediator for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation's Mandatory Homeowners Association Mediation Program until statutory changes eliminated the program. Eric is a member of the Florida Bar, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Eric was listed as one of Orlando's Top Attorneys in the November 2010 edition of Orlando Home and Leisure magazine. Eric regularly provides continuing mediator education courses for mediators in the Central Florida area.

Since beginning the practice of law in 1991, Eric represented both employers and employees, participated in EEO investigations and conducted EEO training sessions, and represented employees and agencies who were the focus of Department of Justice investigations or the subject of civil rights and section 1983 lawsuits. Eric's litigation experience includes civil liability claims, employment disputes, arbitrations, and administrative/licensing issues. Eric participated in collective bargaining negotiations. Eric served as an Assistant General Counsel for the Orange County Sheriff's Office - a major law enforcement agency in Orange County, Florida -  from 2002 until 2022 where he represented, trained, and advised law enforcement officers on a wide range of matters, including employment disputes, liability and civil rights claims against the agency and officers, civil and criminal litigation, and appeals. Prior to that, Eric served for more than ten years as the Deputy Chief Legal Counsel for the Florida Department of Children and Families District 7 (Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Brevard counties) where he represented, trained, and advised the District Administrator, senior management, and employees on employment/labor disputes, administrative, liability claims against the Department and employees, and appellate matters. Eric has extensive litigation experience, particularly in civil litigation, employment disputes, and administrative issues.

Publications

• Author: "Sanctions for Failing to Appear at Court-Ordered Mediation Conferences," Florida Public Employee Labor Relations Association Newsletter (October-November 2006)
• Author: "Setting Aside Arbitration Awards and the Manifest Disregard of the Law Standard," The Florida Bar Journal, Volume 80, No.7 (July 2006)
• Author: "Depositions: A Deponent May Change The Form And Substance Of Deposition Testimony Through Errata Sheets, But Opposing Counsel May Reopen the Deposition," Central Florida Paralegal Association FOCUS Newsletter, Volume 23, Issue 3 (2006)

• J.D. Cumberland School of Law, Birmingham, AL
• M.B.A. Samford University, Birmingham, AL
• B.S. University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
• Certified Circuit Court Mediator
• Certified U.S. District Court Mediator, Middle District of Florida
• Certified Appellate Mediator, Fifth District Court of Appeal
• Certified Florida Court Arbitrator
• Certified County Court Mediator
• Florida Civil Law Notary

• The Florida Bar
• United States District Court, Middle District of Florida
• United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
• Florida Supreme Court Certified Primary Trainer for Circuit and County Court and Appellate Mediation Certification Training Programs
• Trainer for Arbitration training programs
• Florida Public Employer Labor Relations Association (FPELRA)
• Florida Association of Police Advisors (FAPA)
• National Association of Civil Law Notaries (NACLN)
• The Florida Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labor and Employment Law, Administrative Law, and City, County, and Local Government Law Sections
• Mediator for the DBPR Condominium Association Mediation Program
• Mediator for the DFS Property and Auto Insurance Mediation Program
• Mediator for The Florida Bar Mediation Grievance Program
• Formerly a Mediator for the DBPR's Homeowners Association Mandatory Mediation Program (no longer in existence due to statutory changes)
• Martindale Hubbell Rating: AV

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