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Overview

Doug is a seasoned litigator with over 30 years of experience, focusing his practice on class action, antitrust, consumer protection, business litigation, and government investigations, particularly matters involving the Attorney General’s office. These investigations include matters involving Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act (FDUTPA) and Florida's Antitrust, RICO, CANSPAM, data breach, and price gouging statutes. Doug is a former Senior Assistant Attorney General of the State of Florida’s Economic Crimes (Antitrust) Division and has more than 20 years’ experience advising clients with internal investigations and creating compliance policies and systems to reduce the risk of government enforcement actions. Doug has earned the ANSI-accredited Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) credential through the International Association of Privacy Professionals(IAPP). He regularly advises companies on a variety of privacy law matters, including digital marketing, website privacy compliance, and biometric data collection.

Representative Experience

  • Represented IBM and its subsidiary, TWC Product and Technology - owner of The Weather Channel Mobile App, as Florida counsel with Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan in consumer class action alleging violations of FDUTPA and various business torts; case dismissed with prejudice.
  • Represented companies in responding to data breaches under the Florida Information Protection Act (Florida’s data breach notification statute), and interpreting cybersecurity insurance policies and resolving coverage issues with carriers.
  • Represented numerous companies in responding to price gouging investigations, including major online marketplace operator.
  • Represented large healthcare company in obtaining antitrust clearance from Florida Attorney General on three separate hospital acquisitions.
  • Represented local governments in putative class action regarding alleged unconstitutional special assessment; motion for class certification denied.
  • Represented Fortune 500 companies in putative FDUTPA class actions, including cases involving flushable wipes, sunscreen, fuel surcharges, and movie rentals.
  • Represented regional bank in putative class action, successfully enforcing arbitration clause with class action waiver.
  • Represented large grocery store chains (Whole Foods Market and Publix Super Markets) in obtaining declaratory judgments enabling companies to exclude petition gatherers from soliciting signatures on privately owned property.
  • Represented world’s largest sports agency in action to enjoin defecting agent from taking agency clients immediately prior to NFL draft; injunction granted.
  • Represented bankruptcy trustee in action to locate and recover assets transferred overseas by debtor, resulting in 100% recovery for creditors of estate.
  • Represented corporate debtor in bankruptcy in fraudulent transfer and breach of fiduciary duty action against debtor’s former officers and affiliates, resulting in significant recovery for debtor.
  • Represented shareholder in action to remove officer of corporation for breach of duty of loyalty, largely based upon recovered electronic files deleted by former officer from company laptop, resulting in shareholder acquiring full control of company.

Professional & Community Involvement

  • American Bar Association, Litigation and Antitrust Sections
    • Associate Editor, ANTITRUST Magazine, 2018-Present
  • William H. Stafford American Inn of Court, 2014-Present
  • The Florida Bar Association
    • Grievance Committee for the Second Judicial Circuit, 2011-2016
    • Consumer Protection Law Committee
      • Chair, 2008-2009
      • Vice-Chair, 2007-2008
  • Co-Editor, 2013 Review of Consumer Protection Law Developments, Antitrust Law Section of the American Bar Association, 2013
  • Editorial Board, 2011 Review of Consumer Protection Law Developments, Antitrust Law Section of the American Bar Association, 2011
  • Leon County Schools Foundation, Board of Directors, 2005-2008
  • Leadership Tallahassee Class XX

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America, 2024-Present
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2009, 2012-Present
  • Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite, 2007-2017, 2019-2022
  • AV® Preeminent™ Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Publications & Presentations

Events: Information Security – A Breach Occurred, Now What?
Florida Association for Constitutional Officers |July 2023

In the Media, Publications: The ranging impacts of Florida's Digital Bill of Rights
International Association of Privacy Professionals|May 2023

Events: Cyberattack: When All Pay And Employment Records Are Lost
Stearns Weaver Miller's 2022 Annual Tallahassee Labor & Employment Law Seminar|November 2022

Publications: Cannabis Dispensaries Take Another Hit With Antitrust Lawsuit
Stearns Weaver Miller News Update|October 2021

Events: Cyber In-Security: How To Make Cybersecurity A Priority For Your Business
The Tallahassee Annual Chamber Community Conference|August 2021

Government & Administrative News Update, Publications: Agencies Continue to Adjust to The New Normal
Stearns Weaver Miller News Update |April 2021

Events: Consumer Protection Updates
American Bar Association|March 2021

Events: FDUTPA Claims For Recovery in Bankruptcy Actions
Middle District of Florida and Northern District of Florida Bankruptcy Bar Associations|November 2020

Publications: 2019 Review of Consumer Protection Law Developments
Chapter on Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practice Act|Antitrust Law Section of the American Bar Association|February 2020

Events: Class Actions: Hot Topics and Future Trends
Florida Bar Annual Convention on behalf of the Consumer Protection Law Committee|June 2017

Events: Multistate Consumer Investigations: State AG Perspectives and Priorities
Consumer Protection, Privacy and Information Security, and State Enforcement Committees of the Antitrust Law Section of the American Bar Association|February 2014

Publications: FTC’s Latest Revisions to the Green Guides
What’s In Store, Volume 18, No. 1|American Bar Association’s Section of Antitrust Law’s Consumer Protection Committee|December 2013

Publications: Co-Editor, 2013 Review of Consumer Protection Law Developments
Antitrust Law Section of the American Bar Association|March 2013

Publications: Seller Beware: An Overview Of The FTC's New Business Opportunity Rule
What’s In Store|American Bar Association’s Section of Antitrust Law’s Consumer Protection Committee|March 2012

Events: State Consumer Protection Laws - Enforcement and Litigation Trends in Florida
Private Advertising Litigation, Consumer Protection, State Enforcement, and Business Torts & RICO Committees of the Antitrust Law Section of the ABA|July 2011

Publications: Facilitating Unfair Trade Practices: The FTC Makes a Check-Writing Software Company Pay For Ignoring Warning Signs of Fraud
What’s In Store|American Bar Association’s Section of Antitrust Law’s Consumer Protection Committee|November 2010

Events: Clash of the Titans: 1st Amendment vs. Property Rights
Florida Association of Police Attorneys|April 2010

Events: Consumer Law Update
American Bar Association’s Section of Antitrust Law’s Consumer Protection Committee|January 2010

Events: Florida Consumer Law Symposium
The Florida Bar Consumer Protection Law Committee and the Office of the Attorney General|May 2006

Events: Ethical Issues in Depositions
Lorman Education Services|March 2005

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