Ralph Douglas grew up in South Florida, before attending Wheaton College in Illinois, where he majored in economics. He thereafter graduated from the University of Central Florida in Orlando in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.  He obtained his law degree from the Florida State University College of Law in 1990.

During law school, Ralph served as a law clerk with the Florida House of Representatives. Prior to law school and throughout college, Ralph worked in the construction and transportation industries, where he gained valuable skills and insights, impacting his law practice even today.

Ralph has practiced in the insurance and workers’ compensation industries for more than thirty years.  As a partner in the Law Firm of McConnaughhay, Coonrod, Weaver & Stern, Ralph represents a variety of employer, insurance carrier, and regulated entities governed by the workers’ compensation law and the administrative rules of the Department of Financial Services, Division of Workers’ Compensation. 

Ralph’s current practice ranges extensively through all aspects of the workers’ compensation system, and touches all branches of government, including the executive agencies, the legislature and the courts. This includes traditional claims litigation, carrier regulatory compliance, administrative rule-making and medical reimbursement litigation and appeal. His work also involves workers’ compensation policy initiatives with the Florida legislature.  On behalf of employers, carriers and the system, he has successfully consulted, litigated or resolved hundreds workers’ compensation claims, and hundreds of reimbursement disputes involving system vendors, such as medical facilities, physicians and pharmaceutical providers.

Ralph advises clients regarding appropriate claims analysis, cost-containment, bill negotiation and fraud prevention.  He works with multiple stakeholders in the industry, including employers, carriers and providers to develop contractual relationships to resolve long-term pricing and reimbursement issues.

Throughout his legal career, Ralph has also represented employers and insurance carriers in a wide range of general liability, insurance coverage, workers’ compensation, employment law, and organizational risk management issues.  He has also provided pro bono legal services in Constitutional Due Process and First Amendment cases.

Ralph is approved by the Department of Financial Services as a continuing education instructor in the field of Workers' Compensation.

Ralph is admitted to the Florida Bar, as well as the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Middle Districts of Florida. He is member of the Florida Bar’s Workers’ Compensation Section, Administrative Law Section and Trial Lawyers Section.

PUBLICATIONS

• "Declaratory Judgments, To Sue or Not To Sue," by by Ralph P. Douglas, Jr., ABA Tort & Insurance Practice Section, Property Insurance Coverage Disputes, 155, 1992.

Professional Activities

• Florida Bar Administrative Law Section
• Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section
• Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Section
• American Bar Association - Tort & Insurance Practice Section (Past Member)
• Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention (Past Member)

Admissions

• The Florida Bar
• United States District Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida

Education

• Florida State University College of Law, J.D., 1990
• University of Central Florida, B.S., 1987