Hon. Dorian K. Damoorgian (Ret.) is a seasoned jurist with a distinguished judicial career spanning 25 years. He served on both the trial and intermediate appellate courts in one of the largest jurisdictions in Florida. During his eight years on the trial bench, Mr. Damoorgian presided over both jury and bench trials, having served in the civil, criminal, dependency/family and domestic violence divisions. As an administrative judge in the civil division, he was charged with establishing the court’s complex litigation division. While serving on the Fourth District Court of Appeal, including two years as chief judge, Mr. Damoorgian authored over 525 opinions that addressed issues related to jurisdiction, substantive and procedural due process, statutory interpretation, application and interpretation of rules of procedure, evidence, jury selection, dispositive pretrial motions, post-trial procedure, discovery and damages. Having presided over cases involving issues of arbitrability, the interpretation of arbitration agreements and the enforcement of arbitration awards, as well as actions to enforce mediated settlement agreements, Mr. Damoorgian has a wealth of knowledge about the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process.

Mr. Damoorgian’s vast experience as a judge in both trial and appellate courts gives him a unique perspective, which will be advantageous to resolving disputes through ADR. His move to JAMS reflects his belief in ADR as a cost-saving and effective means to resolve legal disputes. 

ADR Experience and Qualifications

• Presided over cases involving issues of arbitrability, enforcement of arbitration agreements and actions to set aside arbitration awards
• Presided over actions to enforce mediated settlement agreements, appointed mediators and assigned parties to mediation

Representative Matters

• Appellate
• As a judge on the intermediate appellate court, reviewed decisions emanating from the divisions within trial courts, including civil, probate, family and criminal
• Business Commercial
• As an advocate, represented clients in commercial transactions, including sales and purchases of business entities and assets
• As a judge, presided over disputes involving commercial transactions, finance, insurance coverage claims and contract interpretation
• Class Action & Mass Tort
• As a judge, presided over actions involving claims of personal injury, product liability and related class actions/class certification
• Construction
• As an advocate, represented clients in matters involving building construction
• As a judge, presided over matters involving disputes over construction contracts and construction defects
• Employment Law
• As an advocate, represented labor unions in the private and public sectors
• As a judge, presided over cases involving employment-related actions, including actions to enforce noncompete agreements, and breach of employment agreements
• Real Property
• As a judge, presided over actions involving the sale and purchase of real property, land use and development, eminent domain, commercial and residential construction, and financing and foreclosures
• As an advocate, represented clients in private and commercial real estate transactions

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Memberships and Affiliations

• Member, The Florida Bar, 1980–2025

Selected Awards and Honors

• Stephen R. Booher Memorial Award, Broward County Bar Association, 2007
• Outstanding Judge Award, Fort Lauderdale Chapter, American Board of Trial Advocates, 2005

Background and Education

• Judge, Fourth District Court of Appeal, West Palm Beach, 2008–2025
  • Chief Judge, 2013–2015
• Judge, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, 2000–2007
  • Administrative Judge, Civil Division
• Attorney, Private Practice, 1980–1999
• J.D., Samford University Cumberland School of Law, 1980
• B.A., cum laude, American University, 1977