About Nicole
Nicole Kruegel is a Partner in the law firm of Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa. As a trial lawyer representing plaintiffs, Nicole has arguably tried more medical malpractice cases in Florida than any other female attorney in her age bracket. Over the past ten years, Nicole’s impressive record of experience in the courtroom has yielded exceptional results in her cases involving delayed or misdiagnosed strokes as well as birth injuries.
Ms. Kruegel is an active member of the American Association for Justice and has traveled across the country helping the organization in its mission to promote a fair and effective justice system. She currently serves on several committees, including the Voter Protection Committee, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Law Schools Committee and is a former Co-Chair of the Membership Committee for the AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus.
Ms. Kruegel also plays an active role in the Florida Justice Association and has served on the Women’s Caucus Board of Directors since 2018. She has a passion for lobbying on behalf of her clients to ensure their constitutional rights are protected at both the state and federal level. She also serves as Sponsorship Director for the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, an organization committed promoting women in the local community.
Ms. Kruegel graduated in 2010 from Florida International University, magna cum laude, with a degree in English Literature and a Certificate in Law, Ethics, and Society. She was the recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
In 2012, Ms. Kruegel received her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, magna cum laude. She graduated a full semester early, was on the Dean’s from 2011 through 2012, and was elected to The Order of the Coif. While in law school, she was the Admiral of the Maritime Law Society, the Articles and Comments Editor for the International and Comparative Law Review, a member of the Psychology, Public Policy, and Law Journal, and a competing member of the Trial Team.
Nicole’s legal acumen has been widely recognized. She has been honored by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 40 Under 40 and acknowledged by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star. Her exemplary achievements led to her inclusion in the Ones to Watch category for The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 Edition. Nicole is a member of many professional legal organizations including The Florida Bar, Palm Beach County Bar Association, Palm Beach County Justice Association, American Association for Justice, Florida Justice Association, and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers.
Outside the courtroom, Nicole is an avid sailor. In 2021, she embarked on a remarkable journey, sailing an impressive 5,000 nautical miles alongside her husband while working remotely. She presented a lecture about those adventures during the 2022 AAJ Women’s Trial Lawyer Caucus Leadership Summit.