A U.S. District Judge declared a mistrial last Thursday in a retaliation case against a state agency after the jury announced it was unable to agree on a verdict. A verdict must be unanimous. In this case, the eight… Read More ›
Retaliation
Jury Awards Our Client $514,000 Against Florida Department of Corrections
A Gainesville, Florida jury awarded our client $514,000.00 late today in a whistleblower-retaliation case against the Florida Department of Corrections. Our client, a Correctional Probation Specialist, was demoted and then fired after 31 years on the job because she… Read More ›
State Agency Settles Racial-Slur Case
The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) has settled a retaliation lawsuit filed by a former employee, Kelly Simmons, who was fired after she objected to the use of racial slurs by a coworker. Her report of the use… Read More ›
Employer Sets Possible Speed Record For Firing Employee Returning From FMLA Leave
Congress made it illegal for employers to retaliate against an employee who’s used leave under the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Here’s a good example why that’s important. I currently represent a woman who was fired from her job… Read More ›
Whistleblower Is Entitled To Trial On Claim of Retaliation for Complaining of Workplace Hazards, Federal Judge Rules Today
A Florida federal judge ruled this afternoon that my client, who objected to what he believed were dangerous conditions on the job and then saw his scheduled work hours slashed to zero, is entitled to present his case to a… Read More ›
Bad References: Can Former Employers Legally Bad-Mouth You?
I get many questions about bad job references. Can my former employer badmouth me? Can my old boss talk bad about me? Aren’t employers limited to disclosing my dates of employment, salary and job title? Employees want to stop former… Read More ›
Are You Getting Bad Job References From Your Former Employer?
I get LOTS of questions about bad job references. Commonly I’m asked things like, “Can my former employer badmouth me?”, or “Aren’t employers limited to disclosing my dates of employment, salary and job title?” Employees want to stop former employers… Read More ›
Gov’t Agency: Employers Cannot Routinely Prevent Employees From Talking To Each Other During Internal Investigations
A government agency ruled on July 30, 2012 that employers cannot routinely forbid their employees from talking to each other during an investigation. This kind of prohibition, common in most workplaces, may interfere with employees’ rights to cooperate and coordinate… Read More ›
Employer Retaliation Becomes A Family Affair
A restaurant just north of Atlanta, Georgia apparently thought it found the perfect way to stop complaints by a waitress who was being sexually harassed. It fired her. And not only did it fire her, it also fired her mom,… Read More ›
Almost Eligible For FMLA Leave? Put Your Request In Now
Have you been on the job for less than a year, but know you’re going to need FMLA leave as soon as you qualify for it (i.e., once you’ve been employed for a total of at least a year, and… Read More ›