Our firm had trials in progress in two different federal courtrooms this week – one in Panama City, Florida and the other in Tallahassee, Florida – and the juries returned verdicts yesterday, October 21, 2014 for each of our clients… Read More ›
valdosta lawyer
Federal Judge Declares Mistrial in Employee’s Breastmilk-Pumping Case
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 ›
BREAKING: Florida Prison Chief Imposes Severe Personal-Conduct Standard on Employees
The Florida Department of Corrections’ Secretary, Michael D. Crews, sent a memo today to “DCAll”- the designation for a mass email to all 23,000 employees – announcing a new, take-no-prisoners policy on employee conduct. Crews says that,… Read More ›
Employees Cheated of Wages & Overtime Have Powerful Rights
I hear almost daily from employees whose employers don’t pay them properly, and in most cases it’s a custom and practice of the employer, not a one-time thing. Employees lose lots of income this way. They’ll have you do… 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 ›
Some Employers Stop Posting Job Ads In War Against Automated “Application Avalanches,” Encouraging Applicants To Use More Personal Touch
Two years ago, in May 2012, I wrote a column titled “The Permanent Job Search.” I wrote that job-hunting has changed, from something you only do when you’re unemployed to something you need to do now, in a… Read More ›
2014 LGBT Anti-Discrimination Law Update: 190 U.S. Cities and Counties Now Have Them. (19,810 Still Don’t.)
For all the progress our country has made in making the workplace safe for everyone, LGBT discrimination remains a severe and pervasive problem. Protection against harassment based on sexual orientation is almost nonexistent in the United States. Of approximately 20,000… Read More ›
Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down $55,000 Fine Against Employee Who Sued Boss For Allegedly Soliciting Sex From The Employee’s Wife
I’m pleased to report that we succeeded in persuading a federal appeals court this week to overturn a $55,000.00 fine imposed on a Florida public school employee for filing suit against the school system. The employee had alleged he was… 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 ›
Jim Garrity, Esq. - Employee Rights Lawyer 