News from December 2016
Court to hear appeal in State Farm 'trade secret' dispute
FORT LAUDERDALE – A three-judge panel is slated to hear appeal arguments just after the new year in the simmering “trade secrets” dispute between State Farm Florida and state insurance regulators.
Businessman accused of $100 million fraud claims bankruptcy
ORLANDO – Central Florida businessman Timothy McCallan of Melbourne wants to claim Chapter 7 bankruptcy after a prior court ruling landed him in jail for running a debt counseling service that took in around $100 million but paid almost nothing to his client's creditors.
Class action suit filed against country club alleging unpaid overtime wages
MIAMI — A former employee has filed a class-action lawsuit against Indian Creek Country Club, Inc., citing alleged unpaid wages and violation of workers compensation acts.
Carnival Corp. accused of permitting a wet tile floor that led to a serious fall
FLORIDA — A passenger is suing Carnival Corp., citing alleged insufficient measures were taken to prevent injuries that included a fractured knee.
Cook claims restaurant owner failed to pay him for overtime wages
FLORIDA — A former employee is suing a restaurant owner, citing alleged unpaid wages and violation of workers compensation acts.
Duval County woman claims Navy Federal Credit Union made harassing robo-calls
Duval County woman is suing Navy Federal Credit Union, a debt collector, citing alleged violation of telephone harassment statutes.
Former Staples employee alleges insurance company wrongfully terminated disability payments
TAMPA — A former Staples employee is suing Life Insurance Company of North America, alleging the insurer wrongfully terminated disability payments.
Yacht manufacturer cited for alleged trademark infringement
TAMPA — A Florida company is suing a yacht manufacturer, citing alleged trademark infringement.
An insurance company claims general contractor and its clients are not entitled to benefits
FORT MYERS — An insurance company is suing a general contractor and a couple, claiming they are not entitled to benefits under an insurance contract.
Woman claims retirement center operator failed to pay her overtime wages
A woman is suing Lifespace Communities, Inc., a retirement center operator, claiming she was not paid overtimes wages.
Couple alleges Paypal Credit contacted them instead of lawyer as instructed
TAMPA – A Hillsborough County couple alleges a debt collector unlawfully contacted them after consent was revoked.
Consumer alleges Roundpoint Mortgage Servicing Corp. violated debt collection laws
MIAMI – A Broward County woman alleges a debt collector engaged in deceptive and unfair business practices.
Sream Inc. claims LB Smoke Shop sells counterfeit RooR water pipes
MIAMI – A Miami-Dade County business is accused of selling counterfeit water pipes.
Bluestem Brands alleged to have harassed consumer with telephone calls
ORLANDO – A Brevard County man alleges a debt collector has called him hundreds of times.
Uber attorney cries foul over Hillsborough County PTC, urges companies to safeguard documents
One of the lawyers working with ridesharing company Uber is sending warnings via a letter to other county attorneys over the way the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission handles the public records requests submitted to its office.
Court rules police needed warrant to search cellphone
A South Florida Appeals Court ruled that the Sunrise City Police needed a search warrant to go through a personal cellphone of a young man involved in the case of a stolen car.
Two Pinellas attorneys disciplined by Florida Supreme Court
The Florida Bar recently announced that the Florida Supreme Court has issued court orders seeking to discipline 16 lawyers, two of which are practicing attorneys in Pinellas County.
Appeals court rules $18.5 million award too much following tobacco lawsuit
A Florida appeals court has ruled that R.J. Reynolds be granted a motion for remittitur or have a new trial for damages
Administrative Order issued for investigation into death row attorney Mary Catherine Bonner
An investigation has been ordered into a Fort Lauderdale attorney that serves as the legal counsel to death row inmates through the state’s registry of lawyers.
Casey Anthony attorney jailed on suspicion of cocaine trafficking
Todd Macaluso, ex-attorney for Casey Anthony in a notorious murder case, has recently been disbarred as an attorney and booked into jail for seeking to transport five kilograms of cocaine and distribute it.