News from March 2016
Couple files suit in income tax dispute
ORLANDO – A Melbourne couple alleges that they overpaid their federal income taxes and are seeking a refund.
Former employee alleges County Soda Systems did not pay him overtime
MIAMI – A Sunrise man is suing is former Pompano Beach employer over allegations he was not paid overtime wages.
Man files suit against Life Insurance Co. of North America over benefits dispute
MIAMI – A man diagnosed with chronic myegenous leukemia alleges his insurance company first approved and then denied his disability benefits.
Man alleges he was terminated for taking leave for medical treatment
ORLANDO – A Kissimmee man alleges he was terminated by a restaurant in Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park because he took time off for treatment for a back injury.
Multisports USA alleges UK corporation interfered with business
MIAMI – A sports accessories distributor alleges that a United Kingdom corporation interfered with its business relationships in U.S. territory.
Deaf man alleges he was denied interpreter at Osceola County Correctional Facility
TAMPA – A deaf man held at a correctional facility in 2012 alleges he was denied an interpreter.
Woman alleges she was wrongfully terminated for missing work for doctor's appointment
FORT LAUDERDALE – A Broward County woman alleges she was terminated because she took a day off for a prenatal appointment.
Bad faith laws are in desperate need of reform, expert says; Plaintiff attorneys seek to extract settlements from insurers
TALLAHASSEE – Florida has developed a reputation of having an unfair legal system that does not favor businesses, partly because of the state's bad faith laws, which many legal experts agree need reform.
Carnival Ecstasy passenger files suit over alleged injuries
MIAMI – An Orlando woman is suing a cruise line over alleged injuries she sustained while aboard the Carnival Ecstasy.
Former employee seeks allegedly unpaid wages from The Boss Cleaning Service
MIAMI – A Miami-Dade County man alleges that his former employer did not pay him overtime wages.
Woman files suit against Navient Solutions over allegedly harassing phone calls
ORLANDO – A Volusia County woman alleges that a student loan debt collector has called her hundreds of times.
Consumer accuses Pollo Operations of alleged telephone harassment
ORLANDO – A Florida man alleges a restaurant group has been sending him unsolicited text messages.
Passenger files suit against cruise line over alleged injuries
MIAMI – A Texas man alleges that a cruise line's negligence caused injuries to his shoulder.
Florida ranks third on 2015-2016 Judicial Hellholes report, asbestos ruling criticized
TALLAHASSEE – Florida landed the No. 3 spot on the 2015-2016 Judicial Hellholes report by the American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF). According to the report, the Florida Supreme Court habitually issues liability-expanding rulings “out of sync” with courts in other states.
Florida Justice Reform Institute advocates for Assignment of Benefits reform to improve state’s lawsuit climate
TALLAHASSEE – In its ongoing efforts to improve the state's poor lawsuit climate, the Florida Justice Reform Institute is calling for changes to the Assignment of Benefits law, which allows a third party to collect insurance proceeds owed to a policyholder directly from an insurance company.
Man alleges he was discharged, discriminated against while employed by Merrill Lynch
MIAMI – A man alleges his former employer discriminated and retaliated against him because of his national origin.
Daytona Beach man files suit for benefits
ORLANDO – A Daytona Beach man alleges that he was wrongfully denied long-term disability benefits.
Few lawyers in Florida face disciplinary actions
TALLAHASSEE – A Live Oak attorney is one of a relative few lawyers who has endured legal discipline in the state, according to statistics provided by the Florida Bar.
Suit filed against AFNI in dispute over alleged debt
FORT MYERS – A Cape Coral man alleges that a debt collector engaged in unfair collection practices.
Cruise passenger files suit against Royal Caribbean over injury allegations
MIAMI – A Miami-Dade man alleges that a cruise ship line created a dangerous and defective condition by allowing an unreasonably hot outdoor pool deck to remain on a ship.