TAMPA, Fla. — A former employee of Lakewood Ranch Anesthesia is suing on accusations of tax fraud and violation of the Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA).
Christopher M. Vigna, Jr. filed a federal lawsuit on Jan. 6 in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida Tampa Division against Lakewood Ranch Anesthesia PL, citing violation of the FLSA and for the alleged fraudulent filing of information returns.
According to the claim, Vigna worked as a nurse anesthetist for the defendant from 1998 until Dec. 1, 2014, earning hourly wages. On Dec. 1, 2011, the plaintiff states that he signed a non-compete covenant with the defendant as a condition of his employment. Vigna alleges that the defendant failed to pay the overtime rate equal to one and one-half times the plaintiff’s regular hourly rate throughout his employment.
The plaintiff claims the defendant also filed fraudulent information returns concerning the plaintiff that allegedly allowed for avoidance of the employer’s share of federal FICA and medicare taxes. The plaintiff avers he was forced to pay self-employment taxes as a result.
Vigna seeks a trial by jury, damages in excess of $5,000.00 for each year the plaintiff received a allegedly false return, legal costs and attorney’s fees. He is represented by Craig L. Berman, Esquire, in St. Petersburg, FL.
US District Court for the Middle District of Florida Tampa Division Case number 8:16-cv-00043-JSM-EAJ