FORT LAUDERDALE – A Collier County man claims a Broward County business terminated him in retaliation for complaining about violations of labor laws.
Nobel Diaz filed a complaint on July 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division against Holcombe USA Inc., doing business as Autoshow Sales and Service and also known as Quick Auto Loan; and also doing business as Motorhouse Inc., doing business as Motorhouse, alleging violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Florida Private Whistle-blower Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff worked for the defendants from February to March as a controller. He alleges he was wrongfully terminated for advising the owner and his wife that the defendants were purportedly violating laws and regulations regarding gap insurance policies, tag refund checks, processing tag registrations, and for requiring employees to clock out but continue working in violation of the FLSA. He alleges he was terminated in retaliation for complaining about employees working off of the clock.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks injunction against the defendants, reinstatement, reinstatement of full benefits and seniority rights, compensation for lost wages, benefits and other remuneration, compensatory damages, all legal fees and any other relief as the court deems just. He is represented by R. Martin Saenz and Andres Rivera-Ortiz of Saenz & Anderson PLLC in Aventura.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Division Case number 0:16-cv-61767-FAM