TAMPA – A former correctional officer at Avon Park Correctional Institution alleges his employer interfered with his right to take a leave to care for a family member.
Lurie Bonini filed a complaint on Jan. 23 in Tampa Division of the Middle District of Florida against Florida Department of Corrections alleging violation of the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Florida Whistleblower's Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on March 4, 2016, he suffered damages as result of defendant's interference with his rights to take FMLA leave to care for his sick son and manipulated his work schedule on short notice to force him to take time off to work his second job. He also alleges he was subsequently terminated because of his complaint regarding wrongful deprivation of FMLA leave to the Department of Labor.
The plaintiff holds Florida Department of Corrections responsible because the defendant allegedly interfered with plaintiff's FMLA rights by wrongfully denying leave, by disciplining plaintiff for using FMLA and by terminating plaintiff to prevent him from exercising his rights.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant, back pay, reinstatement, liquidated damages, attorneys' fees, costs, and further relief as the court deems proper. He is represented by Bradley P. Rothman of Weldon & Rothman PL in Naples.
Tampa Division of the Middle District of Florida Case number 17-cv-00164