A former employee is taking legal action against a Florida-based pool cleaning company, accusing it of withholding significant earnings. Tyler Preza filed a complaint on November 13, 2024, in the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, against Clear Tech, Inc., alleging unpaid commissions totaling approximately $70,000.
The case centers around Preza's tenure as an Inside Sales Representative for Clear Tech, Inc., where he was responsible for selling pool cleaning services and managing client accounts. According to the complaint, Preza was initially paid a weekly salary of $800 and earned commissions based on his sales performance. However, following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in late September and early October 2024, Clear Tech introduced a special deal for its clients but subsequently altered its commission policy retroactively. On October 18, 2024, nine days after Hurricane Milton struck, Preza was informed that his commission structure had been changed retroactively to October 1st and that he would not receive commissions earned after September 1st.
Feeling aggrieved by what he described as an "unlawful attempt" to change his compensation terms without prior notice or agreement, Preza resigned from his position immediately upon learning of these changes. The lawsuit claims that Clear Tech failed to pay him the commissions owed between September 1st and October 18th. Citing section 448.08 of the Florida Statutes, which provides for attorney’s fees in actions to recover unpaid wages, Preza seeks judgment against Clear Tech for the unpaid commissions along with attorney’s fees.
Preza's legal representation is being handled by Craig L. Berman of Berman Law PA based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The case has been assigned Case Number: 24-004987-CI under Judge Ken Burke at the Pinellas County Circuit Court.