4 months ago
On November 7, 2013, the United States Senate approved the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)—proposed legislation that would extend federal employment discrimination protections currently provided based on race, religion, gender, national origin, age and disability to sexual orientation and gender identity. ENDA, which is closely modeled on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the American with Disabilities Act, prohibits certain private and public employers from using an individual’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity as the basis for employment decisions, such as hiring, firing, promotion, or compensation. While some states prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual identity and/or gender identity, this vital piece of federal legislation will provide consistent protection for the LGBT community. All eyes are now on the House of Representatives to see if ENDA will make it to the floor to be put to a vote.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Federal Law
Tags: Public Employees, Public Employers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider
5 months ago
On September 12, the Department of Labor issued a clarification regarding its statement that law students may work as unpaid interns on pro bono matters at private law firms. Unpaid internships have become a hot button issue; in June, a federal judge for the Southern District of New York held that a major motion picture studio violated federal and State minimum wage laws when it failed to pay two interns for work they completed on the film “Black Swan” in 2009 and 2010. In a letter penned to the American Bar Association Immediate Past President Laurel G. Bellows, Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith explained that a law school student who performs work for his or her own educational benefit would not be considered an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act (the “FLSA”) where the following criteria are met:
- The internship is similar to training that would have been given in an educational environment;
- The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern;
- The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under the supervision of existing staff;
- The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern;
- The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and
- The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to waves for the time spent in the internship.
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Categories: Labor and Employment
Tags: Brett J. Schneider, National Labor Relations Board, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Environmental Law, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers, Fair Labor Standards Act
Author(s): Brett J.Schneider & Brooke P. Dolara
7 months ago
On August 22, 2013, the firm obtained a significant arbitration victory for the City of Homestead, in a case involving a former police officer who was terminated for committing numerous policy violations. Alison F. Smith defended the City against the employee’s claim that he was terminated without just cause in violation of the collective bargaining agreement between the City and the union that represents its police officers, and argued that the City had just cause for the employee’s termination based on numerous policy violations he had committed while conducting an investigatory stop (some of which could have resulted in harm to himself and the public). In particular, the City contended that just cause existed for the former police officer’s termination because he: (1) failed to notify Dispatch of his correct location and did not call in the stop; (2) failed to call for backup; (3) failed to advise dispatch of his delay in responding to another call to which he had been dispatched while conducting the investigatory stop; and (4) disclosed confidential information from a database that is restricted to law enforcement use and access to that individual. In denying the employee’s grievance, the arbitrator ruled that the evidence presented by the City established that it had just cause for the employee’s termination because the employee’s actions, including his failure to advise dispatch of his correct location while conducting an investigatory stop (which could have compromised his safety and by itself warranted his summary discharge), constituted “extremely serious/major offenses.”
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Categories: Labor and Employment
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Brett J. Schneider, Alison F. Smith, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider
8 months ago
On June 11, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) announced that it had filed two lawsuits against two companies, BMW and Dolgencorp, in which it alleged that the companies violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by adopting criminal background checks that have a disparate impact on African American applicants.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Administrative Law
Tags: Employee Misconduct, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider
8 months ago
On June 24, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling that limits the definition of a “supervisor” as it relates to employer liability in harassment claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”). Title VII protects individuals against employment discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, and national origin. Under Title VII, an employer is only liable for the harassment of a co-worker if the employer was negligent in controlling workplace conditions. However, an employer may be liable for workplace harassment for the conduct of a supervisor if the harassment culminates in a tangible employment action, such as a significant change in employment status or a decision causing a significant change in benefits. In Vance v. Ball State University, 2013 WL 3155228 (U.S. Jun. 24, 2013), the Supreme Court held that an employee is a “supervisor” for purposes of vicarious liability under Title VII if he or she is empowered by the employer to take tangible employment action against the victim. The ruling has met with significant support from the business community, while opponents lament that it will make it harder for plaintiffs to advance harassment claims against their employers under Title VII.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Federal Law
Tags: Jamie A. Cole, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider
8 months ago
On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court (the “Court”) held that retaliation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act must be proven under the traditional principles of “but-for” causation, requiring proof that the unlawful retaliation would not have occurred in the absence of the alleged wrongful action or actions of the employer. In University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar, 2013 WL 2155234 (U.S. Jun. 24, 2013), the Court rejected the Government and Respondent’s argument that a plaintiff could prevail on a claim of unlawful retaliation if he or she could show that the plaintiff’s protected activity was a “motivating” or “substantial” factor in the employer’s alleged wrongful action, a lessened causation standard. The employer-friendly decision makes it harder for plaintiffs to present a prima facie case of unlawful retaliation under Title VII.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Federal Law, Federal Courts
Tags: Jamie A. Cole, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Protected Activity, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider
9 months ago
Earlier this month, a federal district court judge for the Southern District of New York ruled that Fox Searchlight Pictures violated federal and State minimum wage laws when it failed to pay two unpaid interns who worked on the film “Black Swan” from 2009 to 2010. In Glatt v. Fox Searchlight Pictures, Inc., ----F. Supp. 2d ----, 2013 WL 2495140 (S.D.N.Y. Jun. 11, 2013), Judge William H. Pauley III held that plaintiffs Eric Glatt and Alexander Footman were improperly classified as “unpaid interns” and were actually “employees” protected by the Fair Labor Standards Act (the “FLSA”).
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Federal Law
Tags: Employment Agreements, Jamie A. Cole, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers, Fair Labor Standards Act
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Brooke P. Dolara
9 months ago
Florida SuperLawyers recently revealed its list of "SuperLawyers" and "Rising Stars" for 2013; each year, the magazine rates outstanding attorneys from more than seventy practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process for SuperLawyers includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. This year, SuperLawyers recognized twenty WSH attorneys.
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Categories: Land Use & Zoning (Public), Environmental/Sustainability, Litigation, Condominium Associations, Local Government, Homeowners' Associations, Appellate Law & Practice, Awards & Recognitions, Land Use & Zoning (Private), Construction Law, Real Estate
Tags: Governmental Litigation, Municipal Government, Special Counsel to Local Government, Gary L. Brown, Jonathan Cohen, Jamie A. Cole, Chad S. Friedman, Edward G. Guedes, Stephen J. Helfman, Eric P. Hockman, Joshua D. Krut, Gilberto Pastoriza, Matthew J. Pearl, Michael S. Popok, Anthony L. Recio, Brett J. Schneider, Clifford A. Schulman, Joseph H. Serota, Alison F. Smith, Susan L. Trevarthen, Richard Jay Weiss, Samuel I. Zeskind, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Commercial Litigation Lawyer, South Florida Commercial Litigation Attorney, South Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Condominium Association Attorneys, Miami Condominium Association Attorneys, South Florida Condominium Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Municipal Attorneys, Miami Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Municipal Attorneys, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Miami Homeowners' Association Attorneys, South Florida Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Appellate Law Attorneys, Miami Appellate Law Attorneys, South Florida Appellate Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Environmental Law Attorneys, Miami Environmental Law Attorneys, South Florida Environmental Law Attorneys , South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Community Association Law, Florida Condo Association Law, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Environmental Law, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Construction Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Lawyer, Miami Construction Lawyer, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, Miami Real Estate Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
9 months ago
On June 10, 2013, WSH Partner Brett J. Schneider obtained an arbitration victory for the Town of Golden Beach (the “Town”) in a dispute with the Fraternal Order of Police (“FOP”) over a 2012 increase in pay to a Town police officer during a time when officer and sergeant salaries were frozen under the collective bargaining agreement. The FOP alleged that the Town increased the officer’s pay from Step 2 ($46,786.00 per year) to Step 5 ($54,160.00 per year) in violation of a contractual salary freeze. The Town responded that it did not provide the officer with a pay increase; rather, it implemented a previously agreed-upon pay increase that had been deferred since 2009. Specifically, the Town asserted that it hired the officer with the expectation that it would pay him at a higher rate due to his prior experience, and entered into a verbal agreement with the officer to defer the implementation of the higher rate. Therefore, because the higher pay rate had already been in place (albeit deferred) prior to the freeze, the Arbitrator concluded that the Town did not violate the pay freeze language in the collective bargaining agreement.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Contracts, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Tags: Public Employees, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Brett J. Schneider, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Brooke P. Dolara
11 months ago
On April 23, WSH attorneys Brett J. Schneider and Alison F. Smith obtained summary judgment in favor of the City of Lauderhill in a federal lawsuit brought by a former City maintenance worker. The Plaintiff alleged, among other things, that the City discriminated against him on the basis of his age and national origin, retaliated against him for making a discrimination complaint, and ultimately terminated his employment because of his age and national origin. Judge Robin Rosenbaum, in a 30 page written order, adopted many of the arguments made by Brett and Alison and granted summary judgment as to all seven counts in the Complaint.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Governmental Litigation, Jamie A. Cole, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Alison F. Smith, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
11 months ago
On April 16, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion that may limit the availability of collective action suits under the Fair Labor Standards Act. By way of background, the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) establishes federal minimum wage and overtime pay requirements that cannot be modified by contract. Section 16(b) of FLSA permits employees to bring a private cause of action on their own behalf and on behalf of “other employees similarly situated” for specific violations of the FLSA. A suit brought on behalf of other employees is known as a “collective action.” The issue before the Court was whether a collective action is justiciable when the lone plaintiff’s individual claim becomes moot.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Federal Law, Federal Courts, Class Actions, Civil Procedure
Tags: Jamie A. Cole, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Brooke P. Dolara
11 months ago
On April 11, 2013, attorneys Brett J. Schneider and Alison F. Smith obtained a significant arbitration victory for the City of Lauderhill, in a case involving a former City police officer who was terminated because he admitted to engaging in criminal activity while on duty as a Lauderhill police officer while underdoing polygraph examinations in connection with jobs he was seeking with two other Florida law enforcement agencies. In his defense, the employee claimed that he fabricated stories about engaging in criminal activity during those polygraph examinations because he wanted to fail the polygraph examinations, as he was no longer interested in working for those agencies. The City argued that it had just cause to terminate the employee because, whether he had in fact engaged in criminal activity on duty or had lied about doing so, neither lying nor engaging in criminal activity is a trait that any law enforcement officer should possess. The arbitrator agreed and denied the employee’s grievance in its entirety, holding that, as a law enforcement officer, the employee was required to demonstrate honesty and integrity and, failing that, could not have his employment salvaged by the City.
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Categories: Labor and Employment
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Brett J. Schneider, Alison F. Smith, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider
12 months ago
On March 6, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion that permits undocumented workers to recover back pay from their employers for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). In Lamonica v. Safe Hurricane Shutters, Inc., --- F. 3d ----, 2013 WL 811906 (11th Cir. Mar. 6, 2013), the Eleventh Circuit upheld a District Court decision awarding unpaid wages and liquidated damages to former employees, including one worker who was not authorized to work in the United States, who alleged that they were owed overtime wages under the FLSA. This was not a case of first impression for the Eleventh Circuit; the Court had previously held that undocumented workers could state a cause of action under the FLSA in Patel v. Quality Inn S., 846 F. 2d 700 (11th Cir. 1988). However, Hurricane Shutters, Inc. argued that Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. NLRB, 535 U.S. 137, 122 S. Ct. 1275, 152 L. Ed. 271 (2002), a Supreme Court case which held that the National Labor Relations Board could not award back pay to undocumented workers who are terminated for union activity, effectively overruled Patel. The Eleventh Circuit disagreed, stating that the case was not controlling authority because it involved a different statute and different issues; whereas the employees in Hoffman alleged they were owed back pay for being deprived a job, the employees in Lamonica claimed they were owed back pay for work already performed.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Federal Law
Tags: Collective Bargaining, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Commercial Litigation Lawyer, South Florida Commercial Litigation Attorney, South Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Brooke P. Dolara
1 year ago
In January 2013, Broward County implemented an ordinance that makes it easier for employees to take legal action against their employers for non-payment of earned wages. Under Broward County Ordinance 2012-32, if an employee has performed work in Broward County and his/her employer has failed to pay or has underpaid the wage rate applicable for the work performed within a reasonable amount of time from the date on which the employee performed the work, the employee may file a complaint with the Broward County Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Professional Standards (“OIAPS”) to recover those lost wages. Section 20½-2(f) defines a “reasonable time” as no later than 14 calendar days from the date that the work is performed, unless the employer has established a pay schedule whereby employees earn and are consistently paid according to regular pay periods, in which case that pay schedule controls. A complaint will be heard by a hearing officer if:
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Administrative Law
Tags: Employment Agreements, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
1 year ago
On February 1, 2013, the firm obtained an arbitration victory for the Town of Bay Harbor Islands in a case involving a claim by the Dade County Police Benevolent Association (the “Union”) that the Town violated its collective bargaining agreement with the Union when it unilaterally implemented a policy requiring all Town police officers and sergeants to wear bullet proof vests while on duty. Brett J. Schneider and Mia R. Martin defended the Town against the Union’s claim. The Town successfully argued that the Union had waived its right to challenge the policy by not timely filing a grievance regarding the implementation of the policy and that the Town’s implementation of that policy did not violate any provision of the parties’ agreement and was an extension of the Town’s management rights.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Awards & Recognitions, Brett J. Schneider, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Mia R. Martin
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider
1 year ago
WSH Partner Brett J. Schneider has been elected as the President-Elect of the Human Resource Association of Broward County (“HRABC”) for the 2013 year. Prior to his election as President-Elect, he served as HRABC's Legislative Affairs Director from in 2011 and 2012.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Awards & Recognitions
Tags: Awards & Recognitions, Brett J. Schneider, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
1 year ago
The South Florida Business Journal (“SFBJ”) has named WSH as one of the 2013 Best Places to Work for the fourth year in a row. Each year, the SFBJ surveys employees at numerous firms to determine which employers in South Florida foster a great workplace. WSH placed among the finalists for medium-sized (51-149 employees) firms. On February 21, the SFBJ will announce the rankings of all the named finalists at its celebratory awards luncheon in Fort Lauderdale. We are thrilled to be chosen by the SFBJ for this honor.
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Categories: Awards & Recognitions
Tags: Awards & Recognitions, Jamie A. Cole, Stephen J. Helfman, Joseph H. Serota, Richard Jay Weiss, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Commercial Litigation Lawyer, South Florida Commercial Litigation Attorney, South Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Local Government Law, Miami Local Government Law, South Florida Local Government Law, Miami Aviation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Condominium Association Attorneys, Miami Condominium Association Attorneys, South Florida Condominium Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Miami Governmental Affairs Attorneys, South Florida Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Municipal Attorneys, Miami Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Attorneys, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Lawyers, South Florida Private Transactions Attorneys, South Florida Private Transactions Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Private Transactions Attorneys, Miami Private Transactions Attorneys, South Florida Public Transactions Law, Fort Lauderdale Public Transactions Law, Miami Public Transactions Law , Fort Lauderdale Eminent Domain Attorneys, Miami Eminent Domain Attorneys, Sourth Florida Eminent Domain Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Miami Homeowners' Association Attorneys, South Florida Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Bankruptcy Attorneys, Miami Bankruptcy Attorneys, South Florida Bankruptcy Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Appellate Law Attorneys, Miami Appellate Law Attorneys, South Florida Appellate Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Constitutional Law Attorneys, Miami Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Constitutional Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Environmental Law Attorneys, Miami Environmental Law Attorneys, South Florida Environmental Law Attorneys , South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Community Association Law, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Construction Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Tax Attorney, Miami Construction Lawyer, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Eminent Domain Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, Miami Real Estate Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
1 year ago
Recently, the Florida Division of Retirement (the “Division”) issued letters to the Cities of Naples and Hollywood concerning those Cities’ eligibility for and use of future premium tax revenues to fund their respective police and fire pension obligations under Chapters 175 and 185, Florida Statutes. These letters reflect an important change to the Division’s previous position concerning a municipality’s eligibility for and use of premium tax revenues.
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Categories: Labor and Employment
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Raquel Elejabarrieta, Brett J. Schneider, Florida Legislature, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Raquel Elejabarrieta
1 year ago
On Saturday, November 10, lawyers, judges and law students will convene at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah for the 9th Annual Kozyak Minority Mentoring Picnic. The Picnic is sponsored by many businesses, multiple voluntary bar associations, a bank and numerous law firms. WSH will have several attorneys representing the firm at this year’s festivities; each of our attending attorneys has an opportunity to serve as a mentor to a attending law student. We are thrilled to be supporting this wonderful event.
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Categories: Awards & Recognitions
Tags: Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Commercial Litigation Lawyer, South Florida Commercial Litigation Attorney, South Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Miami Aviation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Condominium Association Attorneys, Miami Condominium Association Attorneys, South Florida Condominium Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Miami Governmental Affairs Attorneys, South Florida Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Municipal Attorneys, Miami Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Airport Law, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Attorneys, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Lawyers, South Florida Private Transactions Attorneys, South Florida Private Transactions Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Private Transactions Attorneys, Miami Private Transactions Attorneys, Miami Public Transactions Law , Fort Lauderdale Eminent Domain Attorneys, Miami Eminent Domain Attorneys, Sourth Florida Eminent Domain Attorneys, Scope of the Project Rule, Fort Lauderdale Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Miami Homeowners' Association Attorneys, South Florida Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Bankruptcy Attorneys, Miami Bankruptcy Attorneys, South Florida Bankruptcy Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Appellate Law Attorneys, Miami Appellate Law Attorneys, South Florida Appellate Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Constitutional Law Attorneys, Miami Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Constitutional Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Environmental Law Attorneys, Miami Environmental Law Attorneys, South Florida Environmental Law Attorneys , South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Construction Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Tax Attorney, Miami Construction Lawyer, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Eminent Domain Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, Miami Real Estate Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
1 year ago
WSH is pleased to announce the addition of two associates to the Firm. Sonja C. Darby and Mia R. Martin. Joining our Community Association, Club & Resort Practice Group, Sonja represents community associations in matters of corporate governance, compliance, and debt collection. She is skilled at mediating between competing factions of community association boards and advising boards on compliance with their governing documents and applicable laws. A member of our Real Estate Group, Sonja also has experience representing parties in the purchase, sale, refinancing and lease of properties. Licensed in Florida, New Jersey and New York, Sonja graduated from Fordham University School of Law, where she achieved Dean's List honors. A member of our Labor and Employment Law Practice Group, Mia serves as employment counsel to public sector clients and private employers in labor arbitrations, state and federal court, mediation, and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Mia has experience handling both employment litigation and non-litigation matters. Licensed in Florida and New York, Mia is a cum laude graduate of Loyola New Orleans School of Law.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Condominium Associations, Homeowners' Associations, Real Estate
Tags: Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Condominium Association Attorneys, Miami Condominium Association Attorneys, South Florida Condominium Association Attorneys, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Attorneys, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Miami Homeowners' Association Attorneys, South Florida Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Community Association Law, Florida Condo Association Law, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, Miami Real Estate Lawyer, Sonja C. Darby, Mia R. Martin
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
1 year ago
On September 7, the Florida Supreme Court (the “Court”) heard oral arguments concerning an appeal by state officials seeking to overturn a decision issued by state court Judge Jackie Fulford in Leon County, Florida that voided a law that, among other things, required public employees to contribute 3% of their pay into a state retirement system. The central issue in Scott v. Williams, SC122-520, is whether the state of Florida can revise the terms of the public pension plan for active participants who were hired before the law took effect. The State, along with local governments and other public entities that participate in the state retirement system, argued that the lower court’s decision will produce significant financial hardship for the State, which will have to repay an estimated $1 billion in worker contributions if the decision is upheld. No timetable was given for a decision from the Court.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Constitutional Law, Contracts
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Senate Bill 88, Governmental Litigation, Florida Supreme Court, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Constitutional Law Attorneys, Miami Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Brooke P. Dolara
2 years ago
WSH Associate Alison F. Smith has been elected as the next President of the Caribbean Bar Association, a voluntary bar organization of South and Central Florida lawyers from the Caribbean community.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Awards & Recognitions, Administrative Law
Tags: Michael S. Popok, Alison F. Smith, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Commercial Litigation Lawyer, South Florida Commercial Litigation Attorney, South Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Constitutional Law Attorneys, Miami Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
2 years ago
On August 10, 2012, the firm obtained a significant arbitration victory for the City of Miramar in a case involving a former police officer who was terminated after he had been found to be psychologically unfit for duty by a City-appointed psychologist.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Brett J. Schneider, Alison F. Smith, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider
2 years ago
Today, Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal issued an employment ruling very favorable to employers, but certified conflict with the Fourth District on the same issue. The decision is Delva v. The Continental Group. You can read a copy of the Opinion here.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Appellate Law & Practice
Tags: Florida Supreme Court, Fort Lauderdale Appellate Law Attorneys, Miami Appellate Law Attorneys, South Florida Appellate Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Edward G. Guedes
2 years ago
On Tuesday, former Broward Teachers’ Union (“BTU”) President Pat Santeramo surrendered to authorities after he was charged with racketeering, grand theft, campaign contribution violations and money laundering. The arrest warrant alleges that Mr. Santeramo charged union credit cards for personal expenses, fraudulently obtained compensation for sick and vacation leave that he was not entitled to, and orchestrated an illegal campaign contribution scheme under which BTU members would be reimbursed with union funds after writing checks to political candidates. Mr. Santeramo is also charged with receiving numerous kickbacks from South Florida vendors while billing the union for the incurred expenses.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Government Affairs, Local Government, Criminal Law
Tags: Public Employees, Public Employers, Municipal Government, Ethics, Special Counsel to Local Government, Mitchell A. Bierman, Jamie A. Cole, Chad S. Friedman, Alan L. Gabriel, Brett J. Schneider, Richard Jay Weiss, David M. Wolpin, Fort Lauderdale Local Government Law, South Florida Local Government Law, Fort Lauderdale Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Miami Governmental Affairs Attorneys, South Florida Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Municipal Attorneys, Miami Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Municipal Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Michael S. Popok & Brooke P. Dolara
2 years ago
On June 6, the 4th DCA affirmed the entry of summary judgment on behalf of WSH client, the City of Deerfield Beach, in a case brought against it by a former City firefighter. Congratulations to Brett J. Schneider and Alison F. Smith for obtaining this result for the City!
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Awards & Recognitions
Tags: Public Employees, Public Employers, Governmental Litigation, Awards & Recognitions, Jamie A. Cole, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney
Author(s): Jamie A. Cole
2 years ago
We are thrilled to report that several WSH attorneys were recently selected as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars by Super Lawyers magazine.
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Categories: Litigation, Condominium Associations, Government Affairs, Local Government, Homeowners' Associations, Appellate Law & Practice, Federal Law, Awards & Recognitions, Land Use & Zoning (Private), Federal Courts, Construction Law
Tags: Governmental Litigation, Municipal Government, Special Counsel to Local Government, Awards & Recognitions, Gary L. Brown, Jamie A. Cole, Joshua D. Krut, Matthew J. Pearl, Michael S. Popok, Anthony L. Recio, Richard Jay Weiss, Samuel I. Zeskind, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Commercial Litigation Lawyer, South Florida Commercial Litigation Attorney, South Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Local Government Law, Miami Local Government Law, South Florida Local Government Law, Miami Aviation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Condominium Association Attorneys, Miami Condominium Association Attorneys, South Florida Condominium Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Miami Governmental Affairs Attorneys, South Florida Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Municipal Attorneys, Miami Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Airport Law, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Attorneys, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Lawyers, South Florida Private Transactions Attorneys, South Florida Private Transactions Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Private Transactions Attorneys, Miami Private Transactions Attorneys, South Florida Public Transactions Law, Fort Lauderdale Public Transactions Law, Miami Public Transactions Law , Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Eminent Domain Attorneys, Miami Eminent Domain Attorneys, Sourth Florida Eminent Domain Attorneys, Scope of the Project Rule, Fort Lauderdale Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Miami Homeowners' Association Attorneys, South Florida Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Bankruptcy Attorneys, Miami Bankruptcy Attorneys, South Florida Bankruptcy Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Appellate Law Attorneys, Miami Appellate Law Attorneys, South Florida Appellate Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Constitutional Law Attorneys, Miami Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Constitutional Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Environmental Law Attorneys, Miami Environmental Law Attorneys, South Florida Environmental Law Attorneys , South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Adrian J. Alvarez, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Community Association Law, Florida Condo Association Law, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Environmental Law, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Construction Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Tax Attorney, Miami Construction Lawyer, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Eminent Domain Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, Miami Real Estate Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
2 years ago
Today U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro ruled that Governor Rick Scott’s Executive Order 11-58 providing for pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing of state employees violates the Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches and seizures. See American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 79 v. Rick Scott, Case No. 11-civ-21976-UU. “To be reasonable under the Fourth Amendment, a search ordinarily must be based on individualized suspicion of wrongdoing,” Judge Ungaro wrote in her order, citing previous U.S. Supreme Court orders that ruled that urine tests are considered government searches.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Government Affairs, Federal Law, Federal Courts
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Governmental Litigation, Municipal Government, Jamie A. Cole, Raquel Elejabarrieta, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Fort Lauderdale Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Miami Governmental Affairs Attorneys, South Florida Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Constitutional Law Attorneys, Miami Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Raquel Elejabarrieta
2 years ago
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") recently announced its strategic plan for fiscal years 2012-2016 where it indicated that it will focus more on remedying systemic discrimination. The EEOC describes systemic cases as those “that address pattern or practice, policy or class cases where the alleged discrimination has a broad impact on an industry, occupation, business or geographic area.” The crux of a systemic case is that the alleged discrimination affects a group of individuals rather than one individual. According to the strategic plan, by the end of fiscal year 2016 a percent (yet to be determined) of cases in the EEOC’s docket will be systemic cases. This, according to the strategic plan, will provide the EEOC with an incentive to conduct systemic investigations.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Federal Law, Federal Courts, Administrative Law
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Jamie A. Cole, Raquel Elejabarrieta, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Employee Misconduct, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Raquel Elejabarrieta
2 years ago
On March 22, Founding Member Richard Jay Weiss will be speaking at the Good Government Initiative as part of a four member panel discussing “The Tension over Pensions: Good Public Policy or Obsolete Extravagance?” The Good Government Initiative is a program that provides early-career elected and appointed officials with leadership training and community conversations with the public to consider issues important to governance in the community. The Good Government Initiative was founded by former Miami-Dade Commissioner Katy Sorenson, who will serve as the moderator for the upcoming panel.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Government Affairs, Local Government, Contracts
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Sunshine Law, Governmental Litigation, Municipal Government, Ethics, Special Counsel to Local Government, Awards & Recognitions, Mitchell A. Bierman, Jamie A. Cole, Chad S. Friedman, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Richard Jay Weiss, David M. Wolpin, Unemployment Compensation, Employee Misconduct, National Labor Relations Board, Fort Lauderdale Local Government Law, Miami Local Government Law, South Florida Local Government Law, Fort Lauderdale Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Miami Governmental Affairs Attorneys, South Florida Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Municipal Attorneys, Miami Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Municipal Attorneys, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
2 years ago
In a long awaited opinion, Judge Jackie Fulford issued a decision on March 6, 2012, in which shedeclared unconstitutional a requirement that government employees in Florida contribute 3% of their earnings to a state retirement fund (i.e., the Florida Retirement System). Judge Fulford wrote in her opinion that the Legislature committed “an unconstitutional impairment of plaintiff’s contract with the State of Florida, an unconstitutional taking of private property without full compensation, and an abridgement of the rights of public employees to collectively bargain over conditions of employment.” This ruling could cost the state more than $1 billion a year. The ruling does not impact the 3% contribution to the state retirement fund from employees hired after July 1, 2011, when the law went into place.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Constitutional Law, Contracts
Tags: Public Employees, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Governmental Litigation, Special Counsel to Local Government, Florida Supreme Court, Jamie A. Cole, Raquel Elejabarrieta, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Florida Legislature, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Constitutional Law Attorneys, Miami Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Raquel Elejabarrieta
2 years ago
In a case of first impression, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (the “Court”) has held that the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) protects employees’ pre-eligibility requests for post-eligibility leave. The case, Pereda v. Brookdale Senior Living Communities, Inc., ---- F. 3d -----, 2012 WL 43271 (11th Cir. Jan. 10, 2012), should provide guidance to Florida employers dealing with the question of whether an employee is engaging in “protected activity” under the FMLA.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Federal Law, Federal Courts
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Jamie A. Cole, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Attorneys, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Lawyers, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Family Medical Leave Act, Protected Activity, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Brooke P. Dolara
2 years ago
On January 23, the Daily Business Review released the names of the 25 most diverse law firms in South Florida. This year, WSH was named the 10th most diverse firm, coming ahead of large law firms such as Greenberg Traurig, Akerman Senterfitt, and Becker & Poliakoff.
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Categories: Awards & Recognitions
Tags: Awards & Recognitions, Daniel L. Abbott, Lillian M. Arango, Sara E. Aulisio, Mitchell A. Bierman, Nina L. Boniske, Gary L. Brown, Mitchell J. Burnstein, Jonathan Cohen, Jamie A. Cole, Jeffrey DeCarlo, Ignacio G. Del Valle, Brooke P. Dolara, Raquel Elejabarrieta, Chad S. Friedman, Alan L. Gabriel, Douglas R. Gonzales, Edward G. Guedes, Stephen J. Helfman, Eric P. Hockman, Harlene Silvern Kennedy, Joshua D. Krut, Kathryn M. Mehaffey, Aleida Martinez Molina, Alexander L. Palenzuela-Mauri, Gilberto Pastoriza, Matthew J. Pearl, Michael S. Popok, Timothy M. Ravich, Anthony L. Recio, Amy J. Santiago, Brett J. Schneider, Clifford A. Schulman, Daniel A. Seigel, Gail D. Serota, Joseph H. Serota, Jonathan C. Shamres, Estrellita S. Sibila, Alison F. Smith, Anthony C. Soroka, Eduardo M. Soto, Joanna D. Thomson, Susan L. Trevarthen, Peter D. Waldman, Richard Jay Weiss, Laura K. Wendell, James E. White, David M. Wolpin, Samuel I. Zeskind, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Commercial Litigation Lawyer, South Florida Commercial Litigation Attorney, South Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Local Government Law, Miami Local Government Law, South Florida Local Government Law, Miami Aviation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Condominium Association Attorneys, Miami Condominium Association Attorneys, South Florida Condominium Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Miami Governmental Affairs Attorneys, South Florida Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Municipal Attorneys, Miami Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Municipal Attorneys, South Florida Airport Law, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Attorneys, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Lawyers, South Florida Private Transactions Attorneys, South Florida Private Transactions Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Private Transactions Attorneys, Miami Private Transactions Attorneys, South Florida Public Transactions Law, Fort Lauderdale Public Transactions Law, Miami Public Transactions Law , Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Eminent Domain Attorneys, Miami Eminent Domain Attorneys, Sourth Florida Eminent Domain Attorneys, Scope of the Project Rule, Fort Lauderdale Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Miami Homeowners' Association Attorneys, South Florida Homeowners' Association Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Bankruptcy Attorneys, Miami Bankruptcy Attorneys, South Florida Bankruptcy Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Miami Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, South Florida Commercial Real Estate Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Appellate Law Attorneys, Miami Appellate Law Attorneys, South Florida Appellate Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Constitutional Law Attorneys, Miami Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Constitutional Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Environmental Law Attorneys, Miami Environmental Law Attorneys, South Florida Environmental Law Attorneys , South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Robert Meyers, Adrian J. Alvarez, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Johanna M. Lundgren, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Community Association Law, Florida Condo Association Law, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Environmental Law, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Construction Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Tax Attorney, Miami Construction Lawyer, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Eminent Domain Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, Miami Real Estate Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
2 years ago
On January 11, the United States Supreme Court held for the first time that federal discrimination laws do not protect church employees who perform religious duties. In Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2012 WL 75047 (Jan. 11, 2007), the Court recognized that the “ministerial exception” under the First Amendment protects religious institutions from discriminatory discharge where the former employee qualifies as a “minister.” Although the term “minister” is not strictly defined, the term may apply to those who conduct worship or serve as a messenger or teacher of faith.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Federal Law, Federal Courts, Constitutional Law
Tags: Jamie A. Cole, Edward G. Guedes, Michael S. Popok, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Commercial Litigation Lawyer, South Florida Commercial Litigation Attorney, South Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Attorneys, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Lawyers, Matthew H. Mandel, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Constitutional Law Attorneys, Miami Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, First Amendment, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Commercial Litigation Attorneys, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brett J. Schneider & Brooke P. Dolara
2 years ago
Last week, WSH obtained a significant arbitration victory for the Town of Golden Beach in a case involving a former police officer who was terminated for sleeping on the job.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Government Affairs, Local Government, Contracts, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Municipal Government, Special Counsel to Local Government, Mitchell A. Bierman, Jamie A. Cole, Chad S. Friedman, Brett J. Schneider, Alison F. Smith, Richard Jay Weiss, David M. Wolpin, Miami Local Government Law, South Florida Local Government Law, Fort Lauderdale Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Miami Governmental Affairs Attorneys, South Florida Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
2 years ago
In Glenn v. Brumby, 1:08-CV-02360-RWS (11th Cir. December 6, 2011), the court found that a governmental employer violates the Equal Protection Clause’s prohibition of sex-based discrimination when it terminates an employee because of gender-nonconformity when the employee announces that he or she is planning to transition from one sex to another. The case is significant because it contradicts earlier cases that relied on Congress’s intent in passing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to find that the law only protected against discrimination so that the sexes would be treated equally and did not protect those who were transitioning.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Litigation, Government Affairs, Federal Courts, Constitutional Law
Tags: Governmental Litigation, Mitchell A. Bierman, Jamie A. Cole, Edward G. Guedes, Alexander L. Palenzuela-Mauri, Brett J. Schneider, Joseph H. Serota, Fort Lauderdale Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Miami Governmental Affairs Attorneys, South Florida Governmental Affairs Attorneys, Matthew H. Mandel, Miami Appellate Law Attorneys, South Florida Appellate Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Constitutional Law Attorneys, Miami Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Constitutional Law Attorneys, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Labor Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Alexander L. Palenzuela-Mauri
3 years ago
On June 29, 2011, our Firm obtained a significant arbitration victory for the City of Lauderhill in a labor dispute with AFSCME Local 2942. Brett J. Schneider and Alison F. Smith successfully defended the City against claims that the City violated its collective bargaining agreement when it laid off several employees without honoring their right to "bump" (replace) employees in the same classification with less seniority. In his decision, the arbitrator stated that the evidence showed that the City acted in good faith and was faithful to its contractual responsibilities under the agreement.
Click here to read the Opinion & Final Award.
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Categories: Labor and Employment, Government Affairs, Local Government
Tags: Public Employees, Employment Agreements, Public Employers, Collective Bargaining, Brett J. Schneider, Alison F. Smith, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Business Litigation Lawyers, Miami Commercial Litigation Attorney, Miami Commercial Litigation Lawyer, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Attorneys, South Florida Business Dispute Litigation Lawyers, Fort Lauderdale Litigators, Miami Litigators, South Florida Litigators, Fort Lauderdale Employment Law Attorneys, Miami Employment Law Attorneys, South Florida Employment Law Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Labor Law Attorneys, Miami Labor Law Attorneys, South Florida Labor Law Attorneys, Florida Commercial Litigation Lawyer, Florida Employment Attorneys, Florida Labor Lawyers, Florida Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Civil Litigation Attorneys, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Fort Lauderdale Employment Lawyer, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Employment Attorney, Miami Labor Lawyer, Miami Litigation Attorney, South Florida Employment Lawyers
Author(s): Brooke P. Dolara
