Recent Articles

Eleventh Circuit Adopts Last-Filed Defendant Rule for Removal to Federal Court

Richard Tuschman
November 11, 2008 01:57

Defendants in employment-related cases typically prefer to litigate their disputes in federal court, if at all possible.  And for good reason:  federal judges are far more likely to dismiss cases on summary judgment than their state court brethren. Generally defendants can remove cases...

Eleventh Circuit Adopts Last-Served Defendant Rule for Removal to Federal Court

Richard Tuschman
November 11, 2008 01:57

Defendants in employment-related cases typically prefer to litigate their disputes in federal court, if at all possible.  And for good reason:  federal judges are far more likely to dismiss cases on summary judgment than their state court brethren. Generally defendants can remove cases...

Federal Officials Report To Have Deported More Than 12,000 Foreign Nationals From Florida, Puerto Rico And The U.S. Virgin Islands In The 12 Months Ending In October 2008

Hector Chichoni
November 07, 2008 15:10

On November 7, 2008, Associated Press reported “Federal officials say they have deported more than 12,000 illegal immigrants from Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the 12 months ending in October.” The number of deported foreign nationals provided by U.S....

Orlando Federal Court Slashes Punitive Damages Award to Plaintiff

Richard Tuschman
November 06, 2008 15:33

A federal judge in Orlando has reduced a $5.378 million jury award to $610,000 in a case of sexual harassment allegedly committed by a wealthy timeshare developer.  The plaintiff, a spa employee at one of the developer's properties, brought suit after allegedly rejecting...

DHS Announces Secure Flight Program

Hector Chichoni
October 24, 2008 22:14

On October 22, 2008, DHS announced issuance of the final Secure Flight Final Rule (the “SF Rule”). This followed a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in August 2007. In its final form, the SF Rule shifts responsibilities for review of pre-departure watch lists from individual aircraft...

Florida Minimum Wage to Increase to $7.21

Richard Tuschman
October 21, 2008 23:46

Florida's minimum wage will increase to $7.21 per hour effective January 1, 2009, up from the $6.79 per hour minimum wage in 2008, according to this announcement from Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation ("AWI").  In case you're wondering how the $7.21 figure is...

USCIS INCREASES PERIOD OF STAY FOR TRADE-NAFTA PROFESSIONAL WORKERS FROM CANADA AND MEXICO

Hector Chichoni
October 16, 2008 18:05

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") has increased the maximum period of time a Trade-NAFTA ("TN") professional worker from Canada or Mexico may remain in the United States before seeking readmission or obtaining an extension of stay. According to USCIS' official...

USCIS Dedicates Newest Office in Orlando

Hector Chichoni
October 16, 2008 00:11

On October 10, 2008, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") in a special dedication ceremony, which included hosting its first naturalization ceremony for 29 children, officially opened its newest field office in Orlando.  This field office,...

Magistrate Recommends Sanctions Against Florida FLSA Lawyers

Richard Tuschman
October 15, 2008 12:28

A federal magistrate judge has recommended that three Plaintiffs' lawyers who specialize in handling Fair Labor Standards Act cases in the Middle District of Florida be reprimanded as a sanction for their routine failure to comply with the Court's pretrial orders.  The magistrate's report and...

Orlando's Lake Buena Vista & Spa Resort Designated First EB-5 "Regional Center" in Florida by USCIS

Hector Chichoni
October 11, 2008 18:54

The EB-5 program was created by Congress as part of the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) of 1990. Under section 203(b)(5) of the INA, 10,000 immigrant investor visas (green cards or EB-5 visas) per year are available to qualified individuals seeking permanent resident status on...