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Restrictive covenants, often known as “noncompete agreements,” are more prevalent than ever due to increased employee mobility and the ease with which information can be transferred. However, workers and businesses often don’t understand the rules that control the enforceability of these documents. State law requires that restrictions be reasonable, but a New York court refused to apply the Florida standard…
Residential and commercial developers are making huge investments in downtown Tampa, helping our area live up to its tremendous potential. With more than 60 active projects, competition for real estate, construction firms and associated services is heating up. In this active market, a mistake or missed opportunity can be costly, so it’s essential to retain an experienced local attorney from…
In March 2016, Florida passed the Collaborative Law Process Act. The intent of this law is to promote friendly divorce settlements through private negotiations between qualified attorneys rather than spouses engaging in long and costly court battles. A divorce for a high-net-worth couple in the Tampa Bay area can be expensive, complicated, and drawn-out — especially when there are numerous…
The Tampa Bay area has experienced a surge in commercial real estate due largely to the efforts of property brokers working together to promote the region. While development in Tampa Bay can be a profitable, prestigious, and noteworthy enterprise, it’s also not without risks, especially for newcomers unfamiliar with the area’s local statutes and social norms. They may find that…
An often overlooked consequence of hurricanes in Florida is their effect upon residential and commercial real estate sales. As soon as a hurricane’s approach is announced, real estate closings are usually delayed until after the storm has passed and weather conditions have improved. That delay may lead prospective buyers to change their minds and decide to “wiggle out” of the…
What was once thought to be a safe product for women and babies has become the focus of litigation nationwide. Many plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson (J&J), alleging the company’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products caused ovarian cancer. Plaintiffs claim that regular use of these talc-based products for feminine hygiene caused their illness because talc…
Many Tampa Bay–area homeowners are still suffering from the 2012 housing market crash. In 2013 in Pinellas County alone, 70,000 homeowners received foreclosure notices, marking the beginning for many of them of an arduous battle with banks and mortgage companies and a...
When a private establishment causes a dangerous condition on a sidewalk or other public property, it can be tricky determining how liability should be apportioned. In a recent case, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal addressed the question of whether Miami-Dade County could be held liable for a fall that occurred when grease from a restaurant leaked onto a…
The grieving parents of a Domenica medical school student killed in a 2015 Pembroke Pines crash were recently awarded $45 million in damages by jurors at the conclusion of a three-week-long trial in October 2017. Jonathan Astaphan, 29, had been driving a Mitsubishi Lancer through Section C of the I-75 express lane, an area that temporarily prevented commercial vehicles from…
In 2016, during Hurricane Matthew’s destructive path through Florida, Governor Rick Scott issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency. That meant more than 1.5 million coastal residents were required to evacuate, with many seeking refuge in motels. But, as is often the case in disasters, some of these motels decided to profit from others’ misfortune by raising their…