The Government on behalf of its Agency, the United States Small Business Administration, has filed a lawsuit against Cedric Lathan to foreclose on a mortgage on real estate located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The Government alleges that Defendant has defaulted on a promissory note. Defendant Cedric Lathan is seeking representation through the Volunteer Attorney Program. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
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This civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 was screened and allowed to proceed on Plaintiff’s Eighth Amendment claim of deliberate indifference against the named Defendants arising from the Defendants’ failure to protect him from being attacked by another inmate on May 13, 2019 while he was confined at the South Bay Correctional Facility. The Defendants’ motion to dismiss was denied, and they have now filed an Answer to the Complaint. Trial is currently scheduled for September 26, 2022, and volunteer representation would entail representing Plaintiff during all proceedings, including mediation, and at trial, if necessary. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
This Bivens civil rights case arises from purported use of excessive force by law enforcement during an arrest. Specifically, pro se Plaintiff, Pender Senatus, alleges employees of the Broward County Sheriffs Office, who had been deputized by the United States Marshals, beat and hog-tied him while attempting to effect an arrest. Plaintiff alleges he sustained severe injuries as a result of the beating, including several hematomas, a fractured jaw, and possible permanent damage to his right arm. Consequently, Plaintiff brought suit against the individual officers allegedly involved in the incident. Plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
Defendant, Beach Jads Corporation, needs a volunteer attorney to represent it in an action filed by Plaintiff, Victor Ariza, under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Plaintiff alleges that Defendant controls, maintains, and /or operates a website, https://europann-usa.com, which fails to comply with the ADA because is not accessible to persons who are visually disabled. On May 24, 2022, the Court held a status conference with Plaintiff’s counsel and Ana Maria Zuleta, who is the owner of the Defendant corporation, at which she explained that she operates a Coconut Grove clothing store. The Court advised Ms. Zuleta that because she is not an attorney, she cannot represent her company in this case. Ms. Zuleta advised that she in unable to retain an attorney. The Court wishes to avoid entry of a default judgment, and for that reason, it extended the deadline for Defendant to file its response to the Complaint for sixty days, until July 25, 2022. At the status conference, counsel for Plaintiff and Ms. Zuleta stated they are receptive to conferring to try to resolve the matter, and this suggests that representation of Defendant is not likely to be lengthy. Any interested volunteer attorney should email mcaliley@flsd.uscourts.gov. Thank you.
Plaintiff Richard Christopher Johnson filed this action against the City of Miami Beach (the “City”) and Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Aguila (“Officer Aguila”) alleging use of excessive force, false imprisonment, and civil battery, all asserted as 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims. The only remaining claims are the following: (1) use of excessive force against Officer Aguila (Count II); (2) state law battery against the City (Count V); and state law battery against Officer Aguila (Count VI). This case has been set for trial on this Court’s two-week trial calendar beginning on June 21, 2022. Plaintiff seeks representation of counsel for trial. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
Plaintiff, who is incarcerated at Highlands County Jail, brings one claim of malicious prosecution against a Detective from the Highlands County Sheriffs Department. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
Plaintiffs, Michael and Cheryl Lica, claim that they are entitled to a tax refund from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in connection with their 2011 tax return. Plaintiffs allege that they attempted, but failed, to obtain relief directly through the IRS, which Plaintiffs allege “has maintained that the Plaintiffs’ claims of refund were untimely when they clearly were not.” In total, Plaintiffs seek a refund of $10,732.96. Plaintiffs filed the currently pending Amended Complaint on March 9, 2022. No defendants have been served with process. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
Pro se Plaintiff Alex Knight filed this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action against Miami Police Department officers for false arrest and illegal search, alleging that the officers falsified probable cause to obtain a search warrant of his residence. The Court allowed Plaintiff to proceed with his claims against two officers, and Defendants have filed an Answer. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
Plaintiff, an inmate at Blackwater River Correctional Institution, filed a Complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaining of civil rights violations. Plaintiff complains of Eighth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment violations committed by corrections officers at Dade Correctional Institution while he was incarcerated there. This civil rights complaint was screened and allowed to proceed on Plaintiff’s excessive force and deliberate indifference claims against certain Defendants in their individual capacities.
The discovery period closed on May 21, 2022. Plaintiff seeks counsel immediately as he files discovery motions, responds to outstanding discovery requests, and prepares for a Discovery hearing set for June 8, 2022. A trial date has not yet been set. Volunteer representation would entail representing Plaintiff during all proceedings, including the settlement conference, and at trial, if necessary. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
Defendant David Rutstein is the owner of National Association of Accredited Insurance Professionals (NAAIP) and resides in Jerusalem, Israel. Plaintiff Family First Life, LLC brings claims against David Rutstein and NAAIP, among others, for violation of the Lanham Act, violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, common law unfair competition, tortious interference with business relationships, libel per se and defamation, and civil conspiracy. Plaintiff alleges that David Rutstein has disseminated false and disparaging comments about it and has engaged in the unlicensed practice of insurance. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov