The Plaintiff, Newton Enrique Canga Cortes, seeks an attorney to assist with his copyright infringement case against the authors of the song Despacito. Plaintiff seeks songwriter credits for his work and alleges that he has a 20% ownership share in the song. Plaintiff alleges that, in 2009, while he was participating in a music talent contest in Atlanta, he provided the music producer Juan Jose Rodriguez with a copy of a compilation of songs written by Plaintiff that included the song Despacito. Plaintiff contends that he never transferred, sold, or licensed any rights to his song to Mr. Rodriguez or any other record label or publisher. Defendants have not yet been served. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov.
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Plaintiff, a pretrial detainee, brings a Section 1983 action against corrections officials in Miami-Dade County, alleging that the officials have committed various constitutional violations against him, including deprivation of his right to due process, retaliation, and deliberate indifference. Presently, the Defendants have filed a motion to dismiss for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
The Plaintiff, Chantel Mapp-Leslie, seeks an attorney to assist in prosecuting an ADA accommodations suit. She alleges that, while riding on an Amtrak train with her service animals, the conductor of the train entered her cabin and demanded she show him what her animals did for her. The Plaintiff, who is 63 years old, attempted to show the conductor her disability documents, but the conductor refused to look at them and forcibly removed her and her animals from the train. As a result of the assault, both service animals lost their lives, and the Plaintiff suffered significant physical injuries. She seeks all damages available under law. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov.
In this 42 U.S.C. § 1983 action, the pro se Plaintiff alleges that Defendants, a sheriff's Office and some of its officers, violated his civil rights by lying to him, obstructing justice, and refusing to force a hospice facility to allow him entry to see his parents. The case is still in an early stage of litigation. The Defendants recently filed a motion to dismiss, which is now pending. If you are interested in representing the Plaintiff, please e-mail altman@flsd.uscourts.gov.
Plaintiff Reginald Eugene Grimes (“Mr. Grimes”) seeks an attorney to assist in prosecuting a civil rights Bivens action . Mr. Grimes alleges Defendants Officer Richard Rott, five unknown federal agents, and the Drug Enforcement Agency violated his constitutional rights when they assaulted him, unlawfully searched his vehicle, and seized his property. The plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages. The case is currently at the summary judgment stage and is set for trial beginning on January 21, 2020. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
Plaintiff Wesley Lionel Davidson (“Mr. Davidson”) seeks an attorney to assist in prosecuting an Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") case against Palm Beach State College ("College"). The Amended Complaint claims that the College failed to accommodate Mr. Davidson's mental disability with a flexible schedule, resulting in damages to Mr. Davidson. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
Pro se Plaintiff brings this cause of action against "Miami Dade Housing." Plaintiff alleges that she had previously received public housing through the Miami-Dade Housing Choice Voucher Program (the "Program"). However, due to a purported fraud, Plaintiff's Housing Choice Voucher was transferred to her older daughter. As a result, Plaintiff is no longer able to secure housing and is essentially homeless. Plaintiff is seeking evidence of the purported fraud and to be reinstated to the Program. The case is in its infancy, Plaintiff's Complaint was filed on September 30, 2019. A summons has not yet been issued. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov
Plaintiff brings a claim pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 against Defendant Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County d/b/a/ Jackson Health System, related to an employment dispute. Plaintiff claims that she was discriminated against by the Defendant based on her race. Plaintiff contends she was falsely accused by the management of poor performance and violating the Defendant’s rules and regulations. Rather than being subject to less severe disciplinary actions, Plaintiff claims she was summarily terminated. Plaintiff claims she was treated less favorably than others in similar circumstances because of her race. Plaintiff filed a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) on or around April 26, 2019. Plaintiff claims she received a Notice of Right to Sue Letter from the EEOC on May 22, 2019. If interested, please email bloom@flsd.uscourts.gov.
The Defendant hired the four Plaintiffs as armed security guards. Their job was to patrol client properties in patrol vehicles. The Defendant had hired the Plaintiffs in October 2017, possibly in response to an increase in business after Hurricane Irma. The Plaintiffs employment ended in January 2018. The Plaintiffs allege a variety of ways in which the Defendants compensation scheme caused them to be undercompensated in violation of the FLSA and other laws. This case remains in the early stage of development. The Plaintiffs have not yet quantified the amount of their unpaid wages. Nor has the trial date or the pre-trial schedule been entered.
If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov.
It is anticipated that discovery will be relatively minimal and straightforward. Moreover the wage claim is for the limited period of time of four months. This case may give the pro bono attorney deposition and settlement conference experience. For any questions about this case, please feel free to call Judge Maynard's Chambers in Fort Pierce at (772) 467-2320.
Plaintiff Valentin Spataru has filed claims against Sheriff Rick Ramsay of the Sheriff Department of Monroe County, several deputies of the Sheriff Department of Monroe County, and other government officials. Spataru alleges violations of certain constitutional rights under 42 U.S.C. 1983 and certain statutory rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act following his allegedly unconstitutional arrest and detainment in August of 2015. This case has been referred to Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Becerra for trial. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov.