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Available Cases

Ambush v. Carnival Corporation (23-CV-20021-BB) Posted 01/11/2023

This civil rights complaint alleges violations of 42 U.S.C. §§ 12112-12117, the Americans with Disabilities Act. Plaintiff alleges that she was discriminated against by her former employer Carnival Corporation because of a disability. Plaintiff filed a Complaint on January 3, 2023, but service remains outstanding. The Defendant has not made an appearance in the case.

This case is at a very early stage, and volunteer representation would entail representing Plaintiff during all pretrial proceedings, including discovery, mediation, and at trial, if necessary. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov

Matthews v. Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections et al (22-CV-14030-AHS) Posted 12/28/2022

Plaintiff, an 89 year old prison inmate at MCI, raises an Eighth Amendment cruel and unusual conditions of confinement claim against prison medical personnel. Plaintiff alleges that he was retaliated against by medical personnel by being placed in solitary confinement for two weeks without a mattress, sheets, blanket, or running water. Plaintiff asserts he was forced to sleep on a concrete floor and drink toilet water during this period of time. Plaintiff seeks $15 million in damages for mental and emotional anguish and seeks transfer to a different facility. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov

Docket SheetPDF
Smith v. Shoma Homes At Nautica Single Family (22-CV-61931-RKA) Posted 12/27/2022

Marisa Chanile Smith, pro se, has filed an appeal of a bankruptcy order that annulled the automatic stay and allowed a foreclosure sale to proceed. Smith says that the foreclosure sale of her primary residence was scheduled (by the state court) for August 24, 2022, and that the sale was cancelled and rescheduled for an earlier day—June 14, 2022—without a court order. On June 14, then, two things happened: Smith’s property was sold at foreclosure, and she filed her Chapter 13 petition. Smith says that, based on the timing of the filings, her property was part of the bankruptcy estate before the foreclosure sale was finalized, so the sale should have been abated under the automatic bankruptcy stay. The appellee, Shoma Homes, argued to the bankruptcy court that it was entitled to relief from the stay (and to proceed with the foreclosure sale) because Smith had filed her petition in bad faith. The bankruptcy court agreed with Shoma Homes and annulled the automatic stay, retroactive to the date of the foreclosure sale. Smith moved for reconsideration, which the bankruptcy court denied. She now appeals the bankruptcy court’s annulment of the stay. Smith filed her brief on December 15, 2022, and Shoma Homes’s brief is due on January 17, 2023. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov

Martin II v. Dejoy (22-cv-81615-AMC) Posted 11/21/2022

Plaintiff Edgar Robert Martin II brings claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Fair Labor Standards Act against the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service arising from his employment with the United States Postal Service. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov.

Garnet v. Morshedian (22-CV-23543-RKA) Posted 11/17/2022

The Plaintiff, Malvin Garnet, has filed a civil-rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against seven Defendants who were involved in his family-court case: the state-court judge, a magistrate, a mental-health worker, a court reporter, and several attorneys. Garnet alleges that, during his family-court case in Miami-Dade County, the Defendants withheld evidence, perjured themselves, and discriminated against him on the basis of race. As a result, Garnet says, he didn’t see his child for two years. And, Garnet adds, because of one Defendant’s false sexual-assault allegations against him—which he had to report to his employer—he couldn’t work for some time. Garnet seeks (1) damages for emotional distress; (2) compensation for his and his daughter’s therapy bills; (3) attorneys’ fees; and (4) several injunctions. The Defendants have not yet been served. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov

Robinson v. Herring et al (22-CV-81379-AMC) Posted November 2, 2022

Plaintiff, a pretrial detainee at Palm Beach County Jail, filed a Complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, complaining of Fourteenth Amendment violations committed by corrections deputies at Palm Beach County Jail and other state actors. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov

Demore v. Klone Enterprises et al (16-CV-61647-DPG) Posted 10/31/2022

In this Fair Labor Standards Act case, the Court entered default final judgment in favor of Plaintiff Aaron Demore and against Defendant Klone Enterprises. Plaintiff seeks an attorney to enforce the judgment and writ of execution. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov

Deffendall v. Indian River County Sheriff et al (21-CV-14201-RKA) Posted 10/26/2022

The Plaintiff, Mark Eugene Deffendall, has filed a civil-rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against seven Defendants employed by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. While incarcerated at the Indian River County Jail, Deffendall alleges that four correctional officers violated his Eighth Amendment rights when they knowingly failed to protect him from a “violent inmate” who had previously threatened him. Deffendall also claims that, after he sustained significant injuries in the attack—which required oral surgery—three other jail employees were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs by failing to treat him in accordance with his oral surgeon’s post-operation instructions. Deffendall still suffers from facial spasms and PTSD and is seeking compensatory and punitive damages from the Defendants. Discovery in this case has begun and trial is set for October 16, 2023. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov

Johnson v. Walker et al. (22-CV-80881-WPD) Posted 09/12/2022

Plaintiff is suing a Palm Beach County Deputy alleging excessive use of force. Plaintiff claims the defendant picked him up while he was handcuffs and leg irons and slammed him to the floor in retaliation for filing lawsuits against other deputies. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov

Harris et al v. The City of Ft. Pierce Police Department et al (22-CV-14233-AMC) Posted 08/30/2022

Plaintiffs David L. Harris and Shonda T. Harris bring claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against members of the Fort Pierce Police Department arising from their interactions with police on May 21, 2021, and June 28, 2021. If interested, please email FLSD_ProBono@flsd.uscourts.gov

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