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Kelley / Uustal Wins More Than $1 Million in Back Pay for Former Alamo Employee
Law Firm News/Florida |
2008/07/17 14:44
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McDonald Clark was the marketing genius behind Alamo-Rent-a-Car’s glory days. When Alamo was taken over by Republic Industries in 1996, Republic entered into a new employment contract with Clark which provided for certain payments to Clark for 10 years if his contract was not renewed. Republic later changed its name to AutoNation and spun off Alamo into a separate company. When Alamo went bankrupt, AutoNation refused to make the payments.
Clark hired the attorneys at Kelley / Uustal to fight to enforce the agreement. After six years of litigation, the jury found that Clark was entitled to $1,098,800. The jury deliberated for only a few minutes after the four-day trial, which included testimony from a host of former Republic executives, including Steve Berrard and Michael Karsner.
“McDonald had a contract which was negotiated by Republic, written by Republic on Republic letterhead, and signed by Republic’s CEO, Steve Berrard,” explained John Uustal, who tried the case with his partner, Todd Falzone. “Republic tried to use Alamo’s bankruptcy as an excuse to avoid responsibility. But the jury didn’t buy it. A deal’s a deal.”
Clark’s five-year contract with Alamo included a 10-year, $100,000-a-year salary continuation benefit that would begin at the end of the contract. One year into the contract, Alamo was sold and Republic, now AutoNation, renegotiated the contract. In 2000, the contract was not renewed, and Clark began receiving his salary continuation payments. By November of 2001, however, Alamo filed bankruptcy and the payments stopped.
“AutoNation’s CEO gave Mr. Clark his word that this contract would be fully honored. But when it came time for them to make good on that promise, AutoNation turned its back,” said Falzone. “Thanks to the Judge and Jury, we had a fair trial and a just verdict.”
Mr. Clark’s claim for attorney’s fees is still pending. |
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South Florida Law Firm Gives Low Income Clients a Legal Lift
Law Firm News/Florida |
2008/06/12 14:45
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The Law Firm of Caserta, Spiriti & Gonzalez, is providing a helping hand to Floridians, allowing “eligible” low income individuals access to a full service lawfirm with deeply discounted legal care.
The services will fall under the firm’s Affordable Legal Lift Program ™. This program was spearheaded by Senior Member, David Caserta, who after returning back from Tallahassee and witnessing first hand the devastating State Budget Cuts, immediately called a meeting with the firm’s Managing Member, Joe Spiriti, to discuss how the firm could reach out to the overwhelming number of Floridians that cannot afford legal services. Aided by Attorney/Member Maria Cristina Gonzalez, who previously dedicate several years as a family law practitioner with the Dade County Legal Aid Society, Spiriti reviewed some of the public and private programs offered in several states. After weeks of review and joined commitments by all of the Attorneys in the firm, the Affordable Legal Lift Program™ was created.
To be eligible for the Affordable Legal Lift Program ™, individuals will need to fill out a simple application, provide current paystubs, or similar proof of income, and fall within the Client Financial Eligibility Guidelines, which have been set by the firm. The Guidelines are based on Size of Household and Annual Income.
Under the Affordable Legal Lift Program ™, Caserta, Spiriti & Gonzalez will provide as much as a 50% discount off their usual and customary hourly rate. In addition, on Contingency Fee Cases (Where the fee is usually expressed as a percentage of the amount collected or awarded), Caserta, Spiriti & Gonzalez may accept a reduced fee as low as 20% if the case is settled before formal court proceedings begin or 25% if settled after filing the lawsuit.
“With the increased number of foreclosures and level of unemployment, everyone needs to give each other a Lift,” says Caserta. |
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SOUTH FLORIDA LAW FIRM EXPANDS AND RELOCATES HEADQUARTERS TO CORAL GABLES, FLA.
Law Firm News/Florida |
2006/09/05 14:50
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South Florida law firm Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza Cole & Boniske P.A. will relocate its headquarters in January from Grand Bay Plaza in Coconut Grove, Fla., to 2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables, Fla.
The firm will move from its current 12,300-square-foot office to a 16,400-square-foot space located in a newly developed 250,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style building in the downtown Coral Gables, Fla., office district.
Weiss Serota wanted to upgrade to a more modern and upscale office and was looking for office space in proximity to the amenities of Coral Gables, according to Managing Directors Tom Capocefalo and Stephen Levine with Studley’s South Florida office, who represented the law firm in the lease. Studley also represented the law firm on the relocation of its Fort Lauderdale, Fla., office in June.
Tom Roth with Hines Development represented the landlord in the transaction.
Nationally, Studley has represented 75 of The American Lawyer’s top 100 law firms in transactions, some of which include Latham Watkins; McDermott, Will & Emery; and Piper Rudnick. Over the past year alone, Studley’s South Florida office has represented several leading law firms, including Carlton Fields; Gunster Yoakley; and Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs. |
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Investment Fraud Litigation |
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Securities fraud, also known as stock fraud and investment fraud, is a practice that induces investors to make purchase or sale decisions on the basis of false information, frequently resulting in losses, in violation of the securities laws. Securities Arbitration. Generally speaking, securities fraud consists of deceptive practices in the stock and commodity markets, and occurs when investors are enticed to part with their money based on untrue statements.
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The content contained on the web site has been prepared by Securities Law News as a service to the internet community and is not intended to constitute legal advice or a substitute for consultation with a licensed legal professional in a particular case. | Affordable Law Firm Website Design by Law Promo |
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