Education

Overview

School boards, superintendents, universities, and colleges face a variety of complex federal, state, and local laws and regulations when it comes to delivering high quality education and providing an excellent work environment where teachers and support staff can thrive. Whether facing administrative hearings, litigation or union bargaining, our team of experienced attorneys are prepared to resolve these and many other legal matters affecting the education profession. We provide legal counsel and support to school boards, superintendents, charter schools, private schools and higher educational institutions throughout Florida.

We provide a unique and deep understanding of education law, as well as state and federal laws that affect districts and their schools. In addition to working directly with school boards, our attorneys represent the Florida School Board Association and present regularly to the entire membership on a variety of legal issues affecting school boards. We are often asked to present at meetings and training sessions for the Florida Educational Negotiators.

FLSA Wage and Hour
FLSA Worker Classification
Pay Equity
FMLA
Personnel File

Collective Bargaining Agreement Revisions and Negotiations
Arbitration and Mediation of Grievance Disputes

Artificial Intelligence Policy
Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA)
Contract Review
Human Resources
Education Laws
Employee Handbook Review
Exceptional Student Education (ESE)
Expulsion Hearings
FERPA Issues
General Counsel
Medical Marijuana Issues
Parents’ Bill of Rights
Public Records
Monitoring Proposed Bills during Legislative Session

Training
Compliance
Investigation of Complaints
Appeals
Litigation
IEP Meetings

First Amendment
Fourth Amendment
Malicious Prosecution
Title VI
Title VII
42 U.S.C. § 1981
42 U.S.C. § 1983
Florida Constitutional Challenges
Parents’ Bill of Rights

Bullying Complaints
Discrimination Complaints
Employee Misconduct
Harassment Complaints
OCR Complaints
Policy Violation Complaints
Retaliation Complaints
Sexual Harassment Complaints

Employment Cases
First Amendment Cases
FLSA Cases
PERC Cases
Public Records Violations
Sunshine Law Violations
Tort Cases
FCHR/EEOC Complaints
DOAH Cases

Training
Compliance
Investigation of Complaints
Appeals
Litigation

ADA Compliance
Anti-Discrimination
Anti-Harassment
Conducting Investigations
Contract Compliance with Florida Law
Creating Positive Workplace Culture
Documenting and Evaluating Employee Performance
Ethics Regulations Compliance
FLSA Compliance
Handling Terminations
Public Records Compliance
Sunshine Law Compliance

Defended 40 of the 67 school boards in the State of Florida against a federal employment class action in which plaintiffs alleged State scholarship program had disparate impact on teachers based upon race and age. Obtained dismissal of monetary damage claims against the school boards, limiting plaintiffs’ claims to injunctive and declaratory relief, and obtained plaintiffs’ withdrawal of class action allegations against the school boards.
Worked with numerous school boards in Florida to resolve collective bargaining issues pertaining to wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment.
Provided third party counsel when a school board and union have reached impasse during bargaining. Successfully resolved impasses through bargaining and final hearings.
Handled teacher suspension appeals at DOAH and before arbitrators.
Successfully resolved claims alleging race discrimination for nuisance value pre-trial.
Obtained defense verdict after a week-long jury trial of negligent supervision by elementary school staff and teachers involving alleged molestation of female students.
Represented school board and three teachers on various claims arising out of an alleged assault and battery on an ESE student. Reached favorable settlement for school board and teachers pending summary judgment motion.
Successfully resolved a significant pre-suit matter for school board involving a senior manager in a failure to promote claim.
Obtained summary judgment for a Florida school board in a large and contentious Americans with Disabilities Act claim.
Won Summary Judgment in a highly publicized First Amendment case.
Represented a teacher in an alleged battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress claim by an ESE student. Reached favorable settlement for teacher at mediation early in case.
Obtained an early dismissal on legal grounds in case by students seeking declaratory relief and damages for various tort claims including negligence and false imprisonment.
Obtained a defense verdict for a Florida state college in a federal lawsuit where Plaintiff alleged unlawful deprivation of her civil rights under both the American with Disabilities Act and the Florida Civil Rights Act.

Obtained a defense verdict for a Florida state college involving a race discrimination and hostile work environment claim.
Represented a state college in a gender discrimination and wrongful termination case.
Obtained a defense verdict for a community college in claims of religious discrimination.
Obtained a defense verdict for a state college involving whether Petitioner was entitled to Special Risk Classification as Chief of Police for the college police department.
Obtained a defense verdict for a state college in a declaratory action of whether or not Plaintiff qualified for exemption from payment of tuition and fees pursuant to Fla. Stat.§ 1009.25(f).
Frequently handle OCR (Office of Civil Right) investigations for colleges.
Conducted training for colleges related to Title II of the ADA and section 504 including direct threat assessment and the interactive process and drafted written policies and procedures.

Education

Overview

Attorneys

Supreme Court Denies First Religious Charter School, Leaves Question Over Constitutionality Unresolved

Supreme Court Appears Split on Whether to Approve Religious Charter School

Court Finds School Board Erred in Punishing Teacher for Political Activity on Social Media

Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Nation’s First Religious Charter School

2024 Proposed Bills Affecting Florida Public and Private Employers

How HR Can Navigate The Post-Affirmative Action Landscape

Is Separate Equal For Public School Sports?

Fourth DCA: Florida Sunshine Law’s Strict Compliance vs Public Records Act Good Faith Exception

Florida’s New NIL Law Removes Potential Restrictions for Student-Athletes

In the Case of Public School Bathrooms: Separate Is Equal

Education

Overview

Services

Audits

Collective Bargaining

Consultation

ESE / 504 / IEP / IDEA

Constitutional / Civil Rights Claims

Investigations

Litigation / Administrative Bodies

Title IX

Training

Experience

School Boards

Colleges

Attorneys

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