Fort Lauderdale Whistleblower Retaliation Lawyer
If a Broward County employer fired or punished you for reporting illegal conduct — or for refusing to be part of it — Florida’s Private Whistleblower Act may give you a claim. Ave Maria Law Center is led by a trial lawyer and former Florida Assistant Attorney General who represents employees, never employers, in whistleblower retaliation cases across Fort Lauderdale and Broward County.
Florida’s Private Whistleblower Act — § 448.102
Under Florida Statutes § 448.102, a private employer with ten or more employees may not take retaliatory action against an employee for reporting the employer’s illegal activity to a government agency, cooperating with an investigation, or objecting to and refusing to participate in conduct that violates a law, rule, or regulation. The statute reaches firings, demotions, suspensions, and other adverse actions alike. Our Florida whistleblower retaliation resource covers the full statute, the notice rule, and what you can recover.
Whistleblower retaliation in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County
Broward’s economy has a profile all its own: a center of the marine and yachting industry, the aviation and cruise economy around Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades, and major healthcare, logistics, and tourism employers. These are industries where safety rules, environmental regulations, licensing requirements, and customs and inspection obligations govern daily work — and where an employee who reports a violation or refuses to sign off on one can find themselves suddenly “restructured” out of a job. That is the retaliation the statute is written to reach.
State-law whistleblower cases for Broward employees are generally filed in the circuit court for Florida’s Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Fort Lauderdale. When federal claims are joined, a case may proceed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The written-notice rule and the deadline
If your claim is based on reporting the employer to a government agency, the law generally requires that you first raised the problem in writing with your employer and gave them a reasonable opportunity to correct it. Suit must then be filed within two years of discovering the retaliatory action, or four years after it was taken, whichever comes first. Both rules are explained on our statewide whistleblower page — and both are reasons not to wait.
Fort Lauderdale whistleblower FAQ
I objected to safety violations at a Broward marine company and was let go. Do I have a case?
Objecting to, or refusing to participate in, conduct that violates a law, rule, or regulation is protected activity — and safety regulations count. The violation must be an actual one, but that includes rules and regulations, not just crimes. The timeline between your objection and the termination is where the case is won or lost.
How long do I have to file a whistleblower case?
Florida law requires suit within two years after you discover the retaliatory action, or four years after it was taken, whichever comes first. Waiting also costs evidence — schedules get deleted and witnesses move on — so talk to a lawyer early.
Where would my Broward whistleblower case be filed?
Generally in circuit court in Florida’s Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in Fort Lauderdale; cases involving federal claims may proceed in the Southern District of Florida. Venue depends on the facts.
Do you handle Broward cases from Ave Maria?
Yes. We serve Fort Lauderdale and all of Broward County from our Ave Maria office. These cases are built on documents and timelines, and the free initial consultation is handled by phone.
Talk to a Fort Lauderdale whistleblower lawyer
If you were punished at work for doing the right thing, find out where you stand. Free, confidential consultation. Serving Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, and all of Broward County from our Ave Maria office — see also our Broward civil rights and employment page and our Broward personal injury page. Call 1-855-RAY-CHRIS (855-729-2474).
Attorney Advertising. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Raymond Christopher, Attorney, is responsible for this advertisement. Ave Maria Law Center, 5706 Mayflower Way, Unit 207, Ave Maria, FL 34142.