DIVISION ARBITRATORS SUE DBPR – FOR A PAY-RAISE!!!

An Opinion By Jan Bergemann 
President, Cyber Citizens For Justice, Inc.

Published July 12, 2016

When I saw this lawsuit I had to read it twice, because I didn’t believe my eyes the first time.

Just read the lawsuit (double-click on link below) – and start wondering what is wrong with this picture.

LEAH SIMMS, TERRI LEIGH JONES, TONYA SUE CHAVIS, and LESLIE ANDERSON-ADAMS, Plaintiffs,

Vs. STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION and KENNETH LAWSON, SECRETARY, in his official capacity, and DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES, and DMS SECRETARY, CHAD POPPELL, in his official capacity, Defendants.

 

I have never in my life seen anybody suing his/her employer for a pay-raise. I doubt somebody held a gun to their head forcing them to accept the job for the pay offered. And normal people look for a different job if they are unhappy with their pay – and the employer refuses to agree to a pay-raise. But suing the employer?

 

Not only have some of these plaintiffs a horrible reputation for working slower than a turtle, some communities are still suffering from their outrageous rulings. Especially LESLIE ANDERSON-ADAMS, while working for the Department of Community Affairs, made revitalization rulings that contradicted the Florida statutes – and these communities are still suffering from her nonsense.

   

I have, over the years, asked many times to increase the salaries of the arbitrators – in all honesty their pay is lousy for a certified attorney, but I had asked for it in order to attract more talent to the Division, not for the purpose of rewarding the existing employees.

   

My advice for people unhappy with their salary: Don’t sue your employer, because you are burning bridges and no future employer wants to hire somebody who had sued the former employer for a pay-raise.

    

On the other hand, it shows to me that this lawsuit is an act of desperation, because I seriously doubt that any decent law firm would hire these folks for a better salary, considering their reputation in Florida’s community association world.

 

But after reading this lawsuit I definitely asked myself: What is wrong with the attitude of such people?


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