Annette Newman

The Law Office of Annette Newman, PLLC is a professional full-service law firm dedicated to providing quality legal services at an affordable price throughout the State of Florida. Attorney Newman practices primarily in employment/labor law claims, including discrimination claims based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, religion and/or disability; sexual harassment claims, unpaid wages and/or overtime, whistle blower claims, unemployment hearings and appeals, housing discrimination and public accomodation discrimination as well as other civil rights issues. Attorney Newman also handles matters dealing with all types of employment agreements, including independent contractor, non-compete, severance, non-disclosure, non-solicitation and severance agreements. Attorney Newman provides quality legal representation for both employers and employee (plaintiff's) claims. She provides employment law consultation; training and/or legal advice for employers and small businesses at competitive rates (management and sexual-harassment training, draft company policies, employee handbooks, unemployment hearings; EEOC position statements, etc.). The firm also handles other types of civil law claims, including family law (divorces, legal separations, pre-nuptual and post-nuptual agreements; child support enforcement); small claims; business law, debtor/creditor disputes; collections; contract disputes; housing discrimination, public accommodations discrimination, and business law. Attorney Newman is also an experienced litigator who has successfully litigated thousands of claims. She represents other law firms throughout the state of Florida as local counsel, including arguing motions, settling claims through mediation and all aspects of Pretrial litigation.

Certified Florida Supreme Court Circuit Civil Mediator - The firm offers mediation services throughout South and Central Florida, specializing in employment law disputes.

Stetson University College of Law

J.D. (2009) | Law

2009

Wayland Baptist University

MBA (2001) | Human Resource Mgmt.

2001

Wayland Baptist University

B.S. | Business Administration

1999

Honors: Graduated with Honors

Central Texas College

A.A.S. (1994) | Applied Management

1994

Honors: Graduated with Honors

Monterey Peninsula College

A.S. (1993) | Accounting

1993

Honors: Highest Honors

Monterey Peninsula College

A.S. (1993) | Business Administration

1993

Honors: Highest Honors

Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Court Mediator

Law Office of Annette Newman, PLLC

2019 - Current

Senior Legal Editor - Independent Contractor

Thompson Reuters

2018 - Current

Write, edit, and update state-specific labor and employment resources, including checklists, standard forms and policies, and other state-specific legal content in accordance with Practical Law writing style. Answer questions and perform research on discrete state law issues that arise in the final review of these resources conducted by Practical Law.

Managing Attorney

Law Office of Annette Newman, LLC

2011 - Current

Provide full-range of legal services and advice to clients; Litigation experience includes appearances as local counsel for law firms throughout South Florida for various pre-trial appearances, including pre-trial conferences, case management conferences, status hearings, motion hearings, mediations, and depositions; Develop and present employment law training programs for small businesses; Develop performance appraisals and company policies for employers and small businesses; Develop employee handbooks; Advise and counsel employers and small business owners regarding federal, state and local employment law regulations; Develop non-compete, non-solicitation and severance agreements for employers and small businesses; Prepare EEOC position statements for employers and small business owners in response to EEOC charges; Experience with debt/debtor collections; divorces, pre-nuptual agreements, plaintiff's claims; employer defense claims; breach of contract actions; foreclosure proceedings; Licensed to practice in Florida state and federal courts.

Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Investigator

Law Office of Annette Newman, LLC

2009 - Current

Certified Federal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Investigator. Investigate federal employment law discrimination claims for various federal agencies throughout the U.S., as an Independent Contractor; Prepare affidavits and gather evidence related to formal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC) claims; Interview witnesses and obtain testimony; Prepare reports of investigation.

Human Resources Generalist

7-Eleven, Incorporated

2003 - 2011

Managed employee relations for over 3000 employees throughout the State of Florida; prepared position statements in response to federal, state and local employment law claims; Prepared and presented training presentations and training manuals related to employment law regulations; Managed the workers compensation and unemployment compensation claims process; Collaborated with corporate and private counsel to prepare for potential litigation; Attended mediations and depositions as company representative; Monitored changes in the law to ensure policies comply with all federal, state and local regulations; Developed and implemented new policies; Researched and evaluated management practices, training and development programs, and leadership principles, using metrics to measure performance; Advised store management team regarding hourly employee training and development needs; Managed the human resources planning process, including assisting management team with individual development plans, performance improvement plans and performance appraisals; Provided coaching to management team to ensure effective employee relations, reduce turnover, and minimize potential litigation.

Field Consultant/District Manager

7-Eleven, Incorporated

1994 - 2003

Provided necessary supervision for all aspects of operations for eight to twelve retail convenience stores and over 100 employees; Took all necessary action for opening new stores, including recruiting, hiring, training and developing store associates and store managers; Developed a team of store managers who achieved established financial plans, sales goals and customer service objectives; Evaluated Store Manager performance, conducted performance appraisals, developed performance improvement plans, and provided feedback and development opportunities to increase retention of Store Managers and sales associates; Reviewed financial reports and managed expenses, to ensure budgeted sales and profits goals were met.

Non-Commissioned Officer Sergeant (E-5)

U.S. Army

1987 - 1994

Served eight years active-duty in the U.S. Army and one year as a U.S. Army Reservist; promoted to E5/Sergeant; Honorably Discharged; Served as Unit Equal Employment Opportunity Representative; Managed a team of 4 to 12 information management specialists; Provided guidance to ensure all publications and forms met prescribed style, format, and legal and military standard operating procedure requirements; Managed all aspects of information management division, including training, software, hardware, telecommunications, communications systems and equipment, mail and publications.

Courtroom Deputy/Administrative Assistant JS-9

U.S. Bankruptcy Court

1983 - 1986

Administrative Assistant to Clerk of U.S. Bankruptcy Court and Courtroom Deputy to U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judges; Managed the judges' and Clerk of Court calendars and scheduled hearings, trials and conferences; Assisted with the orderly flow of proceedings, by setting up the courtroom; interfacing with and ensuring the presence of all necessary participants; administering oaths; managing exhibits; operating courtroom technology; and facilitating jury selection; Took notes of proceedings, prepared formal written documentation of the outcome of those proceedings, and electronically docketed the same.

Administrative Deputy Clerk

U.S. Marshal's Service

1981 - 1983

Performed administrative tasks, including processing legal pleadings; Performed accounting and bookkeeping duties, including accounts payable and receivables; Assisted in the Witness Security and Warrants Divisions as needed.

Lawyers Matter Task Force Community Town Hall Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FL

July 30, 2016

Lawyers Matter Task Force

This purpose of the meeting was to bring the people and the police together to talk to each other, in an effort to unify the community. Our aim was to engage in a broader conversation with the community, law enforcement, politicians, and legal professionals about police community dynamics in South Florida. The topics discussed included the following: *. The rights and responsibilities of citizens in the community. *. Issues impacting the community from a police perspective. *. A guide to interacting with law enforcement and legal professionals

EEO Investigator

NEEOISO

Circuit Civil Mediation Certification

Florida Supreme Court

Florida Legal Elite

Florida Trend

2021

Recognized by Florida Trend Magazine in 2018 and 2021 among the selectees of Florida’s Legal Elite.

2021 Top Lawyers

Palm Beach Media Group - Stuart Magazine

2021

Annette Newman was selected by a vote of her peers to be included in Palm Beach Media Group’s Stuart Magazine 2021 list of Top Lawyers. The list will appear within the November 2021 issue of Stuart Magazine.

Superlawyers Rising Star

Super Lawyers

2020

Recognized as a Rising Star by SuperLawyers for four consecutive years from 2017-2020.

America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators

America’s Top 100

2019

Selection to America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® is by invitation only and is comprised of the nation’s most exceptional trial lawyers for high stakes legal matters. For initial consideration, an attorney must have successfully litigated (for either plaintiff or defendant) a matter (1) with at least $2,000,000 in alleged damages at stake or (2) with the fate of a business worth at least $2,000,000 at stake (i.e. bet-the-company litigation valued in excess of $2,000,000). Thereafter, qualifying candidates are ranked based on a broad array of criteria, including the candidate’s professional experience, legal achievements, significant case results, peer reputation, and community impact (See Selection Methodology for more information about the selection process) to determine the Top 100 High Stakes Litigators in each state*.

Super Lawyers Rising Star

Super Lawyers

2019

Annette Newman has been selected to the 2019 Florida Rising Stars list. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com.

Florida Bar

Member

Current

Activities: Employment Law Section member

Florida National Employment Lawyers Association

Member

2015 - Current

National Black Lawyers Top 100

Member

2016 - 2018

National Bar Association

Member

2015 - 2018

National Association of Professional Women (NAPW)

Member

2015 - 2017

Florida

Since 2010

Federal Circuit

Since 2011

• Credit Cards Accepted

• Mediation
• General Civil
• Small Claims
• Housing Discrimination

Q. Can an employer take money out of your pay?

May 24, 2013

A: Florida does not have any laws regarding what deductions may or may not be taken from an employees paycheck or whether an employee must provide written consent prior to any deduction. The lack of a law prohibiting deductions likely means an employer can withhold or deduct wages from an employees pay check for:

•cash shortages

•breakage, damage, or loss of the employer’s property

•dishonored or returned checks

•required uniforms

•required tools

•other items necessary for employment (including written employer policies like you described).

In accordance with federal law, an employer may not make deductions for any of the above-listed items if it would cause the employee to earn less than federal minimum wage for the period in which the deduction was made.

Visit the Department of Labor (DOL) website for more information about what deductions employers can take from an employee's paycheck. I'm providing a link for your convenience here:

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs16.htm#.UIFzImdXNxA

You should speak to a local employment law attorney for specific legal advice after he/she has reviewed all the specific facts in your case. ... Read More

Q. I was in a car accicent on a friday night. I refused to go to the hospital because i was worried i would miss work.

May 24, 2013

A: The state of Florida is an "at will" state, meaning either the employer or employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, and for any reason, or no reason, with or without notice. However, there are exceptions to the "at will" principle, including contract employees (the terms in the contract determine the employee/employer rights); employees who are members of a union (the union collective bargaining agreement determine the rights of the employee/employer); anti-discrimination laws (the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees with a qualifying disability; and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which requires qualifying employers to provide up to 12 weeks per year of medical leave for qualifying employees with serious medical conditions.

Each of these laws are fact specific, so it's advisable for you to seek legal counsel to determine what your rights are after reviewing all the facts. If your injury/medical condition is covered by either FMLA or the ADA, for example, you may be able to sue your employer for violations of one or both of these laws. ... Read More

Q. Can I sue my job due to the fact of the writing me up. I a sick child. Ihave Er and dr's notes. But they still write me.

May 24, 2013

A: The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave. Eligible employees are entitled to:

Twelve workweeks of leave in a 12-month period for:

1) the birth of a child and to care for the newborn child within one year of birth;

2) the placement with the employee of a child for adoption or foster care and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement;

3) to care for the employee’s spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition;

4) a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the essential functions of his or her job;

FMLA also requires employers to provide intermittent leave for the same reasons shown above (not to exceed 12 weeks per year).

If an employer fails to comply with FMLA by refusing to grant the leave, or by disciplining the employee for exercising their rights to FMLA, this is illegal and the employee can sue the employer for violating the FMLA.

You should speak to an employment law attorney who can advise you after reviewing the specific facts in your case. ... Read More