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Filing # 126468327 E-Filed 05/10/2021 11:49:26 AM
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 17'%
JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR BROWARD
COUNTY, FLORIDA
CASE NO.: CACE-21-007755
ROBIN ARECHAVALETA,
f/k/a ROBERT ARECHAVALETA
Plaintiff,
vs.
CIC INVESTORS #15, LTD, d/b/a
FLANIGAN’S, a Florida for-Profit Corporation;
FLANIGAN’S ENTERPRISES, INC.,
a Florida for-Profit Corporation, and
FLANIGAN’S MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.,
a Florida for-Profit Corporation,
Defendants.
MOTION TO DISMISS
COME NOW, the Defendants, and move this Honorable Court for an Order dismissing the
Plaintiff's Complaint, and state:
1 The Plaintiff filed a twenty-seven count Complaint alleging various workplace
discrimination claims under federal and state law.
In all but six of those counts, Plaintiff seeks punitive damages from the Defendants.
Plaintiff's complaint is not verified and does not attach any exhibits.
More importantly, Plaintiff has not followed the procedure for pleading punitive
damages set forth in Florida Statutes section 768.72- “In any civil action, no claim for
punitive damages shall be permitted unless there is a reasonable showing by evidence
in the record or proffered by the claimant which would provide a reasonable basis for
the recovery of such damages.”
ROBERTS, P.A.
113 Almeria Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134 ! Telephone: 305-442-1700 ! Fax: 305-442-2559
#** FILED: BROWARD COUNTY, FL BRENDA D. FORMAN, CLERK 05/10/2021 11:49:26 AM.*#**
5. In Florida, a Plaintiff may not assert a claim for punitive damages until they have sought
and obtained leave of court. Reinoso v. Fuentes, 932 So. 2d 536 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006)
(granting a petition for certiorari and quashing an order denying defendant’s motion to
dismiss when punitive damages claim was prematurely pled) (citing Simeon, Inc. v.
Cox, 671 So. 2d 158 (Fla. 1996)). Section 768.72 creates a “substantive right” not to
be subject to a punitive damages claim until the court makes a determination that there
is reasonable evidentiary basis for the recovery of punitive damages. Globe Newspaper
Co. v. King, 658 So. 2d 518 (Fla. 1995).
6. Here, the Plaintiff has failed to follow the procedure of section 768.72- their claims
must be dismissed until they comply.
WHEREFORE, the Defendants respectfully request this Honorable Court enter an Order
dismissing the Plaintiff's Complaint for failure for follow section 768.72 and any other relief this
Court deems just and proper.
ROBERTS, P.A.
113 Almeria Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134 ! Telephone: 305-442-1700 ! Fax: 305-442-2559
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
THEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing was filed via the Florida courts E-Filing
Portal/ECF on this 10 day of May, 2021 to: Peter M. Hoogerwoerd, Esq., Attorney for Plaintiff,
Remer & Georges-Pierre, PLLC, 44 West Flagler Street, Suite 2200, Miami, FL 33130
(pmh@rgpattorneys.com).
ROBERTS, P.A.
Attorneys for Defendants
113 Almeria Avenue
Coral Gables, Fl 33134
Telephone: 305-442-1700
Fax: 305-442-2559
E-mail: roberts@robertspa.com
basnuevo@robertspa.com
harris \robertspa.com
By: s/: H. Clay Roberts
H. CLAY ROBERTS
Fla. Bar No.: 262307
JAVIER A BASNUEVO
Fla. Bar No.: 100509
HARRIS CLAY ROBERTS IV
Fla. Bar No.: 1002815
ROBERTS, P.A.
113 Almeria Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134 ! Telephone: 305-442-1700 ! Fax: 305-442-2559
Preview
Filing # 126468327 E-Filed 05/10/2021 11:49:26 AM IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 17'% JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA CASE NO.: CACE-21-007755 ROBIN ARECHAVALETA, f/k/a ROBERT ARECHAVALETA Plaintiff, vs. CIC INVESTORS #15, LTD, d/b/a FLANIGAN’S, a Florida for-Profit Corporation; FLANIGAN’S ENTERPRISES, INC., a Florida for-Profit Corporation, and FLANIGAN’S MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC., a Florida for-Profit Corporation, Defendants. MOTION TO DISMISS COME NOW, the Defendants, and move this Honorable Court for an Order dismissing the Plaintiff's Complaint, and state: 1 The Plaintiff filed a twenty-seven count Complaint alleging various workplace discrimination claims under federal and state law. In all but six of those counts, Plaintiff seeks punitive damages from the Defendants. Plaintiff's complaint is not verified and does not attach any exhibits. More importantly, Plaintiff has not followed the procedure for pleading punitive damages set forth in Florida Statutes section 768.72- “In any civil action, no claim for punitive damages shall be permitted unless there is a reasonable showing by evidence in the record or proffered by the claimant which would provide a reasonable basis for the recovery of such damages.” ROBERTS, P.A. 113 Almeria Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134 ! Telephone: 305-442-1700 ! Fax: 305-442-2559 #** FILED: BROWARD COUNTY, FL BRENDA D. FORMAN, CLERK 05/10/2021 11:49:26 AM.*#** 5. In Florida, a Plaintiff may not assert a claim for punitive damages until they have sought and obtained leave of court. Reinoso v. Fuentes, 932 So. 2d 536 (Fla. 3d DCA 2006) (granting a petition for certiorari and quashing an order denying defendant’s motion to dismiss when punitive damages claim was prematurely pled) (citing Simeon, Inc. v. Cox, 671 So. 2d 158 (Fla. 1996)). Section 768.72 creates a “substantive right” not to be subject to a punitive damages claim until the court makes a determination that there is reasonable evidentiary basis for the recovery of punitive damages. Globe Newspaper Co. v. King, 658 So. 2d 518 (Fla. 1995). 6. Here, the Plaintiff has failed to follow the procedure of section 768.72- their claims must be dismissed until they comply. WHEREFORE, the Defendants respectfully request this Honorable Court enter an Order dismissing the Plaintiff's Complaint for failure for follow section 768.72 and any other relief this Court deems just and proper. ROBERTS, P.A. 113 Almeria Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134 ! Telephone: 305-442-1700 ! Fax: 305-442-2559 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE THEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing was filed via the Florida courts E-Filing Portal/ECF on this 10 day of May, 2021 to: Peter M. Hoogerwoerd, Esq., Attorney for Plaintiff, Remer & Georges-Pierre, PLLC, 44 West Flagler Street, Suite 2200, Miami, FL 33130 (pmh@rgpattorneys.com). ROBERTS, P.A. Attorneys for Defendants 113 Almeria Avenue Coral Gables, Fl 33134 Telephone: 305-442-1700 Fax: 305-442-2559 E-mail: roberts@robertspa.com basnuevo@robertspa.com harris \robertspa.com By: s/: H. Clay Roberts H. CLAY ROBERTS Fla. Bar No.: 262307 JAVIER A BASNUEVO Fla. Bar No.: 100509 HARRIS CLAY ROBERTS IV Fla. Bar No.: 1002815 ROBERTS, P.A. 113 Almeria Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134 ! Telephone: 305-442-1700 ! Fax: 305-442-2559