Brick Business Law Wins Judgment in Civil Theft, Unpaid Wages Business Case

In the case of Reitz v. Lopez, in the Circuit Court of Hillsborough County in Tampa, Florida, Brick Business Law won a final judgment for the Plaintiff for approximately $100,000 in a hearing held in March, 2018.

The case involved a business dispute whereby the Defendant entered into an oral agreement with Brick’s client to share profits from a proposed internet venture and to pay the Plaintiff wages for the time he spent on the venture.  The Parties worked together for several months during which the Defendant utilized the personal credit accounts of the Plaintiff to run up a substantial debt, supposedly for the benefit of the joint venture, and eventually left the Plaintiff to pay it. The Defendant also stopped paying the Plaintiff his agreed-upon wages for the work he performed for the joint venture.  The Plaintiff was left with tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid credit card debt and several months of unpaid wages.  There was no written agreement in place between the parties and much of the business arrangement was established through various online chats using different usernames over several months.  Despite the significant challenges presented by the lack of a formal business agreement (or even actual conversations between the parties), Brick filed suit against the Defendant for a breach of an implied contract, conversion, civil theft, unjust enrichment and unpaid wages.

The Court ultimately found in favor of the Plaintiff on all counts and also awarded attorney’s fees and costs of the case to Brick’s client.  Additionally, the Court found that Brick’s presentation of evidence satisfied the applicable “clear and convincing evidence” standard under Florida’s Civil Theft Statute.  As such, the Court ordered the Defendant to pay Brick’s client trebled (triple) his actual damages under the civil theft count.

Brick Business Law practices in the area of business litigation and counsel in Florida.  Typical issues handled by the Firm involve civil litigation and disputes over business contracts, business fraud, employment, shareholder and other issues.  The firm offers free initial consultations, which can be set up by contacting the Firm’s through its website or by calling the office at 813-669-0122.