Lake City Employment and Civil Rights Lawyer
Massey & Duffy, PLLC represents employees and people whose civil rights have been violated in Lake City and throughout Columbia County and the surrounding North Central Florida counties, including Suwannee and Hamilton. We handle discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, wage, and Section 1983 claims in state and federal court.
Where We Are Located
Our only office is at 855 East University Avenue in Gainesville. We do not have an office in Lake City. Consultations, document review, and case management are handled by phone, email, and video, and we travel for depositions, mediations, hearings, and trial when a case requires it.
Claims We Handle for Columbia County Workers
Discrimination based on race, sex or pregnancy, age, disability, or religion
Police misconduct, false arrest, and First Amendment retaliation
Corrections, Healthcare, Federal, and Public Employees
Many people in the Lake City area work for state correctional institutions, the VA medical center, school districts, and local governments. State employees who report serious misconduct may be protected by Florida's Whistle-blower's Act, which generally requires a complaint to the Florida Commission on Human Relations within 60 days after the retaliatory action. Federal civilian employees bring discrimination complaints through their agency's EEO process and generally must contact an EEO counselor within 45 days. Veterans and members of the Guard and Reserves are also protected from discrimination because of military service under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
Where Lake City Cases Are Filed
State court cases arising in Columbia County are filed in the Third Judicial Circuit, which also covers Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor Counties. Federal cases are filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division. Many discrimination claims must first go through a charge with the EEOC or the Florida Commission on Human Relations.
Deadlines Matter
An EEOC charge in Florida generally must be filed within 300 days, and a complaint under the Florida Civil Rights Act within 365 days. Federal civilian employees generally must contact an agency EEO counselor within 45 days. Some claims, such as public-employee whistleblower claims, have even shorter deadlines. If you think your rights were violated, talk to a lawyer promptly.
Talk With Us
Use our contact page to request a consultation, or call Massey & Duffy, PLLC at (352) 505-8900. We respond to inquiries 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Our only office is in Gainesville, Florida. Results depend on the facts and law of each case; past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.