REPRESENTATIVE CASES

Ms. Coleman's extensive appeals experience includes some of these notable cases:

• Nguyen v. U.S. , 556 F.3d 1244 (11th Cir. 2009).  Ms. Coleman and her co-counsel successfully persuaded the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals that a doctor wrongfully arrested by the DEA could sue the United States for violating his civil rights. The team convinced the Eleventh Circuit that the Federal Tort Claims Act was inapplicable and did not bar the claims. Ms. Coleman also provided litigation support at the trial court level where the doctor successfully obtained a multi-million dollar jury verdict against local government agents.
• In re Greenberg , 2006 WL 1594202 (11th Cir. 2006), successfully obtained the reversal of an order dismissing the client's $600,000 case for failure to prosecute.
• Montoute v. Carr , 114 F.3d 181 (11th Cir. 1997), in which Ms. Coleman's team successfully convinced the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse an order denying qualified immunity to a police officer who shot an armed suspect. As a result the  officer was completely immune from the suspect's civil rights claims.
• Cravero v. LLP Mortg. Ltd. , 887 So. 2d 1236 (Fla. 2004), succeeded in obtaining the dismissal of an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court.  The Court initially accepted the case under conflict jurisdiction but after briefing and oral argument, the Florida Supreme Court decided it should not have accepted jurisdiction after all and the client's claim was permitted to proceed. Ms. Coleman also participated in the case at the district court of appeal level.
• Florida Power Corp. v. First Baptist Instit. Church of St. Petersburg, Inc., 177 So. 3d 103 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015), affirmed an attorneys' fee award against Florida Power Corp. n/k/a Duke Energy, after Ms. Coleman and her co-counsel succeeded in voiding an easement  Florida Power obtained from a church in violation of Florida's eminent domain statute.
• Adams v. Smith , 124 So. 3d 366 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013), in which Ms. Coleman and co-counsel persuaded the appellate court to uphold the client's damages judgment.  The opposing party tried to set aside the judgment on numerous grounds included fraud, excusable neglect. The appellate court affirmed the trial court's rejection of these efforts. Ms. Coleman also provided litigation support at the trial court level.
• Grapski v. City of Alachua , 134 So. 3d 987 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012), rev. denied , 118 So. 3d 220 (Fla. 2012).  Ms. Coleman and co-counsel convinced the appellate court that the relatively minimal attorney's fees awarded to the opposing party in a public records dispute were sufficient. The team also successfully prevented a further appeal to the Florida Supreme Court. Ms. Coleman also provided litigation support at the trial court level.
• Grapski v. City of Alachua , 31 So. 3d 193 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010), successfully defended a judgment in which a claimant had accused the City of extensive alleged public records and constitutional violations.  The claimants prevailed on only one of their claims relating to a single document out of the 100+ records violations alleged.  Ms. Coleman also provided litigation support in the trial court.
• Rodgers v. Brennan, 22 So. 3d 84 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009), in which Ms. Coleman and her co-counsel succeeded in obtaining dismissal of a petition for writ of certiorari. The case involved 26 real estate investors that sued a mortgage company for alleged misrepresentations. The trial court severed the claims of 25 of the investors from the primary plaintiff and ordered filing as separate actions. The team persuaded the court of appeal to dismiss the petition seeking to rescind the order.  
• Grapski v. Watson, 3 So. 3d 320 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009), successfully defended a judgment in the City's favor rejecting a claim that the City Manager unconstitutionally held two government offices at once. Ms. Coleman also provided litigation support at the trial court level.

Examples of Ms. Coleman's litigation support on behalf of plaintiffs' and defendants' attorneys include: 

• A case against an apartment management company and an employment agency for injuries to a tenant who was attacked by an unvetted worker.
• A dispute alleging hundreds of millions of dollars in damages against an internet gaming developer, asserting claims for breach of contract and non-competition agreements, fraud, and tortious interference.
• Litigation against a borrower who defaulted on commercial loans and whose principal diverted hundreds of thousands of dollars to others in an effort to avoid paying a judgment.
• A buyer's remorse case filed by the purchaser of a business, alleging hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for breach of contract, fraud, and indemnification.
• An action against a musical performer and his associates after audience members were injured by shots fired in a nightclub, the case included RICO claims against the performer and his "entourage."
• Multi-million dollar shareholder derivative litigation.
• A dispute between several entities over the acceptable use of a portion of real estate between 2 commercial buildings.
• A case involving local legislation against the location of an adult bookstore in a city.
• A multi-million dollar federal court dispute between numerous lenders, builders, and mortgage brokers involving failed real estate investments.
• A civil rights case involving the false arrest of a working mother with no criminal background that allegedly resulted from "mistaken identity."
• Defense of litigation filed against a municipality following a failed subdivision development.
• Civil rights actions involving the excessive use of police force.
• Contract and collection actions on behalf of a national healthcare equipment provider and financier.
• Employment discrimination and harassment claims.
• Voiding an easement that a utility company obtained from a church without following Florida's eminent domain laws.
• A business divorce case between former law partners.
• A dispute over liability for a million dollar fee for services provided by a trial support company.
• A multi-million dollar dispute over the misappropriation of trade secrets.
• Lender liability claims and foreclosure defenses against mortgage lenders.
• Significant personal injury claims on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants.
• Copyright and trademark infringement cases.
• Cases involving the scope and enforceability of non-compete agreements in employment contracts.
• A defamation case involving the First Amendment and other constitutional issues arising from articles published in a newspaper.
• Criminal cases involving alleged money laundering and forfeitures.