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Agentis Legal Advocates & Advisors
Coral Gables, Florida

December 3, 2018 -- Two cases filed by Christopher Spuches, one for excessive punishment by the City of Miami Beach and the other accusing a paralegal of stealing from a trust fund left by her father, made front-page and national news last week in Law360 and the Daily Business Review.

Spuches filed a complaint on behalf of a property owner on Miami Beach accusing the city of violating the Florida Constitution’s excessive punishment clause by charging excessive fines then having the utilities to the home cut off. Spuches told the Daily Business Review the property owner had been unreasonably sanctioned by the city for purportedly violating the city’s ordinance restricting short-term rentals on Airbnb and other sites.

“When the homeowner did not pay the constitutionally excessive fines – $200,000 the city ordered Florida Power & Light to discontinue electricity to the home,” the complaint said. “The city also ordered the Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department to discontinue water/sewer services to the home.”

Today at an emergency hearing, the Court entered a writ of mandamus, commanding the City of Miami Beach to immediately restore water service. “We obtained a big win over the City today,” said Spuches.

In the second case, that was highlighted in recent news, Spuches brought suit against a paralegal who took more than $1 million from a trust fund that her late father had set up to pay for her mother’s medical and living expenses, using the money to pay credit card bills, dog grooming, doctor’s visits, prescriptions, homeowners’ association dues, hair salon appointments and other expenses. “We are not going to stop until we recover every penny that was taken from Ms. Brown, who as an elderly person should not have to spend these years of her life trying to recover money that may have been taken from her by a family member,” said Spuches.

About Agentis: Agentis focuses on business and commercial disputes, business restructuring, insolvency, and bankruptcy in a variety of industries including aviation, construction, housing, healthcare, leisure, retail, telecommunications, hospitality, and entertainment. The firm is highly ranked in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers of America, U.S. News Best Lawyers® and the South Florida Legal Guide’s Top Lawyers. In addition to our professional associations, we value and support our team’s efforts to be involved in professional and civic organizations that make a difference in our community.

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