Florida Statute 448.103 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXI
LABOR

Chapter 448
GENERAL LABOR REGULATIONS

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F.S. 448.103

448.103 Employee’s remedy; relief.—

(1)(a) An employee who has been the object of a retaliatory personnel action in violation of this act may institute a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction for relief as set forth in subsection (2) within 2 years after discovering that the alleged retaliatory personnel action was taken, or within 4 years after the personnel action was taken, whichever is earlier.

(b) Any civil action authorized under this section may be brought in the county in which the alleged retaliatory personnel action occurred, in which the complainant resides, or in which the employer has its principal place of business.

(c) An employee may not recover in any action brought pursuant to this subsection if he or she failed to notify the employer about the illegal activity, policy, or practice as required by s. 448.102(1) or if the retaliatory personnel action was predicated upon a ground other than the employee’s exercise of a right protected by this act.

(2) In any action brought pursuant to subsection (1), the court may order relief as follows:

(a) An injunction restraining continued violation of this act.

(b) Reinstatement of the employee to the same position held before the retaliatory personnel action, or to an equivalent position.

(d) Compensation for lost wages, benefits, and other remuneration.

(e) Any other compensatory damages allowable at law.

History.—s. 6, ch. 91-285; s. 169, ch. 97-103.

F.S. 448.103 on Google Scholar

F.S. 448.103 on CourtListener

Amendments to 448.103

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 448.103

Total Results: 39

Branche v. Airtran Airways, Inc.

342 F.3d 1248, 20 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 454, 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 17297, 2003 WL 21983019

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Aug 21, 2003 | Docket: 397750

Cited 81 times | Published

claim in a judicial forum. See Fla. Stat. 448.103(l)(a) ("An employee who has been the object

Arrow Air, Inc. v. Walsh

645 So. 2d 422, 19 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 592, 10 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 84, 1994 Fla. LEXIS 1806, 1994 WL 643760

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 17, 1994 | Docket: 1167713

Cited 74 times | Published

violation of a law, rule, or regulation. [4] Section 448.103, Florida Statutes (1993), provides: Employee's

Golf Channel v. Jenkins

752 So. 2d 561, 25 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 31, 15 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1574, 2000 Fla. LEXIS 9, 2000 WL 31834

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 13, 2000 | Docket: 1279983

Cited 38 times | Published

102(1)-(3) (emphasis supplied). The next section, section 448.103, entitled "[e]mployee's remedy; relief," provides

Aery v. Wallace Lincoln-Mercury, LLC

118 So. 3d 904, 2013 WL 3924091, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 11992

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 31, 2013 | Docket: 60233472

Cited 22 times | Published

prayer for relief, Aery tracked the language of Section 448.103(2), and requested, among other things, “[c]ompensation

Golden v. Dodge-Markham Co., Inc.

1 F. Supp. 2d 1360, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5554, 1998 WL 188124

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 17, 1998 | Docket: 2509752

Cited 14 times | Published

certain remedies. See Fla.Stat. § 448.103 (1997). Under section 448.103(2): In any action brought pursuant

Baiton v. Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc.

661 So. 2d 313, 11 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 57, 1996 A.M.C. 107, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 8904, 1995 WL 497113

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 23, 1995 | Docket: 532506

Cited 13 times | Published

allegations state a cause of action under section 448.103. Carnival argues that the whistle-blower statute

Padron v. BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc.

196 F. Supp. 2d 1250, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6766, 2002 WL 553153

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 2, 2002 | Docket: 2381578

Cited 12 times | Published

exercise of a right protected by this act. Fla.Stat. § 448.103(1)(c). The Court applies the state's substantive

Allocco v. City of Coral Gables

221 F. Supp. 2d 1317, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16563, 2002 WL 2002408

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Aug 23, 2002 | Docket: 2017302

Cited 10 times | Published

was taken, whichever is earlier." Fla. Stat. § 448.103(1)(a) (emphasis added). The use of both terms

O'Neal v. Fla. a & M University Ex Rel. Bd. of Trustees

989 So. 2d 6, 2008 WL 2276307

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 5, 2008 | Docket: 1665272

Cited 8 times | Published

question of the right to a jury trial under section 448.103, Florida Statutes, which creates a cause of

NEW WORLD COMMUNICATION OF TAMPA, INC. v. Akre

866 So. 2d 1231, 2003 WL 327505

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 14, 2003 | Docket: 1680147

Cited 7 times | Published

and defendants apply to cases brought under section 448.103. To the extent that this question has been

Robinson v. Jewish Center Towers, Inc.

993 F. Supp. 1475, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2547, 1998 WL 97291

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Feb 27, 1998 | Docket: 2172666

Cited 7 times | Published

violation of the Florida Whistleblower's Act, § 448.103(1). Since this Court finds that Count I should

Archdiocese of Miami, Inc. v. Minagorri

954 So. 2d 640, 2007 Fla. App. LEXIS 3736, 2007 WL 756106

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 14, 2007 | Docket: 1165639

Cited 6 times | Published

front pay and reinstatement to her position. § 448.103(2), Fla. Stat. (2006). The Archdiocese claims

Archdiocese of Miami, Inc. v. Minagorri

954 So. 2d 640, 2007 Fla. App. LEXIS 3736, 2007 WL 756106

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 14, 2007 | Docket: 1165639

Cited 6 times | Published

front pay and reinstatement to her position. § 448.103(2), Fla. Stat. (2006). The Archdiocese claims

Rivera v. Torfino Enterprises, Inc.

914 So. 2d 1087, 23 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1415, 2005 Fla. App. LEXIS 18803, 98 Fair Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA) 766, 2005 WL 3179984

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 30, 2005 | Docket: 12959

Cited 6 times | Published

action under the Act's civil remedy provision. See § 448.103, Fla. Stat. (2004). The FCRA states that its purpose

Hanna v. WCI Communities, Inc.

348 F. Supp. 2d 1332, 2004 WL 6072492, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25650

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Dec 2, 2004 | Docket: 2153425

Cited 6 times | Published

that the "use of the word `compensatory' in Section 448.103(2)(e) clearly indicates that punitive damages

Jenkins v. Golf Channel

714 So. 2d 558, 1998 WL 335789

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 26, 1998 | Docket: 461600

Cited 6 times | Published

or practice as required by s. 448.102(1).' Id. § 448.103(1)(c) [emphasis in original] [footnote omitted]

Dahl v. Eckerd Family Youth Alternatives, Inc.

843 So. 2d 956, 2003 WL 1876973

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 16, 2003 | Docket: 1670613

Cited 5 times | Published

for the private-sector whistleblower statute, § 448.103(1)(a), but it would have been untimely under the

POTOMAC SYSTEMS ENGINEERING v. Deering

683 So. 2d 180, 1996 WL 661749

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 15, 1996 | Docket: 466211

Cited 5 times | Published

of any alleged illegal activity pursuant to section 448.103(1)(c), Florida Statutes (1991). PSE's motions

Molenda v. Hoechst Celanese Corp.

60 F. Supp. 2d 1294, 1999 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13062, 1999 WL 613325

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Mar 16, 1999 | Docket: 41503

Cited 4 times | Published

reinstatement, and injunctive relief. Fla.Stat. § 448.103(2). If the retaliatory personnel action is predicated

HCA HEALTH SERVICES OF FLORIDA v. Hillman

906 So. 2d 1094, 2004 WL 3024709

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 10, 2004 | Docket: 1774951

Cited 3 times | Published

whistleblower action against Blake pursuant to section 448.103, Florida Statutes (2001).[1] In the consolidated

Pinder v. BAHAMASAIR HOLDINGS LIMITED, INC.

661 F. Supp. 2d 1348, 29 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1572, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94330, 2009 WL 3262778

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Oct 9, 2009 | Docket: 2281939

Cited 2 times | Published

exercise of a right protected by this act. Fla.Stat § 448.103(1)(c). The FWA was enacted "to protect private

Bell v. Georgia-Pacific Corp.

390 F. Supp. 2d 1182, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28420, 2005 WL 1163105

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: May 17, 2005 | Docket: 37981

Cited 2 times | Published

141 F.3d 1457, 1460 (11th Cir.1998). [44] Section 448.103(1)(c), Fla. Stat., provides. An employee may

Tracey-Meddoff v. J. Altman Hair & Beauty

899 So. 2d 1167, 2005 WL 841680

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 13, 2005 | Docket: 1353750

Cited 2 times | Published

counterpart. The remedies available under section 448.103(2) are similar to those available under section

Branche v. Airtran Airways, Inc.

314 F. Supp. 2d 1194, 21 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1533, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6877, 2004 WL 859319

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Apr 19, 2004 | Docket: 2337970

Cited 2 times | Published

available under the FWA. Florida Statutes Section 448.103(2) details the remedies available to an employee

Terrell v. Amsouth Investment Services, Inc.

217 F. Supp. 2d 1233, 18 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1578, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14442, 2002 WL 1868135

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Jul 24, 2002 | Docket: 2351746

Cited 2 times | Published

full fringe benefits and seniority rights. See § 448.103, Fla.Stat. The law concerning the arbitrator's

Holley v. Innovative Tech. of Destin, Inc.

803 So. 2d 749, 2001 WL 1230251

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 17, 2001 | Docket: 2514042

Cited 2 times | Published

by the applicable statute of limitations. Section 448.103(1)(a), Florida Statutes, provides that an employee

Cray v. NationsBank of North Carolina, N.A.

982 F. Supp. 850, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17400, 1997 WL 688802

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Oct 21, 1997 | Docket: 1073082

Cited 2 times | Published

and the only entity that can be liable under § 448.103, Florida Statutes, then he cannot receive damages

Chase v. Jowdy Industries, Inc.

913 So. 2d 1173, 2005 Fla. App. LEXIS 16258, 2005 WL 2508534

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 12, 2005 | Docket: 64840812

Cited 1 times | Published

em*1175ployer has its principal place of business.” § 448.103(l)(b), Fla. Stat. (2005). The statute gives a

McEowen v. Jones Chemical, Inc.

745 So. 2d 991, 15 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1213, 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 12065, 1999 WL 770725

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 8, 1999 | Docket: 1689206

Cited 1 times | Published

requirement under subsection 448.103(1)(c). See § 448.103(1)(c); see also Schultz v. Tampa Elec. Co., 704

State of Florida, Agency for Persons With Disabilities v. Sally Toal

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 26, 2025 | Docket: 69674137

Published

has been found to include noneconomic damages. § 448.103(2)(e), Fla. Stat.; see Aery v. Wallace Lincoln-Mercury

ODALYS HERRERA v. JARDEN CORPORATION, TONYA JARVIS and JOHN CAPPS

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 23, 2022 | Docket: 63108561

Published

section 448.102, Florida Statutes (2013). Section 448.103(1)(a) provides that an employee subjected to

In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases—report No. 17-04

230 So. 3d 815

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Nov 22, 2017 | Docket: 6229119

Published

pay”) are awardable in a jury trial pursuant to F.S. 448.103(2), see U.S. E.E.O.C. v. W & O, Inc., 213 F

In re Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases—Report No. 2011-01 (Unlawful Retaliation)

95 So. 3d 106, 2012 WL 2848897

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jul 12, 2012 | Docket: 60311088

Published

pay”) are awardable in a .jury trial pursuant to F.S. 448.103(2), see U.S. *113E.E.O.C. v. W & O, Inc., 213

Ridener v. LDAR, Inc.

771 So. 2d 1238, 2000 Fla. App. LEXIS 14593, 2000 WL 1671072

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 8, 2000 | Docket: 64801896

Published

claim against his former employer pursuant to section 448.103, Florida Statutes (1995). The trial court dismissed

McEowen v. Jones Chemical, Inc.

758 So. 2d 92, 25 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 285, 16 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1009, 2000 Fla. LEXIS 737, 2000 WL 373747

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Apr 13, 2000 | Docket: 64797321

Published

comply with the written notice requirement of section 448.103(l)(c). See Golf Channel, 752 So.2d at 562.

Mariner Health Care of Nashville, Inc. v. Baker

739 So. 2d 608, 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 2513, 1999 WL 123284

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 10, 1999 | Docket: 64790277

Published

Health Care for retaliatory discharge under section 448.103, Florida Statutes. She alleged that Mariner

Bio-Medical Applications of Florida, Inc. v. Kroll

702 So. 2d 288, 1997 Fla. App. LEXIS 13656, 1997 WL 756682

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 10, 1997 | Docket: 64777205

Published

employee’s failure to give the notice required in section 448.103(1)(e), Florida Statutes (1995), prior to filing

Temple v. Aujla

681 So. 2d 1198, 1996 WL 612783

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Oct 25, 1996 | Docket: 707338

Published

Stat. (1995). [2] We note that, in enacting section 448.103, Florida Statutes (1995), the legislature expressly

Lopez v. Triangle Auto Center, Inc.

677 So. 2d 114, 1996 Fla. App. LEXIS 8656, 1996 WL 464345

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 14, 1996 | Docket: 64766277

Published

court’s order transferring venue to Broward County. § 448.103(l)(b), Fla.Stat. (1995). Reversed.