House passes the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017

On May 2, 2017, the House passed the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017 (H.R. 1180).  The bill proposes to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit private sector employees to elect to receive compensatory time off, at a rate not less than one and one-half hours for each overtime hour worked,…

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Florida Workers’ Compensation Rates

In April 2016, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in Castellanos v. Next Door that statutory caps on the amount attorneys could charge injured workers in workers’ compensation cases “violates the state and federal constitutional guarantees of due process. This decision, in part, lead to a 14.5-percent increase in workers’ compensation rates. And, the fear from some…

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Sandestin: Jolee Island, tennis center not going away

A overview picture of the Sandestin Resort.

Sandestin’s owner is seeking approval that would allow him to redevelop the tennis center and Jolee Island nature preserve. However, Sandestin Development says they have no plans to move forward with either project. Sandestin Development owner Tom Becnel said he has no plans to tear down the development’s tennis center and Jolee Island nature preserve,…

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Sandestin gets OK for high rises to replace nature preserve, tennis center

By Deborah Wheeler | @WaltonSunDeb | dwheeler@waltonsun.com SANTA ROSA BEACH — Thanks to a voting block of solidarity shown by three Walton County commissioners, Sandestin will soon lose the popular Jolee Island Nature Preserve and adjacent Sandestin Tennis Center. Despite overwhelming public opposition at Monday’s meeting, commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the open-space compliance and…

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SOUTH WALTON INCORPORATION EFFORT DELAYED BY A YEAR

By Tom McLaughlin | 315-4435 | @TomMnwfdn | tmclaughlin@nwfdailynews.com SANTA ROSA BEACH — Leaders of the movement to incorporate South Walton County have decided to wait until 2018 to push for the state’s permission to hold a referendum to decide the matter. “We feel we need another year to work on the process and address…

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Opposition forms for South Walton incorporation

A picture Dana Matthews and Frank Burge.

Deborah Wheeler | 315-4432 | @WaltonSunDeb | “I went to the first South Walton  incorporation meeting and listened to the presentation and took their handout,”said local attorney Dana Matthews. “But when I left, I said, ‘This doesn’t add up.’ ” Matthews educated himself on what was being proposed by comparing it to Destin. “Destin has 8.15…

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Attorneys attend Evidence CLE

The Florida Bar Association requires attorneys to complete a certain number of continuing legal education (CLE) hours per year in order to maintain their membership and active status. The attorneys at Matthews & Jones, LLP decided to take a team approach this past Friday, February 3, 2017, and attended an Evidence CLE course together, and…

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Matthews & Jones Law Firm Welcomes New Partner to the Firm

New partner, Thomas Hoffer, will lead the Litigation Division of the Firm. Destin, Florida – Matthews & Jones Law Firm announced today that Thomas Hoffer has been named Partner and will lead the Firm’s Litigation Group. “We are pleased that Tom is now a partner of Matthews & Jones” Senior Partner Dana C. Matthews says.…

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New partner Dawn E. Stuntz to lead Real Estate Division

Matthews & Jones, LLP announced today that Dawn E. Stuntz has been named Partner and leads the Firm’s Real Estate division team. “We are very pleased that Dawn is now a partner of Matthews & Jones, LLP” Dana C. Matthews says. “Dawn’s approach to the practice of law and her exceptional talent, skill and ability…

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