Tamra C. Givens
Tamra C. Givens
Associate
[email protected]
Main Line: 561-447-8888
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Tamra C. Givens represents employees in complex litigation with a focus on claims for unpaid wages, retaliation, employment discrimination and civil rights. Her experience includes litigating class and collective actions brought under federal and state wage and hour laws.
“Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
During her career, Tamra has assisted clients in recovering tens of millions of dollars in damages resulting from illegal acts of employers. Tamra has represented thousands of employees in the restaurant industry who were not paid minimum wages due to tip credit violations. In addition, she has fought for employees in retail and service industries wrongfully claimed to be exempt from overtime compensation, workers improperly classified as independent contractors, and employees entitled to recover unpaid commissions. Tamra has also litigated consumer class actions brought under federal consumer protection statutes.
Tamra formerly served as a law clerk to the Honorable James D. Whittemore, United States District Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Tamra has lectured on wage and hour law, including tip pooling litigation and compliance. She is a contributing author of the treatise Wage and Hour Law: A State by State Survey (Third Edition).
Tamra earned her law degree from the University of Florida, cum laude, in 2003. She graduated, with honors, from the University of Florida in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. While in law school, Tamra was a member of the Florida Law Review and published her case comment titled “Constitutional Law: Narrowing the Scope of the Fourth Amendment,” 54 Fla. L. Rev. 567 (2002). She also completed an internship with Justice Harry Lee Anstead, former Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court.
Tamra is admitted to practice in the state courts of Florida as well as federal district courts for the Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, District of Colorado and Eastern District of Michigan. She is also admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits.
- Unpaid Wages
- Retaliation
- Employment Discrimination
- Civil Rights
University of Florida
J.D., 2003, cum laude
Member of Florida Law Review
University of Florida
B.S., Psychology, 2000, with honors
Bar Admissions
Florida, 2003
Court Admissions
Florida State, 2003
Middle District of Florida, 2003
Southern District of Florida, 2006
District of Colorado, 2013
Eastern District of Michigan, 2018
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 2003
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2006
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2006
Memberships
The Florida Bar (2003–present)
Taxpayers Against Fraud Education Fund (2019-present)
Dyer v. Wells Fargo, N.A. (N.D. Cal.) –14.7 million settlement of a class action on behalf of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Consultants and Branch Sales Managers for unpaid commissions.
Frizzell v. Big River Breweries, Inc. (Fla. 9th Jud. Cir.) – $375,000 settlement of a class action on behalf of wait staff employees who alleged they were not permitted to retain all of their tips and were required to share tips with non-wait staff employees who worked as expeditors.
Freitas v. Talk of the Town Restaurants, Inc. (Fla. 9th Jud. Cir.) – $405,000 settlement of a class action on behalf of servers and bartenders who worked who alleged they were not permitted to retain all of their tips and were required to share tips with non-wait staff employees, including salad preparers.
Prior v. Ark Rustic Inn, LLC (Fla. 17th Jud. Cir.) – $647,000.00 settlement of a class action behalf of servers alleging they were not permitted to retain all their tips and were required to share tips with employees called “pantry workers” who are not customarily tipped employees.
Griffith, et al. v. Landry’s, Inc., et al. (M.D. Fla.) – $3.6 million fund won in settlement to pay claims of tipped employees who alleged that charging tipped employees for participation in employee discount program violated minimum wage law.
Speaking Engagements
Lectured on tip pooling litigation and compliance at Wage and Hour Management Conference in Miami, Florida (2017)
Lectured on wage and hour law at Florida National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) Annual Conference in Clearwater, Florida (2017)
Articles & Publications
Co-authored Arkansas chapter of Wage and Hour Law: A State-by-State Survey, Third Edition (2017)
Constitutional Law: Narrowing the Scope of the Fourth Amendment, 54 Fla. L. Rev. 567 (2002)
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