Due to job cutbacks, a former employee of Miami tech filed a lawsuit. View the specifics

The software company Kaseya, situated in Miami and named after the county-owned basketball arena of the Heat, is being sued by a former employee who lost his job. Kaseya has received government incentives for job creation.

Angelo Rodriguez, 57, filed a lawsuit in early April alleging he was fired unlawfully from the company. He claims that Kaseya discriminated against workers based on their age and disregarded a number of federal rules, one of which is that businesses notify anyone impacted by significant employment reductions well in advance.

On July 3, the case was filed in the Austin Division of the Western District of Texas U.S. District Court. Rodriguez worked from his home state of Texas during his job. Court documents state that Kaseya has until August 13 to reply.

The Kaseya Center is the county-owned home of the Miami Heat.
An executive with the software company said in an interview with the Miami Herald that the layoffs were “performance-based terminations” when the company announced the cuts in early April. The business also employed that terminology in other contexts.

At that time, the chief communications officer, Xavier Gonzalez, stated that around 150 people had been let go.

However, Rodriguez argues that the corporation praised and regarded his performance as excellent all the way up to his departure.

According to Millie Acebal, vice president for corporate communications, Kaseya “does not comment publicly on personnel matters involving potential litigation,” as she informed the Miami Herald on Thursday.

History of Kaseya employees
Court records indicate that in 2023, Rodriguez’s effort was well-received and he was given two ratings for “exceptional performance.”

“Angelo has consistently provided top notch demonstration and product expertise,” his manager noted.

Founded in Silicon Valley in 2000, Kaseya is a software company that helps businesses manage their IT and security. In the middle of 2015, the company moved to Miami.

Miami-Dade County gave the company subsidies totaling up to $4.6 million in February 2023 in exchange for the company embarking on an extensive local recruiting drive.

Rodriguez began working for Austin-based cybersecurity startup Infocyte in 2019 as the director of alliances and pre-sales engineering. From his office in Williamson County, Texas, he conducted his business remotely. Infocyte was acquired by Datto Holding on January 20, 2022. For $6.2 billion, Kaseya acquired Datto on April 11, 2022.

He continued to work remotely as the main solutions engineer at Kaseya from January 2022 until his termination on April 2, 2024.

According to court filings, Kaseya granted him a “Exceptional Performance” award in February 2024, “less than 60 days before his clearly pre-textual ‘poor performance’ termination.” This award was given in part because he had secured the largest sales contract in 2023.

Rodriguez alleges in the case that Kaseya broke the Texas Labor Code, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967.

A class-action portion of the claim pertains to other employees let go in April. A portion of the claim states that a release form that Kaseya demanded workers sign in order to be eligible for a $250 severance payment is invalid.

Should Kaseya lose the lawsuit, it might also be forced to give fired workers 60 days’ worth of compensation and benefits for violating the WARN Act.

A Midlands high school student is accused in a lawsuit of being called a “dirty” football player by a business.

A lawsuit was filed in Lexington County Circuit Court over a sign for a local business and a disputed play in a high school football game.

Sandra Zapata, a mother from Lexington, filed a lawsuit claiming that following the high school game between Lexington and River Bluff last year, James Nettles’ Epic Homes on North Lake Drive defamed her son.

After the game, there was a banner outside Epic Homes that purportedly said, “LEX HIGH’S FOOTBALL COACHES ‘HITMAN’ VIDEO LINK SITE UP BY MONDAY” and “DIRTY PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD #5 DANIEL LEX FOOTBALL PROUD.”

While the son of Zapata played football at Lexington High School and wore number five, the son of Nettles was a River Bluff player at the time.

According to Zapata’s lawsuit, “the Defendant created a billboard which had a message directed solely at the Plaintiff.” “The Defendants deliberately set out to damage a minor child’s reputation in this community.”

Her son was “embarrassed,” “humiliated,” and “sustained mental suffering as a result of the damage to his reputation” after the signs were put up, according to the lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of the plaintiff by Jahue Moore of the law firm Moore Bradley Myers.

There is no evidence in the case that the sign board’s mentioned video link was ever uploaded to the internet. It is suing Nettles and Epic Homes for real and punitive damages.

The defendant’s lawyer, John Phillips of Roger Townsend, submitted a response in which he refuted the claims made in the lawsuit and requested that it be dismissed. The parties were ordered to mediation by a court order that was filed on Thursday.

Erik Spoelstra Considering Resignation After He Sent A Fiery Message Amidst Tensions with Heat Owner Micky Arison.

The longtime Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is apparently thinking about leaving his post, which is a startling development. The rumors stem from a heated conversation that recently made headlines between Heat owner Micky Arison and Spoelstra.

Sources with direct knowledge of the matter claim that tensions between Spoelstra and Arison have been building for a while. The alleged points of contention include the team’s direction and specific managerial choices. Though the specifics of the conversation are still unknown, it is thought that Spoelstra voiced his dissatisfaction with the way things are going and brought up issues with the team’s long-term plan and strategy.

Fans and experts alike are left to speculate about the Miami Heat’s future as the story progresses. Erik Spoelstra’s potential resignation raises a lot of questions: Who would take his place? What impact would this have on the team’s mindset and tactics? What does this signify for the coaching staff’s relationship with the front office going forward?

As of right now, neither Spoelstra nor Arison have made any public statements regarding the situation, and the Heat organization is remaining silent. The circumstance draws attention to the intricate dynamics that can exist on professional sports teams, where success depends on the alignment of personalities, tactics, and visions. The next several days will probably be critical in deciding one of the most reputable coaches in the NBA’s future, as additional information becomes available.