SEAN KEARNS, Appellant, v. FARMER ACQUISITION COMPANY d/b/a CHARLOTTE HONDA, Appellee., 157 So. 3d 458

Summary

HOLDINGS: [1]-The trial court erred in granting the employer’s motion for directed verdict on the claim under § 448.102(3), Fla. Stat. (2009), of Florida's private sector Whistleblower's Act (FWA), because the employee’s testimony regarding the practice of power booking provided sufficient evidence of a violation of fraud under § 817.03, Fla. Stat. (2008). He alleged that the car dealership intentionally made false statements about its assets—the vehicles—to assist purchasers in obtaining credit to purchase the vehicles in order to create a profit for the dealership; [2]-Additionally, the employee established a causal link between his refusal to participate in power booking and his firing.