South Florida attorney Shari Olefson has filed a federal gender discrimination lawsuit against law firm Fowler White Boggs, and leaders of its national and local offices. The suit claims Olefson was unjustly fired in May 2012 after complaining about a salary reduction and other treatment she viewed as being discriminatory because she is a woman. The firm denies the allegations. The complaint mentions that Olefson is gay, but it doesn't state a claim for discrimination based on sexual orientation. Florida state law doesn't allow state discrimination claims based on sexual orientation, but a Broward County ordinance does. Olefson has been tapped by the likes of CNBC and FOX News as an expert on the foreclosure crisis. Fowler White Boggs filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit Jan. 11, alleging that Olefson failed to bring a proper legal claim and failed to substantiate her allegations. The suit alleges that Olefson generated significant work for the firm, which was then reassigned by firm board member Thomas Dearing to male attorneys. The lawsuit also names Terrance Russell, managing shareholder in Fort Lauderdale, and Joesph Coleman, president of the firm, as defendants. Olefson's lawsuit acknowledges that the firm raised concerns about her work on another book, regarding the Dodd-Frank Act and financial regulatory reforms. According to the complaint, Olefson said she paid her secretary and a paralegal for after-hours work on the book to avoid the firm's concerns about overtime. But the suit accuses the firm of using concerns about overtime as part of the justification for firing Olefson. In an emailed response, Law dismissed the complaint as having no basis, factually or legally, including the allegations regarding Adele Stone.

Scott A. Underwood has been named a shareholder at Fowler White Boggs P.A. Underwood joins the business and appellate practice group and concentrates in the areas of bankruptcy, distressed business situations and business workouts, with a focus on Chapter 11 bankruptcies and related litigation. Underwood was a partner at Messana Stern PA, Fort Lauderdale.