UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

Fort Lauderdale Division

Case No. ___________________

BEVANNIE SMITH,

Plaintiff,

v.

THERAPIES 4 KIDS, INC., a Florida

corporation, and EILEEN DE OLIVIERA,

an individual,

Defendants.

_____________________________/ 

COMPLAINT AND DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

COMES NOW, Plaintiff, BEVANNIE SMITH, by and through undersigned counsel, and 

sues Defendants, THERAPIES 4 KIDS, INC. and EILEEN DE OLIVIERA, and alleges as follows: 

GENERAL ALLEGATIONS

1. Plaintiff, BEVANNIE SMITH, brings this action against Defendants to recover 

unpaid minimum and overtime wages owed by Defendants to Plaintiff pursuant to Plaintiff’s 

employment agreement with the Defendants. 

2. Jurisdiction is conferred on this Court by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 

(“FLSA”), 29 U.S.C. § 206 and 207.

3. Venue is proper in the Southern District of Florida, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 

1391(b) and (c), because Plaintiff was employed by Defendants in this District; because 

Defendants, at all material times, conducted and continue to conduct business in the Southern 

District of Florida; because the unlawful employment practices that give rise to Plaintiff’s claims 

Case 0:20-cv-61270-WPD Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/29/2020 Page 1 of 8
happened within the Southern District of Florida; and because Defendants are subject to personal 

jurisdiction herein.

4. At all times material hereto, Plaintiff has been a citizen and resident of Broward 

County, Florida.

5. At all times material hereto, Defendant, THERAPIES 4 KIDS, INC. (“T4K”), was 

Plaintiff’s employer as defined by law and a corporation conducting business in this judicial 

district. 

6. At all times material hereto, T4K had employees engaged in commerce or in the 

production of goods for commerce, and/or had employees handling, selling, or otherwise working 

on goods or materials that were moved in or produced for commerce by a person. 29 U.S.C. §203.

7. At all times material hereto, T4K, upon information and belief, had revenue in 

excess of $500,000.00 per annum.

8. At all times material hereto, Plaintiff was individually engaged in commerce while 

working for the Defendant. 

9. At all times material hereto, Defendant, EILEEN DE OLIVIERA (“EDO”), was 

Plaintiff’s employer as defined by law.

10. All conditions precedent have occurred or have been waived.

11. Plaintiff has engaged the undersigned attorney and is entitled to recover her

attorneys’ fees from the Defendants. 

COUNT 1: FLSA RECOVERY OF OVERTIME WAGES

12. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 

through 11 above as if fully set forth herein.

Case 0:20-cv-61270-WPD Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/29/2020 Page 2 of 8
13. Plaintiff worked for Defendants from approximately August 2015 to February

2020. However, the Plaintiff’s claims are only based on the time period of January 2018 to 

February 2020.

14. Initially, Plaintiff worked for Defendant as a registered behavioral therapist. 

Around July 2016, the Plaintiff became a lead ABA therapist, and around January 2018 the 

Plaintiff became a Program Coordinator. The Plaintiff remained a Program Coordinator up until 

her resignation in February 2020. 

15. As Program Coordinator, Plaintiff’s primary duties and responsibilities included 

assisting with running the clinic, training staff, catalyst program development, developing social 

and pragmatic group activities, assisting with report writing and new evaluations, running the 

Defendants’ social media accounts, planning team building activities, organizing fundraisers, 

scheduling for all therapists, and acting as liaison between all clinics.

16. The Defendant agreed to pay the Plaintiff $22.00 per hour.

17. On average, Plaintiff worked 50 hours per week but Defendants did not compensate 

Plaintiff at all for the 20 hours of overtime per week.

18. During one or more workweeks, Defendants did not pay Plaintiff overtime wages

for all overtime hours worked by Plaintiff, in violation of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 206 and 207.

19. Plaintiff was unlawfully denied overtime wages in violation of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. 

§ 206 and 207.

20. By reason of the intentional, willful and unlawful acts of the Defendants, Plaintiff 

has suffered damages.

21. Plaintiff is owed an additional amount equal to the amount of unpaid overtime

wages as liquated damages.

Case 0:20-cv-61270-WPD Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/29/2020 Page 3 of 8
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff hereby demands judgment against Defendants for all unpaid 

overtime wages, liquidated damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and such other and further relief as this 

Court deems just and appropriate.

COUNT II: FLSA RECOVERY OF UNPAID WAGES

22. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the allegations contained in paragraphs 1 

through 11 above as if fully set forth herein. 

23. Plaintiff worked for Defendants from approximately August 2015 to February 

2020. However, the Plaintiff’s claims are only based on the time period of January 2018 to 

February 2020.

24. Initially, Plaintiff worked for Defendant as a registered behavioral therapist. 

Around July 2016, the Plaintiff became a lead ABA therapist, and around January 2018 the 

Plaintiff became a Program Coordinator. The Plaintiff remained a Program Coordinator up until 

her resignation in February 2020. 

25. As Program Coordinator, Plaintiff’s primary duties and responsibilities included 

assisting with running the clinic, training staff, catalyst program development, developing social 

and pragmatic group activities, assisting with report writing and new evaluations, running the 

Defendants social media accounts, planning for team building activities, organizing fundraisers, 

scheduling for all therapists, and acting as liaison between all clinics. 

26. The Defendant agreed to pay the Plaintiff $22.00 per hour. 

27. On average, Plaintiff worked 50 hours per week, but the Defendants only 

compensated Plaintiff for 35 hours per week. More specifically, the Defendants automatically 

deducted an hour every day from Plaintiff’s hours worked for a lunch break despite the fact that 

Plaintiff rarely took a lunch break, and, when she did, her lunch break was never a full hour. 

Case 0:20-cv-61270-WPD Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/29/2020 Page 4 of 8
28. During one or more workweeks, Defendants did not pay Plaintiff the statutory 

minimum wage for all hours worked by Plaintiff, in violation of the FLSA, 29 U.S.C. § 206 and 

207.

29. Plaintiff was unlawfully denied minimum wages in violation of the FLSA, 29 

U.S.C. § 206 and 207.

30. By reason of the intentional, willful and unlawful acts of the Defendants, Plaintiff 

has suffered damages.

31. Plaintiff is owed an additional amount equal to the amount of unpaid wages as 

liquated damages.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff hereby demands judgment against Defendants for all unpaid 

wages, liquidated damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and such other and further relief as this Court 

deems just and appropriate.

COUNT III: FMWA RECOVERY OF UNPAID WAGES 

32. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the allegations contained in paragraph 1 through 

11 above as if fully set forth herein.

33. Plaintiff worked for Defendants from approximately August 2015 to February 

2020. However, the Plaintiff’s claims are only based on the time period of January 2018 to 

February 2020.

34. Initially, Plaintiff worked for Defendant as a registered behavioral therapist. 

Around July 2016, the Plaintiff became a lead ABA therapist, and around January 2018 the 

Plaintiff became a Program Coordinator. The Plaintiff remained a Program Coordinator up until 

her resignation in February 2020. 

Case 0:20-cv-61270-WPD Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/29/2020 Page 5 of 8
35. As Program Coordinator, Plaintiff’s primary duties and responsibilities included 

assisting with running the clinic, training staff, catalyst program development, developing social 

and pragmatic group activities, assisting with report writing and new evaluations, running the 

Defendants social media accounts, planning for team building activities, organizing fundraisers, 

scheduling for all therapists, and acting as liaison between all clinics.

36. The Defendants agreed to pay the Plaintiff $22.00 per hour.

37. On average, Plaintiff worked 60 hours per week, but the Defendants only 

compensated Plaintiff for 35 hours per week. More specifically, the Defendants automatically 

deducted an hour every day from Plaintiff’s hours worked for a lunch break despite the fact that 

Plaintiff rarely took a lunch break, and, when she did, her lunch break was never a full hour. 

38. During one or more workweeks, Defendants did not pay Plaintiff the statutory 

minimum wage for all hours worked by Plaintiff, in violation of the Florida Minimum Wage Act, 

§448.110, Florida Statutes (“FMWA”). 

39. Plaintiff was unlawfully denied minimum wages in violation of the FMWA, 

§448.110, Florida Statutes.

40. By reason of the intentional, willful and unlawful acts of Defendants, Plaintiff has

suffered damages.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff hereby demands judgment against Defendants for all unpaid 

wages, liquidated damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and such other and further relief as this Court 

deems just and appropriate.

COUNT IV: BREACH OF CONTRACT

41. Plaintiffs reallege all of the matters set forth in paragraphs 1 through 11 as if fully 

set forth herein.

Case 0:20-cv-61270-WPD Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/29/2020 Page 6 of 8
42. Plaintiff and Defendants entered into the Contract, pursuant to which Plaintiff 

agreed to provide services to Defendant in exchange for compensation in the amount of $22.00 

per hour. 

43. Defendants breached the Contract by, inter alia, failing to pay Plaintiff for all hours 

worked. 

44. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ breach, Plaintiff has suffered 

damages, including, but not limited to, the loss of money not paid to Plaintiff in exchange for her

services.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff hereby demands judgment against Defendants for damages, 

together with prejudgment and post judgment interest thereon, costs, and such other and further 

relief as this Court deems just and appropriate.

COUNT V: UNJUST ENRICHMENT

45. Plaintiff incorporates by reference the allegations contained in paragraph 1 through 

11 above as if fully set forth herein.

46. Plaintiff provided services to Defendants by serving as a registered behavioral 

therapist, then a lead ABA therapist, and then a Program Coordinator.

47. By serving as a registered behavioral therapist, ABA therapist, and Program 

Coordinator, Plaintiff conferred a benefit on Defendants, and Defendants had knowledge of that 

benefit.

48. Defendants voluntarily accepted and retained that benefit conferred on them by 

Plaintiff.

49. The circumstances are such that Defendants’ retention of the benefit is inequitable 

unless the Defendants pay to Plaintiff the value of the benefit.

Case 0:20-cv-61270-WPD Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/29/2020 Page 7 of 8
50. Defendants have been unjustly enriched at the expense of the Plaintiff.

51. Plaintiff is entitled to damages as a result of Defendants’ unjust enrichment.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff hereby demands judgment against Defendants for damages, 

together with prejudgment and post judgment interest thereon, costs, and such other and further 

relief as this Court deems just and appropriate.

Jury Trial Demand

Plaintiff demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable.

Respectfully submitted this 29th day of June, 2020.

 By: s/Michelle Cohen Levy

 Michelle Cohen Levy, FBN 0068514

 The Law Office of Michelle Cohen Levy, P.A.

 4400 N. Federal Highway

 Lighthouse Point, Florida 33064

 P: (954) 651-9196

 Michelle@CohenLevyLegal.com

 Counsel for Plaintiff

Case 0:20-cv-61270-WPD Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 06/29/2020 Page 8 of 8