Since 1995 · Serving Hardee County, Florida

Employment Law, Civil Rights & Personal Injury Attorneys Serving Hardee County, Florida

Marie A. Mattox, P.A. is a Tallahassee, Florida law firm representing individuals throughout Hardee County, North Florida, and South Georgia. Founded in 1995, the firm focuses on employment law, police misconduct and civil rights law, and personal injury law.

Your fight is our fight.

A Brief History of Hardee County

Hardee County was formed on April 23, 1921, when the Florida Legislature divided the large, unwieldy "old DeSoto County" into five smaller counties: Hardee, DeSoto, Charlotte, Highlands, and Glades. The new county was named for Cary A. Hardee, the sitting governor of Florida who signed the legislation creating it.

Long before the county existed, the Kennedy-Darling trading post opened along Paynes Creek in 1849 to trade with nearby Seminole communities, but the venture ended abruptly months later when a violent confrontation left two traders dead and the post burned; the site is preserved today as a state park.

Growth accelerated after the Florida Southern Railway reached the area in 1886, spurring development in Bowling Green and in the town that became Wauchula, renamed from a Mikasuki word referencing the sandhill crane. Wauchula grew into the county's commercial center and remains the seat of county government today.

Hardee County's Economy Today

Agriculture continues to anchor Hardee County's economy, with cattle ranching, citrus groves, and vegetable farms, including watermelon and cucumber operations, forming the backbone of local production.

Citrus has long been one of the county's signature crops, and Hardee has historically ranked among Florida's top citrus-producing counties, though the industry has faced serious challenges from disease and severe weather in recent years, prompting some growers to diversify.

Beyond farming, healthcare, retail, and government services provide steady employment across Wauchula and Bowling Green, and the county has begun attracting new manufacturing investment as part of a broader push to diversify its traditionally agricultural economic base.

Founded

1995

Experience

30+ Years

Jurisdictions

FL & GA

Consultation

Free

The firm represents individuals throughout Hardee County, Florida who have been wronged in the workplace, subjected to civil rights violations, or injured through someone else's negligence. Cases are handled in state, federal, and appellate courts across Florida and Georgia, through negotiation where possible and litigation where necessary.

Florida and federal law protect employees from discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Marie A. Mattox, P.A. represents employees throughout Hardee County, Florida in matters arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

The firm's employment law practice includes:

• Disability accommodation and FMLA leave disputes
• Workplace discrimination and harassment, including claims based on race, sex, age, disability, national origin, and religion
• Noncompete and restrictive employment contract disputes
• Retaliation and whistleblower claims
• Wrongful termination

The Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments protect individuals from police misconduct, excessive force, false arrest, and other civil rights violations committed by government authorities. Marie A. Mattox, P.A. has litigated civil rights cases throughout Florida and Georgia courts for more than 20 years and represents Hardee County clients in these matters.

The firm's civil rights practice includes:

• Excessive force claims
• False arrest and unlawful detention
• Civil rights abuses occurring while a person is in custody
• Other civil rights violations by government actors

Serious injuries caused by car accidents, truck collisions, and negligence can leave victims facing medical bills, lost income, and long-term uncertainty. Marie A. Mattox, P.A. represents injury victims and holds negligent parties accountable, pursuing full compensation on behalf of clients throughout Hardee County, Florida and Georgia.

The firm's personal injury practice includes:

• Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
• Wrongful death claims
• Defective vehicles and road hazards
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims

Additional Legal Services

In addition to its primary practice areas, Marie A. Mattox, P.A. also handles business law, criminal defense, and family law matters for clients in Hardee County and the greater Tallahassee area. Contact the firm directly to discuss whether these services fit your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions