Since 1995 · Serving Manatee County, Florida

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

Marie A. Mattox, P.A. is a Tallahassee, Florida law firm representing individuals throughout Manatee 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 Manatee County

Manatee County was established by the Florida legislature on January 9, 1855, carved from a much larger Hillsborough County and originally encompassing territory that would later become Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Hardee, Highlands, and Glades counties. Its name honors the West Indian manatee, still recognized today as Florida's official marine mammal.

Settlement along the Manatee River began in earnest after Congress passed the Armed Occupation Act of 1842, drawing pioneers such as physician Joseph Braden, whose mill operations helped anchor the small river settlement that grew into Bradentown, later shortened to Bradenton. Cattle ranching dominated the antebellum economy, with free-ranging herds vastly outnumbering the area's human population.

By the late 19th century, citrus growing had emerged alongside cattle as a defining industry, with local growers shipping large volumes of fruit out through river and rail connections each year. That combination of citrus, cattle, and river commerce carried Manatee County's economy into the 20th century and laid groundwork for the tourism and coastal development that would follow.

Manatee County's Economy Today

Manatee County today supports a varied economy spanning healthcare, retail, construction, manufacturing, and agriculture, reflecting decades of steady population growth along Florida's Gulf Coast. Health care and social assistance now employ more people than any other single sector, a shift from the county's historically farm- and ranch-centered base.

Port Manatee anchors a substantial logistics and trade sector, moving cargo that supports thousands of regional jobs, while food and beverage processing remains important through large-scale operations such as a major citrus juice plant that ranks among the county's biggest employers.

Tourism, aviation and aerospace companies, and a growing cluster of technology and financial-services firms have added further diversity to the local economy in recent years, complementing the agricultural operations that still work much of the county's inland acreage.

Founded

1995

Experience

30+ Years

Jurisdictions

FL & GA

Consultation

Free

The firm represents individuals throughout Manatee 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 Manatee 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 Manatee 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 Manatee 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 Manatee County and the greater Tallahassee area. Contact the firm directly to discuss whether these services fit your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions