*We do not take a legal position on the Del-Air class action lawsuit. If the actions are found to be illegal, the legal system will address the wrongdoing. However, if they are deemed legal, it highlights the urgent need for state laws and policies to be enacted to protect future employees' retirement benefits from such practices.

Why This Lawsuit Is Important

The ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) class action lawsuit involves unsuspecting employees who, in good faith, invested in their retirement through employer-promised stock shares.

The National Center for Employee Ownership reports approximately 6,800 ESOPs in the United States, covering about 14 million employees. The substantial potential for misuse of the ESOPs, as exemplified by the Del-Air case, has become a reality for many of these employees. Transparency in disclosing details regarding ESOPs and for strict rules against potential misappropriation of the benefits is the next necessary step to ensure employer accountability and protection of employee retirement benefits. Joining the effort to spread awareness will empower those who can help the affected parties by the Del-Air ESOP lawsuit to restore public confidence in Florida's business practices and economic regulations.

The economic stability and workforce development in Florida are at stake when there are no state laws or policies that prohibit misconduct with ESOPs, leaving critical gaps in retirement security.

Take Action Now

Petition Letter

Subject: Concerns regarding Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Inc., and Employee Stock Ownership Plans in the State of Florida

Dear Secretary Kelly, Ms. Gates, and Mr. Landsberg:

My name is, [NAME], and I reside in [CITY], [STATE].

Recently, it came to my attention that numerous employees of Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Inc. (“Del-Air”) filed a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division (the “Del-Air Class Action”). The allegations made in the Del-Air Class Action raise serious concerns about the policies and regulations surrounding Employee Stock Ownership Plans (“ESOPs”) in the State of Florida. For your convenience, heres a link to the Del-Air Class Action Complaint.

Based on my review of the Complaint, I am hereby formally calling upon you and the Florida Department of Commerce to investigate these allegations and to take any and all actions necessary to ensure employer accountability and protect employee retirement benefits at Del-Air—and all ESOPs in the State of Florida. As I am sure you can appreciate after reviewing the Complaint, the misconduct alleged in the Del-Air Class Action negatively impacts economic stability and workforce development in this State. I, therefore, strongly believe that the Florida Department of Commerce bears not only a moral duty—but also a statutory obligation to investigate Del-Air and the statewide policies governing ESOPs, in order to restore public confidence in Florida’s business practices and economic regulations. If no state laws or policies prohibit such misconduct, then something must change.

Given the number of retirees in our State, I hope you will take this matter as seriously as I do. I eagerly await the results of your investigation. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of further assistance in any way. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Very truly yours,

[SIGNATURE]