(1) A person, long-term care facility, or other entity may not willfully interfere with a representative of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in the performance of official duties.
(2) A person, long-term care facility, or other entity may not knowingly or willfully take action or retaliate against any resident, employee, or other person for filing a complaint with, providing information to, or otherwise cooperating with any representative of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.
(3) A person, long-term care facility, or other entity that violates this section:

(a) Is liable for damages and equitable relief as determined by law.

Attorney's Note

Under the Florida Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
misdemeanor of the second degreeup to 60 daysup to $500
For details, see Fla. Stat. § 775.082(4)(b)

Terms Used In Florida Statutes 400.0083

  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Long-term care facility: means a nursing home facility, assisted living facility, adult family-care home, board and care facility, or any other similar residential adult care facility. See Florida Statutes 400.0060
  • Ombudsman: means an individual who has been certified by the state ombudsman as meeting the requirements of ss. See Florida Statutes 400.0060
  • person: includes individuals, children, firms, associations, joint adventures, partnerships, estates, trusts, business trusts, syndicates, fiduciaries, corporations, and all other groups or combinations. See Florida Statutes 1.01
  • Resident: means an individual 18 years of age or older who resides in a long-term care facility. See Florida Statutes 400.0060
(b) Commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.083.