Florida Court Layoffs Trigger Domino Effect in Staffing Changes

Up to 35 workers from 56 Miami-Dade County departments such as Water and Sewer and Human Services could soon find themselves as clerks in the Florida court system. The impending moves are part of a domino effect resulting from a complex system of seniority and bumping rights triggered by a recent round of layoffs ordered by Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin. His office, which employs 1,400 people, announced 145 job cuts last month as a result of budget cutbacks passed by the Florida Legislature.