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My Work - Generally

I was admitted to practice law in the State of Florida by the Florida Bar on May 2, 2011. I started the law practice, Michael Van Cleve, Law, in 2013. Since that time, I have worked on a wide array of cases in and out of court. I have commonly represented consumers on germane legal issues encountered by the public. I also have a particular interest in helping disadvantaged persons through legal assistance and candid legal advice. 

 

I was also engaged in a lawsuit against the United States to change the federal race system.

In 2020, I filed a lawsuit that asserted the census' race categories failed to represent the true diversity of America. These outdated classifications deprived many Americans, including those of Middle Eastern and North African descent, of rightful recognition. This lawsuit went through various stages, culminating in a series of interesting legal actions.

The culmination of these efforts and the ongoing dialogue around census categories bore fruit when the Biden Administration announced an initiative to revise and update the federal race categories. By Summer 2024, the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) aims to revise Statistical Policy Directive No. 15, reflecting a more accurate representation of America’s rich diversity. This decision aligns with my advocacy for a more inclusive approach to categorizing race and ethnicity in federal data collection—a principle I pursued through my legal endeavors.

It is clear that our persistence can lead to substantial change. As a solo practitioner dedicated to legal justice and representation, I will continue to fight for the rights of every individual to the best of my abilities.

 

Read NPR coverage on the lawsuit here: https://www.npr.org/2022/03/09/1085355634/arab-americans-say-the-census-and-other-forms-dont-consider-their-roots

Read more about the lawsuit here: https://bleedingcool.com/comics/graphic-novelist-sues-us-government-to-change-its-race-laws/

Read about 2020 U.S. Census lawsuits here: https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/gerrymandering-fair-representation/fair-accurate-census/2020-census-litigation 

The White House's decision to revise the race categories can be reviewed here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/briefing-room/2022/06/15/reviewing-and-revising-standards-for-maintaining-collecting-and-presenting-federal-data-on-race-and-ethnicity/

News on the Biden Administration's plans to revise the federal race categories can be found here: https://spd15revision.gov/

Follow along with light coverage on the case through my blog, here.

 

Services

 

My law practice includes the following: Criminal, Consumer Protection, Immigration, Wills Trusts and Estates, Family Law, Landlord-Tenant Law, Military Law, Appeals, and more. I understand how tough it is to find an affordable and competent attorney in this economy. I offer a variety of retainers (flat rate/contingent/hourly/hybrid) that depend on the type and complexity of the case. 

Contact Me

FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

‪(786) 309-9043‬

 

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EMAIL

michael@michaelvanclevelaw.com

Florida Bar Profile: Michael Van Cleve Florida Bar Information

 

Published Cases and Noteworthy Opinions

In Re: The Estate of Catherine Ezeamama Chibugo, Case No. 3D23-0855 (Fla. 3d DCA May 1, 2024) Available here: Opinion

Impulsora de Productos Sustentables S.A.P.I. de C.V., v. Sunshine Oriental Trading Unlimited Corp., et al., Case No. 3D24-0130 (Fla. 3d DCA April 24, 2024) Opinion: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=8846382699557046956&q=%22michael+van+cleve%22&hl=en&scisbd=2&as_sdt=4,10

Namon v. Elder, et al., 331 So. 3d 835 (Fla. 3d DCA 2021). Opinion: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14865275751909224644&hl=en&as_sdt=40006

 

 

Valencia v. Pennymac Holdings, LLC, 317 So.3d 178 (Fla. 3d DCA 2021). Opinion: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=5032912750527155190&q=%22Michael+Van+Cleve%22&hl=en&as_sdt=40006

 

 

Delgado v. Pino, Case No. 2019-000184-AP-01 (Fla. 11th Cir. App. Ct. Div. July 21, 2020). Available here: Opinion.

 

 

Van Cleve v. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, et al., 143 S. Ct. 519 (2022). Available here: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7927870583294613504&q=%22michael+van+cleve%22&hl=en&scisbd=2&as_sdt=40003

 

 

Van Cleve v. Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce, et al., 143 S. Ct. 210 (2022). Available here: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=15465541033664232907&q=%22michael+van+cleve%22&hl=en&scisbd=2&as_sdt=40003

 

 

Van Cleve v. Dep't of Commerce, et al., Case No. 21-13699 (11th Cir. May 24, 2022). Available here: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=7255188451891033295&q=%22michael+van+cleve%22&hl=en&scisbd=2&as_sdt=40003

 

 

In re: Michael Van Cleve, Case No. 21-13425 (11th Cir. December 13, 2021). Available here: Opinion.

 

 

Van Cleve v. Ross, et al., Case No. 20-23611-Civ-Scola (S.D. Fla. October 13, 2021). Opinion: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=13133596853961418678&hl=en&as_sdt=40006

 

 

Van Cleve v. Ross, et al., Case No. 20-23611-Civ-Scola (S.D. Fla. October 12, 2021). Available here: Opinion.

Van Cleve v. Ross, et al., Case No. 20-23611-Civ-Scola (S.D. Fla. December 28, 2020). Available here: Opinion.

 

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