ANNA MARIA – Now in federal court, the lawsuit former City Treasurer LeAnne Endres filed against the city of Anna Maria is headed for mediation in January.
If the court-ordered mediation session fails to produce a settlement agreement, a jury trial is tentatively scheduled for September 2027.
According to recent court filings filed with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa, an in-person mediation session is scheduled for Jan. 13 at 1 p.m., with Travis Hollifield serving as the mediator. Judge Virginia Covington signed off on the amended mediation notice on Aug. 13. Her order requires all parties, counsel and representatives to attend the mediation session in person, with full authority to negotiate a settlement. The court does not permit mediation to be conducted by phone or video.
The mediation process is to be completed by March 15, 2027. If the mediation sessions don’t produce a settlement agreement, the case will continue to move forward, and all dispositive motions would be due by April 1. A pretrial conference is currently scheduled for Aug. 12, 2027, at 9 a.m. in Tampa Courtroom 14B, and a jury trial is currently included on the court’s September 2027 trial calendar. The judge informed the parties that she will not substantially move the trial date or the dispositive motions deadline.
THE CASE
The case, Endres v. the city of Anna Maria, is now in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa after the city requested the case be removed from the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Bradenton and reassigned to the federal court in Tampa.
The city requested moving the case because some of the discrimination claims contained in the original complaint alleged violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Florida Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit also alleges violations of the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Endres was 57 at the time of her dismissal.
The federal case originated on June 24 and was assigned to Covington and Magistrate Judge Lindsay S. Griffin.
Tallahassee-based attorney Marie Mattox continues to serve as Endres’ attorney. Mattox filed the original lawsuit complaint that alleged Endres was wrongfully terminated and discriminated against because of her age and a disability. The lawsuit also alleged whistleblower retaliation, being subjected to a hostile workplace and other claims related to Mayor Mark Short terminating Endres’ employment with the city on Nov. 17, 2025.
The original lawsuit complaint referenced Endres’ use of city funds. It also mentioned the surveillance of another city employee’s work vehicle.
“This action involves claims which are, individually, in excess of $50,000, exclusive of costs and interest,” the amended complaint says.
In May, Short told The Sun the city contests the lawsuit allegations. He said the city’s outside counsel would “vigorously defend the case.”
CASE TIMELINE
On June 25, Douglas Noah was designated lead counsel for the city. Mattox was designated lead counsel for Endres the following day.
On July 1, Noah filed the city’s motion to dismiss the original lawsuit complaint. As of Aug. 31, The Sun was not able to obtain a copy of the city’s motion to dismiss.
On July 27, Mattox filed an amended complaint with the federal court.
The first page of the 45-page amended complaint says, “Plaintiff (Endres) is a member of a protected class due to her age and actual and/or perceived disability, and she was retaliated against after reporting defendant’s (the city) unlawful employment practices.”
On Aug. 10, the city filed its answer and affirmative defenses to the amended complaint. The city also filed a demand for a jury trial.
On Aug. 11, Covington denied the city’s pending motion to dismiss because the motion addressed the original complaint rather than the amended complaint.
CASE BACKGROUND
Known as LeAnne Addy at the time, the Minnesota resident was hired in August 2016 by then-Mayor Dan Murphy, with city commission approval. Addy replaced retiring longtime City Clerk Diane Percycoe. In March 2017, the city commission approved Murphy’s request to appoint Addy to also serve as city treasurer and finance director. At some point during her tenure, Addy remarried and changed her last name to Endres.
In January 2025, the city commission authorized the separation of the city clerk and treasurer roles. Amber LaRowe was hired as the new clerk, and Endres continued serving as the city treasurer.
In December 2025, the city sent Endres a notice of internal investigation and a request for information regarding her use of city funds and her use of city credit card rewards points. The city then opened an investigation into Endres’ spending activities. In a January email sent to Short and City Clerk Amber LaRowe, Endres denied any misuse of city funds or credit card points.
To date, the city has released no findings related to the city’s investigation.
