Miami – September 14, 2026 – Greenspoon Marder is pleased to announce the successful resolution of a significant qui tam proceeding in which the firm represented the plaintiff and provided critical information that ultimately contributed to a years-long investigation by Florida law enforcement and regulatory authorities.
The matter, initially filed several years ago in conjunction with the Florida Attorney General’s Office under then-Attorney General Ashley Moody, led to an ongoing investigation involving the Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (DABT). Information and data initially supplied by Greenspoon Marder’s client played an important role in advancing the investigation.
As a result of the investigation, Rajiv Shah was indicted by the Florida Statewide Grand Jury and subsequently pleaded guilty to and was adjudicated guilty of three first-degree felonies. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation, ordered to pay a total of $1.2 million in fines, and required to forfeit a number of alcoholic beverage licenses. He was also permanently prohibited from participating, directly or indirectly, in Florida’s annual double random drawing for alcoholic beverage licenses, commonly known as the liquor license lottery.
Greenspoon Marder’s team included Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure Industry Group chair Louis J. Terminello, senior counsel Michael Martinez and licensing consultant Michael Tarkoff.
Martinez led the firm’s involvement throughout the investigation and served as the principal liaison between Greenspoon Marder, DABT and the Attorney General’s Office. He also worked closely with the client throughout the lengthy process, providing ongoing guidance and counsel as the investigation progressed. Tarkoff contributed significant research and licensing knowledge in connection with the matter.
“This outcome is significant not only because of the enforcement action itself, but because of what it means for the integrity of Florida’s liquor license lottery and the businesses that depend on a fair and legitimate process,” said Terminello. “Our hope is that this matter reinforces the importance of transparency and accountability in the system and serves as a meaningful deterrent to those who may seek to improperly interfere with or circumvent a process designed to provide legitimate applicants with a fair opportunity. We are proud to have represented our client throughout this process and to have played a role in an outcome that we believe will have a positive and lasting impact on Florida’s alcoholic beverage industry.”
Greenspoon Marder remains committed to serving clients throughout Florida’s alcoholic beverage industry and advocating for fair, transparent and properly administered licensing processes.
About Greenspoon Marder
Greenspoon Marder LLP is a full-service law firm with over 215 attorneys and more than 20 office locations across the United States. With operations from Miami to New York and from Denver to Los Angeles, our firm attracts some of the nation’s top talent in key markets and innovation hubs. Our core practice areas include Real Estate, Litigation, and Transactional Services, complemented by the capabilities of a full-service firm. Greenspoon Marder has held a spot on The American Lawyer’s Am Law 200 as one of the top law firms in the U.S. since 2015, and our goal is to provide exceptional client service by developing a thorough understanding of each client’s business needs and objectives in order to provide strategic, cost-effective solutions. For more information, visit www.gmlaw.com.
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