Hot Topics
Realtors to pay $418M to end home seller commission class action; Big changes coming to home sale process
Lawyers who brought the lawsuits could be in for a big payday, as well, potentially claiming $140 million from the deal, plus $69 million from earlier settlements with large real estate brokerages facing similar claims of alleged collusion to boost real estate agent commissions
Legislation
Litigation financing transparency bill fails to pass Florida Legislature
Legislation
Florida lawmakers stop short of passing bill that would have made it harder to sue businesses that pollute
This year’s Florida legislative session ended on Friday with lawmakers declining to pass a bill that would have restricted lawsuits seeking economic damages or damages for personal injuries under the provisions of a state water-quality law.
State Court
Florida local government officials sue to overturn new financial disclosure law
Scores of elected local government officials in Florida are suing members of the state Commission on Ethics in a bid to block stricter financial disclosure rules that the officials say would impair their privacy rights under the state’s constitution.
From WV Record
Lawyers running anti-drug commercials should be held accountable for their claims. If they can’t substantiate those claims, they should be forced to compensate the companies whose sales they’ve depressed and the drug users whose health they’ve impaired.
From WV Record
From Madison Record
From Northern California Record
From WV Record
The Business of Law
brought to you by
Dean Mead exits Tallahassee legal market to focus on other Florida regions
In conjunction with its alliance with the national law firm Jones Walker LLP, Florida’s Dean Mead firm has exited the Tallahassee legal market as of Jan. 1 after a decade of doing business there.
Latest News
Lawsuits
Lawsuit wants tequila in margarita-flavored hard seltzers
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - Drinkers expect tequila in their hard seltzers if they are labeled as margarita-flavored, a new class action lawsuit says.
Federal Court
Autism plaintiffs rejected from Florida Lockheed Martin toxic tort
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Autism is among the disorders that lawyers can't prove to be caused by a Florida Lockheed Martin plant.
Federal Court
MSC Cruise passenger says server sexually assaulted her
A woman says she was sexually assaulted by a server on an MSC Cruise.
Lawsuits
Lawsuit: Miles Morales Halloween costume overheated, burned child
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida woman says her son was burned when the battery pack in his Miles Morales Halloween costume overheated.
Lawsuits
Lawsuit: Bus driver scratching his hands was wrongly charged with child abuse
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida man charged with felony child abuse because beach-goers thought he was touching himself when he says he was actually just scratching his hand is suing the town that arrested him.
Lawsuits
Wrongful death case blames plane crash on inspection
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida wrongful death lawsuit pins the blame for a plane crash on a botched inspection of the aircraft.
Federal Court
Publix shopper says he was victim of racial discrimination
A Black man says he was a victim of racial discrimination while shopping at Publix in Ocala.
Federal Court
Woman accuses Toyota dealer of religious discrimination, sexual harassment
A woman is accusing a car dealership of religious discrimination and sexual harassment.
Lawsuits
Lawsuit says civilian had to stop West Palm Beach police officer's attack on 67-year-old man
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A lawsuit against the National Fraternal Order of Police alleges a West Palm Beach police officer's excessive force resulted in a 67-year-old man suffering a skull fracture, among other injuries.
Lawsuit wants tequila in margarita-flavored hard seltzers
MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - Drinkers expect tequila in their hard seltzers if they are labeled as margarita-flavored, a new class action lawsuit says.
Lawsuit: Miles Morales Halloween costume overheated, burned child
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida woman says her son was burned when the battery pack in his Miles Morales Halloween costume overheated.
Lawsuit: Bus driver scratching his hands was wrongly charged with child abuse
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida man charged with felony child abuse because beach-goers thought he was touching himself when he says he was actually just scratching his hand is suing the town that arrested him.
Student sues school after tug-of-war goes wrong
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida lawsuit blames a school for injuries sustained in a game of tug-of-war.
Wrongful death suit follows plane crash off North Carolina coast
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - The estates of two men killed when a short plane trip in North Carolina ended in tragedy have filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
Realtors to pay $418M to end home seller commission class action; Big changes coming to home sale process
Lawyers who brought the lawsuits could be in for a big payday, as well, potentially claiming $140 million from the deal, plus $69 million from earlier settlements with large real estate brokerages facing similar claims of alleged collusion to boost real estate agent commissions
Florida has second best volunteer rate for answering civil legal questions, ABA report finds
A total of 1,106 Florida attorneys have volunteered to answer the public’s legal questions through the American Bar Association’s virtual clinic, called ABA Free Legal Answers – the second-highest volunteer rate among all 50 states.
DeSantis touts Florida's 'sanity,' reform record in 2024 State of the State address
Taking a detour from his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted “failed” federal policies on Tuesday while hailing Florida as a “refuge for freedom and sanity” during his State of the State speech to the Legislature.
Researchers report orchestrated high-tech campaign to assault Florida insurance firms with lawsuits
A tsunami of technology-generated litigation has been pummeling Florida insurance companies in recent years, contributing to the liquidation of six property insurers in the state in 2022, according to insurance researchers.
Medical marijuana firm seeks to counter cannabis legalization ballot measure
Signs of discord between medical marijuana advocates and recreational cannabis supporters are emerging in a legal battle now before the Florida Supreme Court that will determine whether the Smart & Safe initiative goes before state voters.
Former Trump adviser warns of defamation, fraudulent use of name
TALLAHASSEE, Florida – A former adviser to President Donald Trump says her ex-husband fraudulently and inappropriately invoked her name during a disciplinary hearing before a Florida Department of Health board.
Trump can't convince federal judge to reopen $475M defamation case against CNN
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Former President Donald Trump failed to raise any new issues that would reopen his defamation case against CNN, which he says compared him to Adolf Hitler while he fought the results of his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden.
Litigation financing transparency bill fails to pass Florida Legislature
Tort reform supporters are expressing disappointment over the failure of the Florida Legislature to pass a bill that would have shed more light on third-party litigation financing agreements and their potential relationships with foreign entities.
Woman files wrongful death mesothelioma lawsuit against Seminole Electric
TAMPA — A woman has filed a lawsuit against Seminole Electric after her mother died from mesothelioma allegedly caused by asbestos exposure.
California reclaims top spot on 'Judicial Hellhole' list; ATRA bemoans state's adoption of 'innovator liability'
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - California tops the list of jurisdictions regarded as "Judicial Hellholes" by a national civil justice reform group.
Family of woman attacked, drowned by gator sues senior housing complex
The family of a resident of the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community in Fort Pierce is suing the development’s owner for wrongful death after their mother was attacked and drowned by an alligator last year.
MSC Cruise passenger says server sexually assaulted her
A woman says she was sexually assaulted by a server on an MSC Cruise.
Appeals court: Public adjusters doubling as appraisers is limited by law
Section 626.854 of the Florida Statutes outlines double duty limits
4th Florida Bar complaint filed against Coral Gables attorney
The Florida Bar has filed its fourth complaint against Miami-Dade County attorney Scot Strems, alleging that Strems and the Strems Law Firm (SLF) engaged in a pattern of duplicitous behavior and subterfuge to enroll property owners into legal services.