Dee Thompson News
Coach who bullied Miami Dolphins player loses defamation suit
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Miami Dolphins offensive line coach James Turner, who was fired in 2014 for bullying a player, has no case against the law firm that investigated the bullying incident.
Businessman sues Fla. House of Representatives to block subpoena over Visit Florida investigation
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) – Businessman Pat Roberts has sued the Florida House of Representatives and House Speaker Richard Corcoran after being served with a subpoena for documents that he says are not relevant to the investigation for which he is the subject.
Appellate court grants new trial to pedestrian after unusual verdict in Volusia County
A pedestrian who was hit by a car and filed suit against the driver has appealed the lower court jury verdict, that granted him nothing for pain and suffering or future medical costs.
Class action against the city of Ocala over fire fees can proceed, appeals court rules
The 5th District Court of Appeals on Jan. 5 overturned the decision of a Marion County judge who had denied class certification in a case against the city of Ocala over fire user fees.
Florida Supreme Court OKs awarding attorney's fees in dating, harassment cases
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that attorney fees can be awarded in dating and harassment injunction proceedings.
Florida drivers could avoid need to pay personal injury coverage in 2018
TALLAHASSEE — Car insurance reform bills are again moving through the Florida Legislature. Sen. Tom Lee (R-Thonotassa) is sponsoring SB 150, which would repeal the no-fault rule requiring motorists to carry $10,000 worth of personal injury (PIP) coverage. Lee’s bill would require only medical payment and bodily-injury coverage. A similar bill (HB 19) is making its way through the Florida House.
Florida bills aim to compensate police, other first responders who suffer PTSD in line of duty
TALLAHASSEE — Bills in the Florida legislature would change the law to provide worker’s compensation benefits to law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians or paramedics who suffer post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) injuries in the line of duty.
Legal expert: Class action lawsuit against FP&L unmerited
MIAMI -- The class action lawsuit filed against Florida Power and Light as a result of the power outages during Hurricane Irma is not merited, according to William Large of the Florida Justice Reform Institute.
Florida Supreme Court sanctions judge for misconduct
TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Supreme Court has approved punitive measures against Judge Philip James Yacucci Jr., accused of violating the Code of Judicial Conduct when making rulings in cases involving a former political rival, DUI attorney Stephen Smith.
Walmart again under fire for alleged discrimination against women
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Walmart is being sued by women who allege they are not given the same chance at promotion as males in stores Walmart's southeastern stores.
Florida Supreme Court rules civil liability can be applied in Stand Your Ground case
TALLAHASSEE -- The Florida Supreme Court has ruled the state's Stand Your Ground Law, which confers immunity in a criminal case, does not necessarily confer immunity in a civil case.
Federal appeals court sides with Multiquimica Dominicana in dispute over unpaid goods
A federal appeals court has affirmed a lower court's decision to award a paint manufacturer based in the Dominican Republic the right to recover money from an American company.
Case against Phillip Morris USA Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company brought by widow to be re-tried
The Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal has sided with Philip Morris USA Inc. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a case involving a widow who had won $13 million in a lawsuit that claimed her husband died due to the addictive nature of cigarettes.
Florida Third District Court of Appeal affirms lower court decision to dismiss case for lack of jurisdiction
A Florida appeals court has affirmed a trial court's decision to dismiss a claim of fraudulent inducement involving a joint venture between Bliss Consulting Services Inc. and Orchestra Management Solutions (OMS).
Appeals court rules agreement wasn't binding after settlement checks were delayed
ATLANTA —A Georgia appeals court recently determined whether a case was settled when the settlement checks did not arrive on time.
Case involving centuries-old shipwreck artifacts sent back to Florida
ATLANTA — A dispute over gold coins and artifacts from an 18th-century shipwreck off the Florida coast is the subject of an appellate court opinion which remands the case back to the district court level.
Guidelines for medical marijuana in Florida hazy after legislative fallout
TALLAHASSEE —The fallout from the medical marijuana legislative debate has many wondering when the medical marijuana industry will be up and running, even after voters overwhelmingly voted to approve the expansion of legalizing medical marijuana last fall.
Appeals court rules water association should have warned about protruding valve
LAKELAND — The 2nd District Court of Appeal determined that Island Water should not have been granted summary judgment and it had a duty to warn of a protruding water valve that caused a woman to trip and fall.
11th Circuit rules sanctions against Florida attorney are appropriate
ATLANTA — The 11th Circuit Court has ruled that a Florida attorney deserved the sanctions imposed by a lower court in a case involving insurance fraud.
California man alleges Florida cruise line company aggressively marketed travel packages
FORT LAUDERDALE — A California man man has filed a class-action lawsuit against several entities claiming that “free cruises” offered by telemarketers were aggressively marketed and violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).