Michael Carroll News
Judge rules against former Florida State Senate candidate's defamation lawsuit
A Florida circuit court has tossed out a lawsuit filed by an unsuccessful GOP state Senate candidate who alleged he was defamed by a Republican political committee that tried to tie his campaign donations to China.
Florida House members thwarted from rolling back DeSantis-supported legal reforms
Florida Republican representatives have made several attempts this year to roll back past tort reforms that Gov. Ron DeSantis credited for helping to stabilize the property insurance market and lower auto insurance premiums.
New lawsuit challenges Seminole Tribe's online sports betting operation
A shadowy group that advocates for “lawful” casino gambling is challenging the Seminole Tribe’s online sports betting operation in a lawsuit that argues voter approval should have preceded the rollout of the tribe’s app-based wagering system.
Snapchat calls state attorney general's lawsuit a distraction from First Amendment issues
Florida’s attorney general is suing the popular Snapchat social media platform, alleging that the company has refused to follow a new state law requiring social media firms to obtain parental consent before providing accounts to 14- to 15-year-olds.
Pensacola stationery firm owner sues federal officials, challenging legality of China tariffs
The owner of a Pensacola stationery firm is asking a federal court to declare President Trump’s China tariffs an unconstitutional threat to small businesses like hers, which are now facing higher costs, raised prices or perhaps insolvency.
Florida bill seen as ploy by trial bar to recover more attorney fees in insurance litigation
Tort-reform supporters continue to sound alarm bells about bills before Florida lawmakers that business and free-market advocates say would reverse legal reforms enacted in recent years that have helped to stabilize the state’s property insurance market.
Judicial panel urges suspension of Florida judge over 'undignified' comments
A Florida circuit judge has been accused of making a series of jokes from the bench that have reflected poorly on the integrity of the judiciary and violated standards of judicial conduct.
Legislation challenges new Florida funding mechanism for legal aid services
Funding of legal aid to low-income Florida residents through interest earned on law firms’ client trust accounts would be significantly reduced under measures now being considered by state lawmakers.
Federal judge blocks new Florida law that criminalizes entry of undocumented immigrants into Florida
A federal judge in Miami has blocked the enforcement of a new Florida law that criminalizes the actions of undocumented workers who enter or re-enter the state, finding that plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit may prevail in their argument that the law is unconstitutional.
Florida Supreme Court rejects Michael Flynn's bid to reinstate $50 million defamation lawsuit
The Florida Supreme Court has rejected a bid by former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn to resuscitate his $50 million defamation lawsuit against Rick Wilson, the co-founder of the advocacy group the Lincoln Project.
Florida bill would compel media outlets to remove 'false or defamatory' reports from their websites
A Florida bill would take away media outlets’ legal defenses if they fail to remove content deemed defamatory or false from their websites – an eventuality critics say would lead to a flood of frivolous defamation lawsuits against news organizations.
2022 report on fees paid to insurer affiliates boosts effort to roll back Florida tort reforms
A 2022 study compiled at the request of Florida insurance regulators that reported insurers sent hundreds of millions of dollars to shareholders amid rising market instability has fueled new efforts to roll back recent tort reforms.
Juul Labs to pay Florida $79 million in settlement of lawsuit alleging its vape products were marketed to children
An e-cigarette company has agreed to pay $79 million to the state of Florida as part of a settlement of a lawsuit accusing Juul Labs Inc. of marketing its vape products in ways that targeted youths.
Tort reforms bringing benefits to average Floridians, consumer group's report finds
Florida insurance premium costs are dropping, the number of civil lawsuits being filed is decreasing, “nuclear verdicts” are becoming less common and more insurers are entering the Sunshine State, a new study on the impact of tort reforms concluded.
Court allows medical-malpractice lawsuit over Minor League Baseball player's death to move forward
A Florida court has rejected a bid to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the parents of a Minor League Baseball player who died of a heart condition even though a team doctor marked the player’s recent health evaluation as “normal.”
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit challenging Florida law that restricts minors' access to social media platforms
A federal district court has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a new Florida law that requires social media companies to shield minor children from harmful online content and to bar certain youths from holding social media accounts.
Florida bill would shield herbicide, pesticide distributors, manufacturers from product-liability lawsuits
Critics of large damages payouts from lawsuits challenging the safety of pesticides and herbicides are supporting a Florida bill that would help to shield distributors, dealers, applicators and manufacturers of such products from civil litigation.
New Florida bills would undo lawsuit-abuse reforms passed in 2023, critics say
Several bills recently filed in the Florida Legislature would reverse legal reforms the state has put in place in recent years, sparking concern that litigation costs for businesses and consumers’ insurance costs could spike if the measures pass.
Judicial advocacy group accuses judge overseeing Depo-Provera MDL of sex bias
A judicial advocacy group that opposes “leftist lawfare” has lodged a conduct complaint against federal Judge M. Casey Rodgers of the Northern District of Florida, accusing the jurist of sex bias in statements involving the Depo-Provera multidistrict litigation (MDL).
ACC, Florida State agree to end legal disputes over sports-media rights and revenues
Florida State University and the Atlantic Coast Conference have resolved their dueling lawsuits in a settlement announced on Tuesday that increases revenue sharing for the schools with the highest viewership of athletic events and lowers the ACC’s exit fees.