Michael Carroll News
Hopes starting to fade for significant civil justice reforms passing Florida legislature this year
Supporters of civil litigation reform in Florida say they are less bullish that the state legislature will produce substantial reforms during the 2022 legislative session, which will hit its midpoint this week.
Bill to reduce lawsuits over construction defects advances in Florida Senate
A bill aimed at reducing the number of construction-defect lawsuits filed by homeowners is advancing in the Florida Senate even as critics say the bill goes too far in restricting the limitations period on filing such litigation.
Florida sports betting initiative sidelined after failing to generate enough signatures
An effort to place a statewide initiative to legalize sports betting and event wagers on this year’s ballot folded in January after initiative backers acknowledged they lacked the needed signatures to get the measure before voters.
Two Army vets each win $55 million awards in latest 3M military earplugs trial
Two former servicemen won a collective $110 million in jury damages awards last week in the latest bellwether trial over allegations that 3M Co. Combat Arms Earplugs were defective and led to hearing loss.
Interior secretary to appeal federal judge's ruling invalidating Florida gaming compact
The federal government will appeal a November court decision in the District of Columbia that overturned a 2021 Seminole Tribe compact authorizing online sports betting in Florida, according to court documents.
Florida House bill could force local agencies to spend more to resolve tort claims
A bill that increases by fivefold the amount of damages a party can collect in litigation against local governments could force local agencies to pay out more of their funds to deal with tort claims, according to the bill’s opponents.
Federal judge bars UF administrators from enforcing expert witness policy
A federal judge last week barred University of Florida administrators from enforcing a policy that six of its professors argued unconstitutionally limited their ability to testify against state actions as expert witnesses.
Home-hardening program aims to benefit Florida consumers, insurers
Florida officials are hoping to roll out a program to encourage residents to retrofit their homes against future hurricane damage in a bid to reduce property insurance claims and the litigation that often accompanies such claims.
Florida compensates homeowners whose citrus trees were destroyed by state agency
Thousands of Orange County residents will begin receiving checks in the mail as a result of a $43.9 million legal settlement that compensates them for the destruction of their healthy citrus trees more than a decade ago.
Judge opts to send parish's coastal erosion lawsuit back to state court
The Parish of Plaquemines’ coastal erosion lawsuit against Louisiana energy companies may be headed back to state court after a federal judge ruled that defendants failed to show the case merits federal jurisdiction.
Florida Supreme Court's rule change expected to reduce punitive damages claims
A rule change approved by the Florida Supreme Court earlier this month could potentially reduce how often claims for punitive damages are awarded in civil court decisions, according to legal experts.
University of Florida president to step down; 1st Amendment lawsuit advances
Oral arguments continued this week in University of Florida professors’ federal lawsuit over academic freedom issues in the wake of university President Kent Fuchs announcing he would step down from his post in 2023.
Environmentalists urge Leon County judge to reconsider ruling on land acquisition funds
Environmental groups petitioned a Leon County circuit judge on Wednesday to reconsider his ruling siding with state lawmakers who say they appropriately allocated billions of dollars for the acquisition and management of parkland or recreational lands.
Florida hospitals in 'no-win situation' over conflicting COVID-19 vaccine mandates
Florida hospitals continue to feel squeezed between competing state and federal COVID-19 vaccine directives, even as a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the legality of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for employers is imminent.
Florida bill would allow for video recordings in K-12 classrooms
Florida schools would have the power to install video cameras and microphones in classrooms to better investigate allegations of student abuse or neglect under a bill authored by Florida Rep. Bob Rommel (R-Naples).
Skanska loses bid to limit property damage liability during Hurricane Sally
A federal judge has dismissed the Skanska construction company’s legal effort to limit its liability for property damage after a 2020 storm surge caused by Hurricane Sally hurled company barges around Pensacola Bay.
Florida school boards, state lawmakers poised to spar over public comment policies
Florida school districts and state lawmakers are poised to square off in the new year over whether to restrict public comments at school board meetings in the wake of threats and verbal attacks over mask mandates.
Florida attorney general wins injunction against vaccine mandate for federal contractors
A federal district judge last week granted Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s request for a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for federal contract workers.
Two investigative units rolled out to combat Florida property insurance fraud
Florida’s chief financial officer has announced the activation of two new property insurance investigation units in Central Florida to combat fraud in an industry that has been rocked by expensive litigated claims and plunging profits
High court to decide if police officers' identities can be shielded under Marsy's Law
The Florida Supreme Court last week agreed to take up a case involving Tallahassee police officers who argue that the voter-approved Marsy’s Law initiative shields the release of officers’ names when they become crime victims.