Michael Carroll News
Palm Beach County's anti-panhandling ordinance challenged as unconstitutional
A legal-aid organization is suing Palm Beach County, arguing that its anti-panhandling ordinance violates First Amendment protections and should no longer be enforced against county residents.
Florida's high court OKs state legislative districts, but jury is out on congressional maps
In a show of unity with the legislative branch, the Florida Supreme Court last week declared lawmakers’ redistricting maps for state House and Senate districts valid, signaling likely agreement on the boundaries of those districts for the decade ahead.
Damages caps on larger Florida cities, counties would rise under amended Florida bill
A compromise plan to increase the amount of money a claimant can recover from a local government agency passed the Senate Rules Committee last month, but it has an uncertain future as the Florida legislative session winds down.
Florida Senate passes reform plan to curb abusive litigation over property insurance claims
Additional reforms to help Florida’s beleaguered property insurance industry passed the state Senate Thursday as industry officials expressed hope that the reforms would curb questionable roof claims and rein in what they see as abusive litigation.
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit over sugarcane burning in south Florida
Glades residents who alleged in a 2019 federal lawsuit that pre-harvest burning in nearby sugarcane fields leads to health-compromising air pollution have agreed to end their litigation with prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs cannot refile the same claim.
DeSantis moves to extend COVID-19 legal liability shield for health care facilities
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an extension of COVID-19 legal liability protections for health care providers such as nursing homes last week, gaining applause from business groups and supporters of tort reform alike.
Florida judge OKs injunction against release of actor Saget's autopsy photos, videos
An Orange County judge has granted a preliminary injunction against the release of photographs, video and audio recordings relating to the investigation of the death of actor Robert Saget at an Orlando hotel.
Christian nonprofit sues Tallahassee over homeless shelter permit denial
The operator of a transitional residential facility for homeless people in Tallahassee is alleging in a federal court that the city’s effort to shut the facility down flies in the face of the mission’s religious speech rights and religious beliefs.
Florida budget bill would withhold funding from districts that defied mask mandate ban
A budget bill passed last week by the Florida House of Representatives would strip $200 million from 12 school districts that defied Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on COVID-19 mask mandates in public schools.
Florida litigated property insurance claims jump 37% in January, raising industry concerns
After fluctuating up and down slightly in recent months, the number of litigated property insurance claims in Florida shot up 37% in January, the first significant jump since a high of 6,663 litigated claims in July 2021, new data shows.
Data privacy bill could unleash new wave of civil litigation, Florida chamber warns
Florida businesses are sounding alarm bells about a data privacy bill that passed the Florida House’s Commerce Committee last week, arguing that its passage would worsen the state’s legal climate and saddle companies with burdensome compliance costs.
Florida appeals court takes up Department of Health's bid to limit access to COVID-19 data
A Florida appeals court is taking up a bid by the state Department of Health to block the release of daily COVID-19 data, including information about county cases, positivity rates, hospitalizations and deaths.
Florida ends litigation over federal cruise industry policies as CDC allows order to expire
Florida’s attorney general has declared victory in its legal efforts to overturn the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s conditional sailing order (CSO), which sought to regulate the cruise industry in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Extension of COVID-19 liability protections for health care professionals goes to governor
Florida health care providers would continue to receive legal liability protections against COVID-19-related lawsuits well into 2023 under legislation that just passed the state legislature.
State Supreme Court declines to provide DeSantis with advisory opinion on redistricting
The Florida Supreme Court last week rebuffed Gov. Ron DeSantis on a redistricting question, declining to respond to a request for an advisory decision on whether the state constitution requires the retention of a Democrat-leaning congressional district.
Florida lawmakers resurrect effort to change rules on publication of legal notices
A Florida House panel is moving to revisit rules on how local governments can post legal notices and advertisements so that such public information would no longer be required to be published in local newspapers.
Environmental groups turn to courts to protect Florida manatees from starvation
Environmentalists are now turning to the federal courts to protect the marine habitat of Florida’s manatee population, which suffered a record number of deaths last year due to mass starvation.
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.