Michael Carroll News
Model sues Orange County Public Schools, alleges staff shared explicit photos of her
A model who permits sexually explicit images of herself to be displayed on a subscription-only website is suing Orange County Public Schools after the district barred her from being a volunteer at her children’s elementary school.
Department of State report doesn't endorse new personal identifier rules for Florida mail-in ballots
A new Florida Department of State report stops short of calling on state lawmakers to require the placement of personal identifying information, such as driver's license numbers, on return envelopes of vote-by-mail ballots to enhance voting integrity.
Bill would raise the stakes for Floridians who challenge local land-use plans
A bill introduced in the Florida Legislature last month would force citizens who file lawsuits opposing local government land-use amendments, including zoning for new housing projects, to pay the local government’s legal fees if the public agency prevails.
Reform bill would alter structure of Disney's Reedy Creek district and narrow its powers
A bill being considered by the Florida Legislature would revamp Disney’s Reedy Creek Improvement District to operate more like other special districts around the state rather than a corporate-run entity.
Class action alleges rental price-fixing conspiracy in Florida metro areas
Tenants have filed a class-action lawsuit against a real estate software firm and numerous large property owners and managers in southern and central Florida, alleging that the defendants engaged in a price-fixing scheme to drive up rents and company profits.
Florida bill would shorten time period on home construction defect lawsuits
A bill is advancing in the Florida House of Representatives that would shorten the time period when homeowners can file lawsuits alleging construction defects – a move supporters say would cut down on costly litigation and promote housing affordability.
Suspended prosecutor calls on DeSantis to reinstate him in wake of federal judge's ruling
A suspended Hillsborough County state attorney this week called on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to reinstate him to his elected post, citing a recent federal judge’s decision that concluded Warren never put in place blanket policies to prosecute only certain kinds of cases.
State Supreme Court upholds key provisions of Florida law banning local firearms ordinances
The Florida Supreme Court dealt a blow to local governments’ home-rule authority last week by upholding provisions of a state law blocking cities from regulating firearms.
Court ruling casts doubt on 'sue first, discover second' business model
A Florida appeals court has pushed back on a company’s application of a little-used legal practice and cast a shadow on the business practices it uses to secure Medicare reimbursements.
Federal judge dismisses gender-identity lawsuit brought by parents against Florida school district
A federal judge has declined to rule on a lawsuit brought by a Leon County middle school student’s parents, who alleged that district employees illegally counseled their daughter about her gender-confusion issues without their consent.
Number of Florida plaintiffs challenging anti-lobbying constitutional amendment expands
A federal lawsuit aimed at overturning a voter-approved 2018 Florida constitutional amendment that restricts lobbying activities by former and current elected officials is gaining plaintiffs, with Leon County Commissioner Bill Proctor recently joining the legal fight.
Florida philanthropist sues former homebuilder employee for defamation, alleging bot farm attacks
Florida philanthropist Bill Pulte is suing a former executive of the company founded by his grandfather, Atlanta-based PulteGroup, for defamation, alleging the former chief operating officer launched an online bot farm to harass him and his family.
Average Monroe County single-family homeowner now pays $7,162 for property insurance, report finds
Among Florida counties, Monroe posted the highest average property insurance premium cost for single-family homes – $7,162 – according to new data from Florida insurance regulators that highlights continuing challenges for the state’s insurers.
Advocacy groups that challenged Florida solitary confinement practices drop lawsuit, pay $210,000 in legal costs
Several advocacy groups have decided to drop a federal lawsuit and pay more than $210,000 in legal costs to the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC), which the groups alleged had engaged in cruel and inhumane solitary confinement practices.
Lawsuit challenging State Road 7 extension expected to cause delays costing nearly $50 million
A Palm Beach County transit agency is warning that the delay of a road expansion project due to a lawsuit alleging risks of environmental damage will cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
The late Miami-Dade clerk of the courts Harvey Ruvin praised for 50-plus-year record of public service
The Miami-Dade County clerk of the courts, Harvey Ruvin, died on Dec. 31, ending a record of public service that spanned more than a half-century and earned Ruvin praise for his work on both technology and environmental issues in Florida.
Florida's high court rejects 'excessive' $16 million damages award in wrongful death case
The Florida Supreme Court has struck down a $16 million punitive damages award in a wrongful death case, concluding that the award was out of sync with the jury’s compensatory damages award of just $150,000.
11th Circuit backs St. Johns school board's limitation on transgender bathroom use
A federal appeals court has sided with a Florida school board’s policy of restricting students’ use of male and female bathrooms based on their biological sex, thereby barring transgender students from using a bathroom aligned with their gender identity.
UF professors seek dismissal of their lawsuit challenging university's expert witness policy
The University of Florida’s decision to revise its policy of scrutinizing faculty requests to participate as expert witnesses in public-policy litigation has led several UF professors to seek dismissal of their lawsuit against the university.
Florida high court disbars attorney Scot Strems, citing 'frivolous' claims and 'cumulative misconduct'
The Florida Supreme Court has disbarred Coral Gables attorney Scot Strems, saying he grossly mismanaged his law firm, engaged in professional misconduct and repeatedly filed “frivolous” insurance claims.