Michael Carroll News
Florida appeals court affirms $3 million jury award to waste hauler in lawsuit against Opa-Locka
A Florida appeals court has affirmed a 2022 jury verdict awarding a trash-hauling company $3 million in damages as a result of the city of Opa-locka’s bad-faith handling of a solid waste contract.
Cultivated meat company loses bid for preliminary injunction against new Florida law
A federal judge has turned down a cultivated meat company’s request to block the enforcement of a new Florida law that bans the sale or manufacture of meat products produced from cultured animal cells
Orlando bar owners sue city over permit policy on funding downtown police services
Several downtown Orlando bars have filed a federal lawsuit against the city, accusing local officials of forcing a small number of venues to bear the burden of paying for overnight policing services in violation of their unconstitutional rights
Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week highlights continuing economic impact of excess litigation in Florida
Florida Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is petitioning the public during Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week about the costs of excessive civil litigation around the state and advocating for new reforms to ease burdens on workers, small businesses and startups.
Former Florida official urges 'national catastrophic insurance fund' to spread out storm risks
In the wake of extensive damage from Hurricane Helene, a Florida congressman’s proposal to spread out insurance risks associated with major storms and wildfires has gained renewed attention on Fox news and other media outlets.
Florida health care agency failed to properly oversee care for disabled, lawsuit says
Legal aid groups are suing the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), accusing the agency of failing to manage critical home-care services for plaintiffs suffering from conditions such as quadriplegia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Florida appeals court rules state attorney general cannot usurp hospital districts' opioid lawsuits
A Florida appeals court has blocked the state attorney general’s effort to unilaterally extinguish opioid damages claims filed by local hospital and school districts as part of the state’s legal settlement with the same opioid manufacturers and marketers.
Federal judge rejects motion to toss lawsuit alleging Florida agency failed to protect manatees
A federal district judge has rejected a motion by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to dismiss a lawsuit alleging the agency’s failure to properly regulate sewage disposal is devastating the state’s manatee population.
Nassau County school board will return 36 books to libraries under legal settlement
Plaintiffs, including parents and book authors, have agreed to a legal settlement with the Nassau County school board that will return 36 books to school library shelves after an advocacy group objected to their content.
Backers of abortion rights initiative sue Florida health agency over 'misinformation' campaign
The group behind Florida’s abortion-rights initiative, Amendment 4, is suing a state health care agency, alleging that an agency media campaign against “fear mongers” is actually an illegal, taxpayer-funded political operation to torpedo the initiative.
Wrongful death lawsuit filed in Florida over listeriosis outbreak from Boar's Head products
The family of a Virginia man and Holocaust survivor who died after eating Boar’s Head liverwurst contaminated with listeria bacteria is suing the deli meats company in a Sarasota County court.
Florida lawyer charged with stealing $1.7 million from client`s living trust account
A Central Florida attorney was arrested last week and charged with felony grand theft for allegedly stealing more than $1.7 million from the living trust account of a deceased Polk County man, the county’s Sheriff’s Office reported.
Woman shot in face with rubber bullet can't sue individual Fort Lauderdale police officers, judge rules
A Florida woman who was shot in the face with a rubber projectile during a protest of George Floyd’s murder in 2020 cannot hold individual Fort Lauderdale police officers liable, but she can still seek civil damages from the city, a judge has ruled.
Florida court dismisses lawsuit linking Zantac to plaintiff's prostate cancer
A Florida state court last month handed the manufacturers of the heartburn drug Zantac another legal victory by dismissing a plaintiff’s claim that Zantac caused his prostate cancer and finding that the plaintiff’s expert testimony was unreliable.
Large U.S. book publishers sue Florida education officials over school library restrictions
Six of the largest U.S. book publishers are suing Florida education officials, challenging a new state law that the plaintiffs say allows the removal of books from school libraries based on “an empty and meaningless overbroad standard.”
Disney agrees to allow court to decide wrongful death lawsuit rather than push for arbitration
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts has backed off its motion to seek arbitration in a wrongful death case filed in Orange County based on a widower’s alleged agreement to arbitration terms after signing up for a Disney+ account in 2019.
Federal, state, local officials criticize plan for multiple golf courses at Florida park
Teed-off community members and elected leaders have apparently convinced Florida officials to shelve a plan to build three golf courses on state park property in Martin County.
Florida agriculture commissioner sued over new law banning lab-grown meat
A California-based company that manufactures meat from animal cells has filed a federal lawsuit in a bid to overturn a new Florida law that bans the sale of “cultivated meat."
Plaintiffs who won $63.5 million damages award shouldn't be allowed to garnish Miami official's pay, judge concludes
A Miami commissioner fighting a $63.5 million civil damages verdict for political retaliation would be able to stop the garnishment of his city salary under a federal judge’s recommendation that was handed down on Aug. 14.
Civil rights group urges Florida attorney general to probe venture capital firms that favor 'white-led businesses'
A civil rights group is challenging the Florida Attorney General’s Office to be more “consistent” in its campaign against corporate “raced-based decision-making” by investigating venture capital firms that appear to avoid investments in minority-owned companies.