Legislation News
Legislation
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.
Legislation
Partner of Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP: HB 1551 'takes away a tried and true mechanism'
Matthew Lavisky, a partner at Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP, said House Bill 1551 reinstates excessive attorney fees and undermines previous insurance litigation reforms.
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Legislation
Partner of Floridian Partner on HB 1551: 'We must prioritize consumer protections if this bill moves forward'
George Feijoo, a partner at Floridian Partners, expressed concerns that House Bill 1551 threatens recent insurance market reforms and could unfairly shift legal risks onto consumers.
Legislation
Partner of Traub Lieberman: HB 1551 will 'increase the number of lawsuits' and raise premiums
Ryan Jones, a partner at Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP, said that a newly proposed insurance bill could result in more lawsuits and increased premiums for Florida homeowners.
Legislation
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.
Legislation
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.
Legislation
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.
Legislation
Cambo Ferry Law Firm rejects HB 1551 citing legal exploitation risks
The Cambo Ferry Law Firm has publicly opposed House Bill 1551, expressing concerns that the bill's prevailing party language could be exploited and destabilize Florida's property insurance system.
Legislation
Owner of Cambo Ferry Law Firm: House Bill 1551 'creates more questions than answers'
Katelyn Ferry, partner and owner of Cambo Ferry, expressed her concerns regarding House Bill (HB) 1551, stating that it should not progress until existing reforms are fully realized.
Legislation
Partner at Butler Legal on House Bill 1551: Policyholders are 'the ‘prevailing party’ under the statute'
Matthew Lavisky, a partner at Butler Legal, expressed concerns over House Bill 1551, suggesting it could lead to policyholders being deemed eligible for attorney fees even when their recovery is minimal compared to their initial claims.
Legislation
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.
Legislation
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.
Legislation
Florida bill would increase limits on damages claims against local governments
A Florida lawmaker has introduced legislation that would likely increase civil damages payouts by local government agencies such as cities and give those agencies more flexibility to settle claims without approval from the state Legislature.
Legislation
Florida bill would bar 'unauthorized aliens' from filing civil lawsuits
A bill authored by a state representative who is running for Congress would bar “unauthorized aliens” from filing civil lawsuits in Florida, a move that immigrant-rights advocates say is unconstitutional and would harm the integrity of the justice system.
Legislation
Executive Director of Florida CALA: 'FL Leg needs to protect the gains made!'
Tom Gaitens, Florida director for the Civil Justice Association of America (CALA), emphasized the importance of maintaining judicial reform advancements in the state.
Legislation
Florida’s OIR reports a downward trend in insurance rate filings in 2024
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has recently noted a downward trend in insurance rate filings for 2024, the first such trend in years. This suggests that the state's property and casualty insurance market is continuing to strengthen.
Legislation
Litigation financing transparency bill fails to pass Florida Legislature
Tort reform supporters are expressing disappointment over the failure of the Florida Legislature to pass a bill that would have shed more light on third-party litigation financing agreements and their potential relationships with foreign entities.
Legislation
Florida lawmakers stop short of passing bill that would have made it harder to sue businesses that pollute
This year’s Florida legislative session ended on Friday with lawmakers declining to pass a bill that would have restricted lawsuits seeking economic damages or damages for personal injuries under the provisions of a state water-quality law.
Legislation
Florida lawmakers table plan to use public funds to help pay for Trump's legal bills
A proposal that would allow Florida officials to provide up to $5 million in public funds to former President Donald Trump to help finance his legal bills has been sidelined in the current legislative session.
Legislation
Florida lawmakers propose banning youth under 16 from social media
The Florida House of Representatives recently passed a measure barring minors under 16 years of age from having social media accounts, but a tech industry association predicts the bill would face litigation if signed into law.