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Florida ethics panel rejects settlement talks over elected officials' financial reporting requirements
The Florida Commission on Ethics has decided not to open negotiations to settle a lawsuit advanced by scores of elected municipal officials that challenges a new Florida state law requiring detailed disclosures of personal finances.
Federal Court
Florida to pay $720,000 in legal costs to businesses over 'Stop WOKE Act' litigation
A lawsuit challenging a portion of Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act” that places restrictions on businesses’ worker training sessions came to a close this month with state officials agreeing to pay plaintiffs who challenged the law $725,000 in attorney fees and costs.
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Republican U.S. senators vow to show up for key judicial votes after DeSantis criticism
Republican U.S. senators, including Florida’s Rick Scott, have pledged to show up for congressional votes for future federal judges in the wake of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ criticism that recent absences led to the confirmation of a “leftist” appeals court judge.
Federal Court
Lago Mar Resort agrees to pay $100K in EEOC pregnancy fairness settlement
A Fort Lauderdale resort hotel has agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit.
Federal Court
Lawsuit challenging governor's suspension of former State Attorney Monique Worrell dismissed
A lawsuit challenging Gov. Ron DeSantis’ suspension of a state attorney in Orange and Osceola counties, Democrat Monique Worrell, was dismissed by a federal judge three days after Worrell was re-elected to her former post.
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Federal judge finds 2023 Florida law illegally impaired collective bargaining rights
A federal judge has sided with the Florida Education Association in litigation over a provision of a state law enacted last year, finding that a prohibition on payroll deductions in existing public-employee collective bargaining agreements (CRAs) is unconstitutional.
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Inmate-plaintiffs allege heat, humidity threat at Dade Correctional Institution violates their rights
Several inmates at Dade Correctional Institution south of Miami have filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC), alleging that prison officials have failed to protect older, infirm inmates from record-breaking heat and humidity.
Federal Court
Charlotte County property owner challenges development fee of nearly $120,000 to protect endangered Florida bird
A Florida man is suing Charlotte County and several federal officials over a nearly $120,000 fee he is required to pay as part of a county Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) designed to protect the endangered Florida scrub-jay.
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Computer groups seek to stop Florida law that would limit minors on social media
Two computer lobbying groups are challenging the constitutionality of a Florida law that would, among other things, prohibit minors from creating social media profiles..
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Moody backs U.S. Supreme Court move to allow Virginia purge of voter rolls
The U.S. Supreme Court says Virginia can revive its effort to remove potential non-citizens from voters rolls ahead of next week’s general election.
Federal Court
Florida mother sues artificial-intelligence 'chatbot' company over teen son's suicide
A Florida woman whose 14-year-old son committed suicide after allegedly becoming obsessed with an artificial intelligence-generated online “chatbot” is suing the AI developers for wrongful death, negligence, product liability and unfair trade practices.
Federal Court
Class action claims Walmart avocado oil isn't pure
A potential class action lawsuit claims Walmart’s avocado oil products contains a variety of other oils as well.
Federal Court
Civil rights groups agree to end lawsuit against Florida's 'Anti-Riot Act'
Civil rights groups have dropped their federal lawsuit against Florida’s 2021 “Anti-Riot Act” in the wake of a federal appeals court’s decision concluding that the law’s heightened scrutiny of riot-related acts doesn't apply to peaceful demonstrators.
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Federal judge rejects bid to extend Florida voter registration in wake of hurricanes
A federal judge has turned down a request from civil rights groups in Florida to extend the deadline for voter registration in the state in the wake of devastation and evacuations caused by back-to-back hurricanes.
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Florida AG sues U.S. DHS for refusing to verify immigration records for voting
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office has filed a lawsuit following the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s refusal to verify immigration records for the state to ensure voter-roll integrity.
Federal Court
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
Federal Court
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
Federal Court
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.
Federal Court
Judge cuts extraordinary attorney fees in failed Big Lots class action
A notorious class action lawyer is on the hook for nearly $150,000 in attorney fees after bringing a case that had no chance of winning.
Federal Court
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.