Jim Rosica, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaMay 31, 2016

A plethora of high-profile matters is scheduled for argument before the Florida Supreme Court next week. The state’s justices will consider questions related to gambling, guns, capital punishment and medical malpractice. Another case involves claim bills, passed by lawmakers to pay people for injuries suffered at the hands of government or a public entity. Still two others involve attorneys […]

Jim RosicaMay 31, 2016

The state’s highest court agreed to hear an appeal of a punitive damages award against the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in the case of a man who died from smoking, according to filings. The Florida Supreme Court accepted jurisdiction last Thursday, court dockets show. At trial, a jury found smoker James E. Schoeff 25 percent […]

Jim RosicaMay 31, 2016

The National Federation of Independent Business/Florida is adding its voice to the business groups decrying a proposed 17 percent hike in the cost of workers’ compensation insurance to employers. The rate increase “is a $623 million tax on workers in Florida that will go primarily to workers’ compensation attorneys,” NFIB/Florida Executive Director Bill Herrle said in […]

Jim RosicaMay 28, 2016

In Florida, there’s a weird confluence between politics and the weather. Elected officials love to send weather-related emails, particularly before the start of hurricane season on June 1. Make sure your insurance is up to date, they’ll say, or make sure you’ve prepared a “storm kit,” i.e., bottled water, batteries, flashlights and so forth. One […]

Jim RosicaMay 27, 2016

The state’s business groups are saying “we told you so” over the cost of workers’ compensation insurance. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has asked the state to consider a 17 percent rate hike in the cost of workers’ comp to employers. Workers’ comp is mandated by states to pay workers who get hurt on the job. The council submitted its filing to […]

Jim RosicaMay 27, 2016

Despite “nothing about Hamilton Downs (being) real in terms of racetrack standards,” an administrative law judge nonetheless sided with the north Florida horse track, tossing out the state’s complaint that the track ran “flag drop” races contrary to its license. Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early submitted his recommended order on Thursday, dismissing the action by state pari-mutuel regulators. […]

Jim RosicaMay 26, 2016

The state’s Department of Agriculture is asking a court to speed up its handling of a public records lawsuit involving an animal research lab. The department filed its answer Wednesday in Leon County circuit civil court. That filing reveals the case “was triggered by a public records request by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).” It’s not […]

Jim RosicaMay 26, 2016

Prosecutors have dismissed the criminal case against the man known as “Capitol Pitbull Dude.” Leon County court dockets show charges of trespassing and resisting an officer, both misdemeanors, were dropped last week against 35-year-old Antonio Ringo Davis. Davis first became known as “Capitol Pitbull Dude” and “Capitol Bulldog Guy” after he and his dog were escorted out of a Senate committee hearing […]

Jim RosicaMay 26, 2016

Lobbyist and former appellate judge Paul Hawkes has joined the Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney firm in Tallahassee. Hawkes inked an agreement Wednesday and begins immediately, according to John “Mac” Stipanovich, head of the firm’s state government relations team. “Paul is an outstanding addition,” Stipanovich said. “We had been pursuing him for some time. No one in Tallahassee […]

Jim RosicaMay 24, 2016

The Florida Bar is warning members: Be careful when opening email that looks like it came from us. A handful of attorneys have recently reported “spam emails containing malicious malware” infecting their computers, according to a Bar alert sent to the state’s lawyers on Tuesday. The subject lines of the emails, which were sent from “@flabar.org” […]

Jim Rosica
Now it's time for Florida to start cleaning up.

Bevy of big cases awaits state Supreme Court

Supreme Court agrees to hear smoking case

NFIB/Florida joins groups opposed to workers’ comp hike

Takeaways from Tallahassee – A storm is coming … or not

Business lobby blasts workers’ comp rate hike

Judge sides with track over ‘flag drop’ races

Ag. Department says PETA triggered public records fight

State drops charges against ‘Capitol Pitbull Dude’

Paul Hawkes joins Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney’s lobbying team

Florida lawyers victimized by spam attack