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

Jim RosicaMay 16, 2018

It’s now up to a Tallahassee judge whether the Legislature overstepped when it outlawed the smoking of medical marijuana. Attorneys for the state and patients who want to smoke the drug squared off in a Leon County courtroom Wednesday before Circuit Judge Karen Gievers. She didn’t immediately rule after the close of evidence, but could issue a decision […]

Jim RosicaMay 15, 2018

In another gambling case that could reach the state Supreme Court, a Jacksonville casino is appealing the state’s ending of its quest for a slot machine license. Jacksonville Kennel Club, which does business as bestbet, filed a notice of appeal to the 1st District Court of Appeal on Tuesday after the Department of Business and […]

Jim RosicaMay 14, 2018

A federal judge has denied the National Rifle Association‘s request to shield a plaintiff’s name in litigation against the state’s new school safety and mental health law. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker on Sunday turned down the NRA’s request to use a “Jane Doe” pseudonym for the 19-year-old Alachua County woman, portrayed in court documents as seeking […]

Jim RosicaMay 14, 2018

From karaoke to ballroom dancing to ice sculpting, the hobbies of Florida’s legislators are legion. A Florida Politics reporter recently noticed and tweeted that Rep. Carlos G. Smith, an Orlando Democrat, listed but one “recreational interest,” karaoke, on his legislative info page. That sparked a number of responses on social media last week. TCPalm reporter […]

Jim RosicaMay 10, 2018

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Harris Corp., already fighting its loss of a more than half billion-dollar state radio contract, now is suing over allowing winning bidder Motorola to use its radio towers. The Melbourne-based communications company filed suit Wednesday afternoon in Leon County Circuit Civil court against the Department of Management Services (DMS) and the Agency for State Technology — one day […]

Jim RosicaMay 9, 2018

Motorola’s bid for a statewide law enforcement radio system is based on an “unknown design,” one that “no one knows what it’s going to look like” and that it “may never be able to deliver,” an attorney for Harris Corp. told an administrative law judge Tuesday. Furthermore, the state’s decision to go with Motorola is […]

Jim RosicaMay 9, 2018

A legislative panel is again taking the state’s medical marijuana regulators to task, asking whether they are “refusing to modify the rules” governing the drug. Kenneth Plante, coordinator of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee (JAPC), fired off a letter Tuesday to Department of Health general counsel Nichole Geary. In it, he said the department’s Office […]

Jim RosicaMay 7, 2018

Joe Redner now wants a court to order the state to reimburse his legal costs — including $16,000 for PowerPoint presentations — after he won a lawsuit to start growing and juicing his own medical marijuana. The Tampa strip club mogul last week filed a motion with Circuit Judge Karen Gievers, seeking more than $45,000 to pay […]

Jim RosicaMay 5, 2018

A lawyer for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has told a Tallahassee judge that “at least two federal agencies” and Miami-Dade police are pursuing criminal investigations into March’s collapse of a pedestrian bridge at the Florida International University campus. The disclosure came in a letter sent this week to Circuit Judge John Cooper, who’s presiding […]

Jim RosicaMay 4, 2018

A former employee of state Insurance Consumer Advocate Sha’Ron James has settled her wrongful termination lawsuit after a mediation conference, court dockets show. Camille Rawls had said she was fired for, among other things, “sending James an email in all capital letters.” A spokeswoman for state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, to whom James reports, on Friday released the terms of the […]

Jim Rosica

Smoke ’em? Judge will decide on puffing medical marijuana

Spin ’em: Jacksonville race track appeals slot machine denial

Judge denies anonymity in NRA suit against gun law

Lawmakers’ hobbies amuse and confuse on social media

Lawsuit: You can’t use our radio towers, Harris Corp. tells state

Technology, towers at issue in state radio system bid protest

Lawmakers fire another warning shot over medical marijuana rules

Pay up: Joe Redner seeks costs after winning ‘home grow’ lawsuit

NTSB confirms local, federal criminal investigation into FIU bridge collapse

State settles lawsuit by worker fired after ‘all caps’ email