Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 20, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is opposing the state’s asking a federal judge to reconsider his decision to let the Tribe keep blackjack at its casinos. The tribe filed a legal memo last week in opposition to the state’s motion. Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled that regulators working under Gov. Rick Scott allowed dog and […]

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2016

Ougoing Senate Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner and former Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp are among the latest applicants to Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga for the Constitution Review Commission. Court spokesman Craig Waters provided an updated list of 20 applicants Tuesday. The Florida Constitution allows for a “revision commission” to meet every 20 years to “examine […]

Jim RosicaOctober 5, 2016

A federal judge shellacked an attorney for the state of Florida during closing arguments Friday in a trial over whether the Seminole Tribe gets to continue offering blackjack to its casino customers. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle peppered the state’s counsel with questions about whether gambling regulators basically allowed the state’s non-tribal cardrooms to offer games that broke the exclusive […]

Jim RosicaOctober 3, 2016

Questions of “good faith” were the nub of the first day of trial between the state and the Seminole Tribe over its ability to keep offering blackjack to casino customers across Florida. Lawyers for both sides Monday focused on the elemental question of who was right and who was wrong in the beginning of this […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 11, 2016

The second quarter was another strong one for Greenberg Traurig, which reported earning more than $1 million between April 1 and June 30. The Tallahassee-based firm reported a median compensation of nearly $1.06 million for its work lobbying the Florida Legislature in the three-month period. The earnings mean the firm will likely once again be among […]

Jim RosicaMay 17, 2016

Life insurers are now suing over a new law requiring them to track down insurance beneficiaries. Four companies filed in Leon County Circuit Civil court earlier this month. The measure (SB 966) was a priority of Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and was featured on CBS’ “60 Minutes.” His spokeswoman responded to the suit Tuesday, calling it […]

Gary FineoutMay 13, 2016

The Seminole Tribe of Florida, owner of Florida’s largest casinos, is trying to get a federal judge to block the publication of information related to a trial that could upend their businesses and to seal a key deposition until it can be redacted. Tribal attorneys this week filed an emergency motion seeking to seal a […]

Jim RosicaMarch 23, 2016

With a proposed $3 billion gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida having died this past legislative session, the tribe’s lawyer on Tuesday said its fight to keep blackjack in tribal casinos now moves to a federal court. Barry Richard, a Greenberg Traurig shareholder based in Tallahassee, is representing the tribe in a case against […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

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Their lips were saying “not dead yet” but House leadership otherwise made clear that the Seminole Compact and gambling legislation are goners for this Legislative Session. “I’m not ready to declare it dead yet,” said state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, the Miami Republican who shepherded the bills through the process this year. Diaz spoke after […]

Jim RosicaMarch 1, 2016

Echoing a Seminole Tribe attorney earlier in the day, Senate budget chief Tom Lee opened the possibility that provisions added to the Seminole Compact to placate the state’s pari-mutuels were a “ransom” that tanked the legislation. Lee, the Brandon Republican who chairs the Appropriations Committee, spoke to reporters after his panel finished its Tuesday meeting. As the […]

Tag: Barry Richard

Seminole Tribe objects to any about-face on blackjack ruling

Arthenia Joyner, Jeff Kottkamp apply for constitutional panel

Blackjack trial comes to close as judge questions state’s case

‘Good faith’ at issue in Seminole Tribe blackjack trial

Greenberg Traurig had another million-dollar quarter, compensation reports show

Insurers sue Jeff Atwater over death-benefits bill

Seminole Tribe trying to stop publication of financial info

Seminole Tribe’s lawyer now watching court cases after Compact’s demise

House all but declares defeat on Seminole Compact, gambling legislation

Gambling concessions to pari-mutuels same as “ransom,” Tom Lee says