Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschAugust 23, 2018

Michael Beltran, Republican candidate for House District 57, is suing his GOP rival for the seat, along with his political consultants and others, for defamation because of an “attack mailer” that went out. The suit was filed earlier this month in Hillsborough County Circuit Civil court. Beltran, a Harvard Law alum, says Republican opponent Sean McCoy […]

Jim RosicaMarch 8, 2017

A lawyer for the widow of a Florida man “addict(ed) to cigarettes” asked the state Supreme Court Monday to reinstate her $30 million jury award for punitive damages. Tallahassee attorney John S. Mills, who represents Joan Schoeff, told the court the conduct of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.(RJR)—in selling a product they knew was killing 500,000 people a year—stopped just short […]

Guest AuthorMarch 22, 2015

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As with most issues, there is another side to legislation pertaining to punitive damages that is now being considered by the Florida Legislature. A Tampa Bay Times editorial, “Don’t change law to limit damages for Big Tobacco,” published February 26, suggests that this bill is a bailout, and one that changes the rules long after […]

Tag: compensatory damages

Michael Beltran sues for defamation over HD 57 ‘hit piece’

Smoker’s widow fights for multimillion-dollar jury award

Tom Feeney: Now is the time for common-sense damages reform in Florida