Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 9, 2017

A House bill (HB 6011) that would repeal the cap on the amount of money tobacco companies have to put up as appellate bonds was “temporarily postponed” Thursday. With its Senate companion (SB 100) also indefinitely put off, the proposal’s fate is uncertain for the 2017 Legislative Session. The House version was slated to be heard in the Civil […]

Michael MolineJanuary 5, 2017

The Florida Legislature could consider legislation that would make it more expensive for tobacco companies to appeal verdicts in liability cases filed by smokers made sick or injured by their products. SB 100, filed by Sen. Greg Steube, contains just two lines: “Section 569.23, Florida Statutes, is repealed.” And “This act shall take effect July 1, […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 3, 2017

Debra Henley left her job as executive director of the Florida Justice Association last month and is temporarily being replaced by her deputy, Paul Jess, according to a Tuesday press release. Jess, who was called a “veteran association executive and attorney,” is now interim executive director, the release said. The news comes just a couple of months after rumblings about […]

Michael MolineDecember 13, 2016

As debate opened Tuesday over Florida’s 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation premiums, trial attorneys on the Florida Senate’s Banking and Insurance Committee targeted the group that proposes insurance rates for carriers in the state. Sens. Greg Steube and Gary Farmer Jr., both attorneys, endeavored to shift the focus from attorney fees — widely blamed […]

Peter SchorschDecember 9, 2016

It will come as no surprise that trial lawyers are looking to shoot the moon this Legislative Session. They already made a power play during the 2016 election cycle. The Florida Justice Association, through its political committee Florida Justice PAC, spent $4.5 million since the beginning of 2015, much of which went to candidates or […]

Peter SchorschDecember 1, 2016

This Thanksgiving, a Leon County judge gave trial lawyers one more reason to be thankful. But that may not last long. On Nov. 23 – just one day before Thanksgiving — Circuit Judge Karen Gievers put the brakes on a 14.5 percent workers’ compensation rate increase, scheduled to go into effect Dec. 1. Gievers ruled […]

Staff ReportsOctober 24, 2016

The Florida Justice Association announced Ryan Banfill has joined the civil justice advocacy group as communications director. Banfill, 52, previously served as a Senior Vice President with Sachs Media Group in Tallahassee. “Over the past 25 years, working with the governor’s office, the Florida Legislature and in the private sector, Ryan has been involved in […]

Peter SchorschOctober 5, 2016

Floridians aren’t fans of trial attorneys. A Florida Chamber Political Institute statewide poll released last week found 35 percent of Floridians said they had an unfavorable view of plaintiff trial lawyers. The survey — conducted Sept. 15 through Sept. 20 — found 14 percent had a favorable opinion of trial attorneys, while 24 percent said […]

Peter SchorschAugust 29, 2016

When the dust settled after Florida’s 2014 elections, there was one clear loser: Florida’s trial attorneys. Here’s what I wrote in my column identifying the winners and losers of that election cycle: You know how sometimes there is a really sh*tty movie released that, despite the bad reviews and poor showing at the box office, […]

Tag: Florida Justice Association

Smoker’s widow fights for multimillion-dollar jury award

Tobacco bond repealer is again postponed, this time in House

Bills would eliminate tobacco companies’ discounted appeals

Personnel note: Debra Henley out at FJA, Paul Jess in

Trial bar allies turn guns on ratings council in workers’ comp hearing

Trial lawyers must be very happy with Florida Senate committee assignments

Workers comp rate hike ruling gives trial lawyers reason to cheer. But how long will it last?

Ryan Banfill joins Florida Justice Association as communications director

Poll finds more Floridians have unfavorable view of trial attorneys

Trial lawyers with most to gain in Florida’s primary elections