Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 18, 2016

The state’s highest court has set oral arguments in an appeal of a punitive damages award against the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. The Florida Supreme Court, which accepted jurisdiction this May, will hear the case March 8, court filings show. At trial, a jury found smoker James E. Schoeff 25 percent at fault in his death. He had “died from […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2016

Florida House Speaker-designate Richard Corcoran said he was “profoundly disappointed” by Friday’s state Supreme Court opinion invalidating part of the state’s death penalty. The court ruled 5-2 that death sentences require a unanimous jury, striking down a new law allowing a defendant to be sentenced to death as long as 10 out of 12 jurors recommend it. “Make […]

Associated PressOctober 14, 2016

The fate of convicted killers on Florida’s death row – as well as the fate of people awaiting trial for murder – was put in limbo Friday after the Florida Supreme Court ruled that death sentences require a unanimous jury. By a 5-2 vote the court struck down a newly enacted law allowing a defendant […]

Michael MolineOctober 14, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott accepted Florida Supreme Court Justice James E.C. Perry’s resignation Friday and gave the Judicial Nominating Commission until Dec. 13 to submit a list of possible replacements. “The commission’s expeditious handling of this matter is most appreciated,” the governor said in a letter to commission chairman Jason Unger. To replace Perry, the state’s […]

Guest AuthorOctober 12, 2016

As the chair-elect of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar, I believe it is important to correct misconceptions and misstatements made by the head of the Florida Chamber regarding Florida’s workers’ compensation system and the attorneys who represent injured Floridians. In a recent column, Mark Wilson and the Chamber suggest the workers’ compensation […]

Guest AuthorOctober 10, 2016

Attention Florida business owners — in case you missed it, you are about to be hit with a workers’ compensation insurance increase that you most likely haven’t planned for, all for the benefit of Florida’s billboard trial lawyers. This week, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approved a 14.5 percent workers’ compensation rate increase that […]

Martin DyckmanOctober 8, 2016

Justice-Canady-Law-Review-Banquet-2011-49-Large-e1475891066988.jpg

What sort of Supreme Court justices would Donald Trump appoint? For an insight, consider the case of Kathy Johnson v. Omega Insurance Co., decided by the Florida Supreme Court Sept. 29. One of his prospective nominees was on the wrong side of that. The business model of an insurance company is to take as much […]

Jim RosicaOctober 6, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court says it will “issue retroactive orders extending filing deadlines” because of courthouse closures as Hurricane Matthew approaches the state. Those orders will appear on the court’s website. As of Thursday morning, courts were closed in 29 of the state’s 67 counties, with more expected to shut down. A full list is here. […]

Michael MolineSeptember 30, 2016

A policyholder forced to file suit to get her insurer to repair sinkhole damage is entitled to recover her litigation costs from the company, the Florida Supreme Court has ruled. The Omega Insurance Co. paid more than $200,000 for the repairs only after homeowner Kathy Johnson hired counsel to press a legal claim. The company finally […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 26, 2016

Attorneys for the statewide teachers’ union on Monday filed a brief asking the Florida Supreme Court to review a lower court decision involving the state’s largest private school voucher program. The Florida Education Association said the supreme court “should accept jurisdiction and review the (1st District Court of Appeal)’s decision.” The appellate court had sided with a […]

Tag: Florida Supreme Court
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Court orders oral arguments in smoking death case

Reacting to death penalty decision, Richard Corcoran says courts ‘subvert will of the people’

Florida Court: Jury must unanimously agree on death penalty

Rick Scott begins search for Supreme Court justice’s replacement

Paul M. Anderson: Stereotypes won’t help Florida workers – or produce real reform

Mark Wilson: Rising workers’ comp rates hurt businesses

Martin Dyckman: Donald Trump pick Charles Canady could bring ‘dog whistles’ to SCOTUS

Supreme Court extending filing deadlines because of storm

Insurer that denied sinkhole claim must pay policyholder’s attorney fees

Teachers union asks Supreme Court to take voucher case