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News Service Of FloridaJanuary 3, 2019

More than a year after sexual-harassment allegations brought down a powerful lawmaker, the Florida Senate has reached a $900,000 settlement with a legislative aide who said she was harassed and later faced retaliation. The settlement came in a federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission case filed by aide Rachel Perrin Rogers. As part of the settlement, Perrin […]

News Service Of FloridaDecember 22, 2018

The Florida Senate has reached a settlement with a legislative aide who filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging she had been subject to discrimination and retaliation. That’s according to Senate attorneys in a federal court document filed this week. The document did not provide details of the settlement with legislative aide […]

Michael MolineDecember 6, 2018

Lawyers for the Florida Senate and federal government have failed to work out an agreement regarding a speeded-up appeal of the Senate’s sovereign immunity objection to a sexual harassment complaint by Rachel Perrin Rogers. In a document filed with Senior U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle, attorneys said they were ready for the judge to decide […]

Michael MolineDecember 5, 2018

A gag order has been issued in the sexual harassment case brought against the Florida Senate by legislative aide Rachel Perrin Rogers, blocking attorneys and others from discussing the matter with the press. That’s according to Katie Betta, spokeswoman for the Senate, who said she was barred from even providing a copy of the order. “I am sorry, but pursuant […]

Michael MolineNovember 30, 2018

Attorneys for the Florida Senate and federal government agreed Friday to seek an expedited trip to a federal appeals court regarding its sovereign immunity defense against a legislative aide’s sexual harassment claim. That might ameliorate what an attorney for the chamber called the “distinct, irreparable harm” to its dignity as a legislative body forced to […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 27, 2018

Among the crop of early bills filed ahead of the 2019 Legislative Session is a push to prevent Floridians from talking and texting while operating a vehicle. State Sen. Wilton Simpson, a Trilby Republican, earlier this month filed legislation (SB 76) that would ban the use of handheld communications while driving. In the House, Boca […]

News Service Of FloridaNovember 16, 2018

A federal judge has scheduled a hearing Nov. 30 in a case filed by the Florida Senate after allegations by a legislative aide that she was a victim of sexual harassment and retaliation. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle this week scheduled the hearing after canceling arguments that had been planned for Nov. 8, according to […]

News Service Of FloridaOctober 25, 2018

A federal judge has scheduled arguments Nov. 8 on a request by the Florida Senate to shield it from a discrimination case filed by a legislative aide who alleges she was a victim of sexual harassment and retaliation. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle will hear arguments on a Senate request for a preliminary injunction in […]

Staff ReportsOctober 16, 2018

A federal judge has set a hearing for next Tuesday in the state Senate‘s lawsuit to put an end to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigation into a top aide’s sexual harassment and retaliation claims. Rachel Perrin Rogers, chief assistant to Senate Republican Leader and future Senate President Wilton Simpson, says former Sen. Jack Latvala repeatedly groped her and made unwelcome comments about […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerSeptember 30, 2018

While the nation was fixated on the drama surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court, Floridians were reminded this week that they have their own Supreme Court controversy in triplicate. Gov. Rick Scott reasserted his claim in court that he has the power, before he leaves office in January, to appoint replacements for […]