Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

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The Senate has retained the Jackson Lewis law firm for its investigation into sexual harassment and groping allegations against Sen. Jack Latvala, a top Republican in the chamber. Tampa-based attorney Gail Holtzman will be the lead attorney in the investigation, and Senate President Joe Negron said individuals who want to come forward with complaints against […]

Ana CeballosNovember 9, 2017

As Sen. Jack Latvala faces an investigation into sexual harassment allegations against him, not much is clear, including specifics about a complaint filed with the Senate Rules Committee. This much is known: Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, the chair of the committee, at first confirmed a complaint had been filed with her committee in a Capitol News Service interview […]

Jim RosicaOctober 30, 2017

A Florida nursery is suing the state over its preference in granting medical marijuana licenses to companies with underused or shuttered citrus factories. Tropiflora LLC of Sarasota filed suit against the Department of Health‘s Office of Compassionate Use—now the Office of Medical Marijuana Use—in Leon County Circuit Civil court on Friday, court records show. The […]

Jim RosicaJuly 20, 2017

A medical marijuana nursery is asking a Tallahassee judge to allow it to step in on a case over the state’s new law governing the drug. Canadian-based DFMMJ Investments, which inked a deal to take over operations of Chestnut Hill Tree Farm, filed a “motion to intervene” earlier this week with Circuit Judge Karen Gievers. Sarasota’s TropiFlora is […]

Jim RosicaJune 29, 2017

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A Florida nursery that previously filed a protest over the Department of Health’s award of medical marijuana licenses is back in court this week. Tropiflora LLC of Sarasota is asking a judge to delay enforcement of part of the state’s new medical marijuana implementing bill, passed during the recent Special Session. The company filed a motion Monday in […]

Jim RosicaDecember 5, 2016

A former officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is suing for his job back, saying he was fired in retaliation for blowing the whistle on wrongdoing. Travis Hooker filed suit last week in Leon County Circuit Civil Court under the state’s whistleblower law. The decorated combat Marine, who was stationed in Iraq, was a lieutenant in the FWC’s […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 8, 2016

A former officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission who says he was fired for reporting wrongdoing in the department is asking for his job back. Travis Hooker, who was a lieutenant in the FWC’s law enforcement division, filed a “petition for temporary reinstatement” this week while his state whistleblower’s case is pending, Leon County court records show. Hooker […]

Jim RosicaDecember 28, 2015

A group of whistleblowing investigators in the beleaguered Department of Corrections has lost an appeal to their challenge of being forced to sign “hush” agreements over wrongdoing they say they uncovered. A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal on Monday sided with a lower-court judge who had dismissed the investigators’ complaint. David Clark, […]

Gary FineoutFebruary 11, 2015

An attempt by Florida’s new prisons chief to keep investigators from discussing what’s going on inside the state’s troubled prison system has sparked a lawsuit. A lawyer representing six Department of Corrections employees asked a judge this week to block a new confidentiality policy ordered by Secretary Julie Jones. Tallahassee attorney Steve Andrews contends in […]

Associated PressDecember 8, 2014

A Florida judge is letting a lawyer argue that Gov. Rick Scott intentionally broke the state’s public records law with the use of a private email account. Chief Judge Charles Francis on Monday agreed to let Tallahassee lawyer Steve Andrews amend his existing public records lawsuit against the governor. Andrews can now use Scott’s release […]

Tag: Steve Andrews

Senate hires Tampa attorney for Jack Latvala investigation

Senate privacy rules shield details on Rules Committee complaint

Orange you mad? Citrus language leads to marijuana lawsuit

Medical marijuana grower wants in on challenge to pot law

Tropiflora seeks holdup of new medical marijuana implementing bill

Ex-FWC officer sues for job back under ‘whistleblower’ law

Fired FWC whistleblower seeks job back

State prisons investigators lose whistleblower appeal

Bid to keep Florida prison inspectors quiet sparks lawsuit

Lawyer: Gov. Scott broke law with private emails