The purpose of this summary provided by the Communications Department of The Florida Bar is to present media coverage that may be of interest to members. Opinions expressed in the articles are attributable solely to the authors. The Florida Bar does not adopt or endorse any opinions expressed below. For information on previous articles, please contact the publishing newspaper directly.
February 12, 2026
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The Florida Bar
SEN. GRALL DROPS 24/7 DUTY JUDGE PROPOSAL, ADVANCES TIME-SHARING MEASURE
The Florida Bar | Article | February 12, 2026
Saying she wants to start a “conversation,” a Treasure Coast lawmaker on Tuesday [Feb. 10] dropped a proposal to require Florida courts to assign a duty judge 24/7 to enforce child-sharing arrangements. “I bring this bill as a starting place because we should try to fix this problem,” said Republican Sen. Erin Grall, a Vero Beach attorney. Before the committee voted 10-0 to approve SB 1128, Grall offered a “strike-all” amendment that removed the duty judge provision. Instead, the bill requires courts to make time-sharing matters a priority. Some parents wait 18 months to two years for the courts to resolve their custody disputes, and they’re powerless in the interim when an ex-partner denies access to a child, Grall said.
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Civil Justice
AKERMAN MALPRACTICE SUIT THAT SPAWNED DEFAMATION CLAIMS AGAINST VEDDER PRICE ATTORNEY HEADS TO MEDIATION
Daily Business Review | Article | February 11, 2026
A legal-malpractice suit filed in Florida state court accusing Akerman of making a “$45 million mistake” that later saw the lead plaintiff’s attorney bounced from the representation headed to mediation proceedings on Wednesday [Feb. 11]. The dispute began with Vedder Price attorney Javier Lopez representing an investor who accused an Akerman attorney of botching a set of leases tied to an investment opportunity. But it grew in complexity after Akerman countersued, accusing Lopez of providing defamatory quotes to the media intended for publication, leading the attorney to end his representation of the plaintiff. Now, according to a filing in Miami-Dade Circuit Court on Friday [Feb. 6], Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod attorney Michael Hanzman is overseeing the mediation effort, which was slated to begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday [Feb. 11] and conclude at 9 p.m.
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Legislature
HOUSE PANEL ADVANCES BILL SETTING MANDATORY SENTENCES FOR CHILD SEXUAL PREDATORS
Florida Politics | Article | February 12, 2026
A second House Committee has approved a bill that would set mandatory minimum prison sentences for those convicted of child pornography and other sex crimes involving minors. The measure (HB 1159) is sponsored by Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Clearwater. The bill details several sex crimes that would result in mandatory sentences. But Jacques said chief among them are crimes that include children. Anyone convicted of the crimes classified as a first-degree felony, would serve a minimum of 15 years in prison. If it’s a second-degree felony, that would draw a minimum of five years in prison. There are increased penalties for others who are repeat offenders.
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Other
SET FOR DEMOLITION, PENSACOLA PRISON CAMP HOUSED TV STARS, NFL PLAYER
Pensacola News Journal | Article | February 12, 2026
After announcing Federal Prison Camp Pensacola's closure in 2024, the Federal Bureau of Prisons is continuing on the track of closing the prison as they get ready to prepare an Environmental Assessment. A letter from BOP's facilities management said the assessment is designed to ensure any environmental consequences of closing the resource-lacking prison are thoroughly documented. “Following the preparation of the EA, the document will be widely circulated to allow for public review with the comment period lasting no less than 30 calendar days,” the letter said. It also stated that following the end of the public comment period, the BOP will issue its decision as to whether it will or will not proceed with the proposed action.
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Civil Justice
NEARLY 4 YEARS INTO PUBLIC RECORDS LAWSUIT, JUDGE RULES IN JENKINS' FAVOR
Florida Today | Article | February 11, 2026
On Feb. 10, 18th Circuit Judge Scott Blaue ruled that Brevard School Board Chair Matt Susin took an “unreasonable” amount of time in turning over texts and phone calls requested by then-fellow school board member Jennifer Jenkins as part of a public records request. Judge Blaue ruled in favor of Jenkins on three and a half of the six counts filed against Susin. The ruling, however, does not bring to an end the nearly four-year legal battle to compel Susin to release texts and phone calls made in relation to board business. Jessica Travis, Jenkins' attorney, said they plan to appeal the court’s decision, stating every citizen is entitled to a copy of the original public record, not the official’s version of the record.
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Civil Justice
MAYO CLINIC JOINS MASS LITIGATION ALLEGING 'PRICE-FIXING CARTELS'
Jacksonville Business Journal | Article | February 12, 2026
Rochester-based Mayo Clinic has joined a rising tide of major health care systems suing virtually every health insurance company in America for orchestrating an alleged price-fixing cartel to siphon billions-of-dollars from care providers and their patients. Mayo’s complaint — dated Dec. 4, 2025, and recently unsealed — names Claritev Corp. as a defendant in the case. It’s the newest filing in a massive legal action already involving hundreds of plaintiffs — including a roster of blue-chip companies — that threatens to upend a lucrative corner of the health sector that determines how out-of-network care is priced and reimbursed for patients with private insurance.