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.
August 12, 2022
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The Florida Bar
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2022 FLORIDA BAR REPORTERS’ WORKSHOP
The Florida Bar | Article | August 12, 2022
Nominations are now being accepted for reporters to attend the 31st Annual Florida Bar Reporters’ Workshop, which will be held in Tallahassee Sept. 19 and 20. This intensive two-day course is designed for 24 print, online, TV, and radio journalists new to the courts and legal reporting or new to Florida. The workshop is presented by The Florida Bar Media & Communications Law Committee in partnership with the Florida Supreme Court. Nominations must be made by editors, publishers, or news directors using this nomination form. The deadline for nominations is Wednesday, August 24 at 5 p.m.
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Judiciary
ACLU ASKS FLORIDA SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW 15-WEEK ABORTION BAN
Bloomberg | Article | August 11, 2022
On Wednesday [Aug. 10] health-care providers backed by the American Civil Liberties Union asked the Florida Supreme Court to review their challenge to the state’s new ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, which took effect July 1. Groups including Planned Parenthood chapters in Florida won a statewide injunction against the new law just days after it took effect, but the order was automatically put on hold when the state appealed and a lower appeals court signaled on July 21 that it would rule in favor the state.
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Judiciary
SCAMMERS TARGETING FLORIDA RESIDENTS OVER FAKE JURY DUTY CLAIMS
NBC2 News | Article | August 11, 2022
The Collier County Clerk of Court and Comptroller issued a warning about a Jury Duty scam targeting Florida residents. Scammers are contacting people, claiming they missed jury duty and requesting residents pay a fine by purchasing a gift card to the Clerk’s office. Incidents have already been reported in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
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Legal Discipline
COURT REVERSES SANCTION ORDER IN FEUD AMONG SOUTH FLORIDA ATTORNEYS
Daily Business Review | Article | August 11, 2022
In a long-running legal dispute that has resulted in two Florida Bar open cases, Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal ruled that the defendants will not have to pay attorney fees in connection with a sanction order the trial court entered. Third DCA Judges Thomas Logue, Norma S. Lindsey and Monica Gordo ruled that Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Veronica Diaz erred by not providing defendants, Guy Shir and Jodi Shir of the Shir Law Group and Stuart J. Zoberg of ZTJ Recovery Inc. adequate notice and an opportunity for an evidentiary hearing prior to entering its sanctions order. The Third DCA reversed and remanded the case to the circuit court to hold an evidentiary hearing.
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Legislative
DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS CALL FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL INVESTIGATION INTO FPL
Florida Politics | Article | August 11, 2022
Four Democratic lawmakers Anna V. Eskamani, Joy Goff-Marcil, Yvonne Hayes Hinson and Carlos Guillermo Smith are calling on Attorney General Ashley Moody to investigate Florida Power & Light (FPL) following repeated scandals involving the utility company, Florida’s largest. The scandals began after the 2020 election with three spoiler candidates. But according to reports, FPL agents have attempted to bribe a Jacksonville City Council member, directed campaign contributions from dark-money nonprofits, bankrolled a right-wing news organization and operated a secret bar in Tallahassee.
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Judiciary
FLORIDA JUDGE SHARPLY QUESTIONS 3M BANKRUPTCY STRATEGY
Reuters | Article | August 11, 2022
U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers overseeing about 230,000 claims over 3M Co’s military-issue earplugs on Thursday [Aug. 11] sharply questioned the company’s strategy of offloading its liabilities onto a newly bankrupt subsidiary. The lawsuits by veterans say their hearing was damaged by 3M unit Aearo Technologies’ Combat Arms Earplugs Version 2 (CAEv2). Aearo filed for bankruptcy on July 26 and said it had committed $1 billion to resolve the earplug litigation. Days before the filing, it entered into an agreement to indemnify 3M for all liability related to CAEv2.
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Judiciary
A MARSY’S LAW CASE INVOLVING TALLAHASSEE POLICE GOES BEFORE THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT IN OCTOBER
WFSU | Article | August 11, 2022
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday [Aug. 11] said it will hear arguments Oct. 3 in a high-profile case about a 2018 constitutional amendment known as “Marsy’s Law.” The case involves whether Marsy’s Law, which included a series of protections for crime victims, can shield the identities of police officers. The 1st District Court of Appeal last year sided with two Tallahassee police officers who invoked the law to prevent their identities from being released after use-of-force shooting incidents in which they were threatened. The officers argued they were victims in the incidents.