Florida

  • September 30, 2024

    Red States Back High Court Bid To Undo Mont. Voting Order

    Fifteen Republican-led states are backing a U.S. Supreme Court petition by Montana that looks to undo a determination that two voting laws hindered Native Americans and students from participating in the election process, arguing that the state's high court transgressed the ordinary bounds of judicial review in making its decision.

  • September 30, 2024

    11th Circ. Skeptical Of Peanut Truck Co.'s Excise Tax Refund

    The Eleventh Circuit seemed skeptical of a lower court's decision to award a $37,000 excise tax refund to a manufacturer on its sale of wagons for carrying and drying peanuts, suggesting during oral arguments that the semitrailers may fail to qualify for a tax exemption for off-road vehicles.

  • September 30, 2024

    Fla. Judge Tosses NextEra Stock Drop Suit

    A Florida federal judge on Friday dismissed a proposed class action against NextEra that sought to hold the energy company liable for a drop in its share price after political interference allegations emerged against its subsidiary Florida Power and Light Co.

  • September 30, 2024

    EEOC Sues Fla. Resort Over Worker Fired After Stillbirth

    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued a Florida resort Monday for alleged discrimination for firing a female line cook who requested time off to recover from a stillbirth, saying the former employee qualified for accommodations under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

  • September 30, 2024

    Insurer Says Miami Can't Toss Retaliation Coverage Dispute

    An insurer for the city of Miami sought to maintain its action seeking reimbursement of $5 million for expenses incurred in defending the city and one of its commissioners against underlying lawsuits alleging political retaliation, arguing that it didn't "commingle" claims regarding its potential defense and indemnification obligations.

  • September 30, 2024

    4 Firms Guide Verizon's $3.3B Wireless Comms Towers Sale

    Verizon has sold 6,339 wireless communications towers to a communications-focused real estate investment trust for $3.3 billion in a deal guided by Jones Day, Greenberg Traurig, Simpson Thacher and Mayer Brown, Verizon announced Monday.

  • September 30, 2024

    Courts In 5 Fla. Counties Remain Closed After Helene

    Five state courts in the Sunshine State were still closed Monday following the landfall of Hurricane Helene, which brought winds reaching 140 miles per hour and storm surge levels of an estimated 15 feet in the most affected areas.

  • September 27, 2024

    Real Estate Recap: Loving Or Leaving The Law Office

    Catch up on this past week's key developments by state from Law360 Real Estate Authority — including takeaways from a new survey of BigLaw firms that have either renovated their office or relocated entirely.

  • September 27, 2024

    SEC Says Ex-Chewy Exec Inside Traded On Pet Insurer Deal

    A former executive at pet supply company Chewy agreed Friday to pay more than $35,000 to settle charges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that he traded on inside information about the company's plans to announce a deal with a pet insurance company.

  • September 27, 2024

    Fla. Timeshare Biz Wins $1.3M Fee Award In False Ad Suit

    A Florida federal judge has awarded more than $1.3 million in attorney fees to a timeshare company that prevailed in a lawsuit against a Wyoming company over a false advertising scheme encouraging customers to stop paying for their properties, after agreeing the marketers pursued an "exceptionally weak case" that would not succeed.

  • September 27, 2024

    Giuliani Keeps Condo If He's In Fla. 'State Of Mind,' Judge Told

    Rudy Giuliani's lawyer told a New York federal judge Friday that whether the ex-New York City mayor's Florida condo can be taken to help satisfy a $148 million defamation trial bill hinges not on whether he spends any time in Florida but on his residency "state of mind."

  • September 27, 2024

    FTX Users Say Binance Manipulated Market To Spark Collapse

    Users of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX told a Florida federal judge that social media posts by competing exchange Binance still manipulated markets to cause the collapse of FTX and harm users even if the statements themselves weren't false.

  • September 27, 2024

    Constitution Permits Blocked Anti-Laundering Law, Panel Told

    The U.S. government urged the Eleventh Circuit on Friday to reinstate the Corporate Transparency Act passed in 2021, arguing that the anti-money laundering law is within Congress' powers to regulate economic activity and necessary to have businesses report beneficial ownership to combat crimes like tax evasion and terrorist financing.

  • September 27, 2024

    NYC Affiliates Of Troubled Miami Office Owner File Ch. 11

    Two entities related to The Gateway at Wynwood, an office building in a hip Miami neighborhood whose owner went bankrupt in July, are now themselves seeking Chapter 11 protection in New York, each claiming a bit over $52 million in liabilities.

  • September 27, 2024

    Hurricane Helene Losses Could Exceed $5B: Market Analyst

    The losses from Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that slammed into Florida's panhandle Thursday evening, could exceed $5 billion and challenge insurers dealing with high reinsurance costs, according to an early estimate from the insurer credit rating company AM Best.

  • September 27, 2024

    11th Circ. Rejects Initial En Banc Hearing For ERISA Appeal

    The Eleventh Circuit denied an initial en banc hearing request from former employees of a seafood company who are pushing to revive a lawsuit alleging their employee stock ownership plan was overcharged by tens of millions of dollars after a Georgia federal judge dismissed the case in December.

  • September 27, 2024

    Miami Approves $12.5M Deal To End Little Havana Bar's Suit

    The city of Miami has agreed to pay $12.5 million to settle claims from the owners of several popular Little Havana businesses who alleged city officials repeatedly harassed them and deliberately crafted ordinances to destroy their business rights.

  • September 27, 2024

    Off The Bench: College Sports Dominates Legal Landscape

    In this week's Off The Bench, the NCAA and the athletes in the big name, image and likeness settlement try to redo the terms to satisfy the overseeing judge, Reggie Bush says his image has been exploited by his alma mater and the NCAA for years, and the Pac-12 claims that it's being strong-armed by a rival conference for coaxing away its teams.

  • September 27, 2024

    11th Circ. Vacates $456K Fine Against Ex-Fla. Congressman

    The Eleventh Circuit has vacated a judgment and $456,000 fine against a former U.S. congressman accused by the Federal Election Commission of violating campaign finance laws after finding that the lower court improperly discounted the ex-congressman's competing testimony.

  • September 27, 2024

    Gunster Says Absence Of Damages Sinks Data Breach Case

    Gunster Yoakley & Stewart PA wants a proposed class action lawsuit against it tossed in Florida federal court, arguing plaintiffs who had their personal information compromised when the law firm fell victim to a cyberattack can't show any harm was done.

  • September 27, 2024

    Philip Morris Says Nicotine Pouch Suit Is Preempted

    Philip Morris International Inc. and a subsidiary are urging a Connecticut federal judge to throw out claims that they falsely advertised nicotine pouches as safe and healthy and marketed them to adolescents, saying the claims are preempted by federal law.

  • September 27, 2024

    Medical Equipment Co., Founder Settle FCA Suit For $20M

    A Florida-based medical equipment company and its founder will pay $20 million to settle claims under the federal False Claims Act that they improperly billed government healthcare plans for duplicated and unnecessary sales of devices meant to offer pain relief through electrical stimulation, Pennsylvania prosecutors said Friday.

  • September 26, 2024

    11th Circ. Affirms Convictions In Fla. Shark Rescue Case

    The Eleventh Circuit upheld felony theft convictions for two Florida tour boat divers who were prosecuted for freeing sharks they believed were illegally poached, but turned out to be part of a research project conducted with a permit granted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

  • September 26, 2024

    FCC Hits Alleged Pirate Radio Operators With $1.8M In Fines

    The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday slapped more than $800,000 in fines on three alleged pirate radio operators in the Miami area and proposed $1 million in forfeitures against three others in the New York City area.

  • September 26, 2024

    Feds Rip Railroads' 11th Circ. Bid To Void Train Crew Size Rule

    The U.S. Department of Transportation has told the Eleventh Circuit that its new train crew size rule is intended to promote rail safety, yet railroads have misconstrued the requirement and overblown their purported cost burdens in an effort to torpedo the rule.

Expert Analysis

  • Why The SEC Is Targeting Short-And-Distort Schemes

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent crackdown on the illegal practice of short-and-distort trades highlights the urgent need for public companies to adopt proactive measures, including pursuing private rights of action, say attorneys at Baker McKenzie.

  • Series

    Playing Dungeons & Dragons Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Playing Dungeons & Dragons – a tabletop role-playing game – helped pave the way for my legal career by providing me with foundational skills such as persuasion and team building, says Derrick Carman at Robins Kaplan.

  • Class Action Law Makes An LLC A 'Jurisdictional Platypus'

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    The applicability of Section 1332(d)(10) of the Class Action Fairness Act is still widely misunderstood — and given the ambiguous nature of limited liability companies, the law will likely continue to confound courts and litigants — so parties should be prepared for a range of outcomes, says Andrew Gunem at Strauss Borrelli.

  • 3 Leadership Practices For A More Supportive Firm Culture

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    Traditional leadership styles frequently amplify the inherent pressures of legal work, but a few simple, time-neutral strategies can strengthen the skills and confidence of employees and foster a more collaborative culture, while supporting individual growth and contribution to organizational goals, says Benjamin Grimes at BKG Leadership.

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Rulings On Hyperlinked Documents

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    Recent rulings show that counsel should engage in early discussions with clients regarding the potential of hyperlinked documents in electronically stored information, which will allow for more deliberate negotiation of any agreements regarding the scope of discovery, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Loper Bright Limits Federal Agencies' Ability To Alter Course

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to dismantle Chevron deference also effectively overrules its 2005 decision in National Cable & Telecommunications Association v. Brand X, greatly diminishing agencies' ability to change regulatory course from one administration to the next, says Steven Gordon at Holland & Knight.

  • Series

    Teaching Scuba Diving Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    As a master scuba instructor, I’ve learned how to prepare for the unexpected, overcome fears and practice patience, and each of these skills – among the many others I’ve developed – has profoundly enhanced my work as a lawyer, says Ron Raether at Troutman Pepper.

  • Lawyers Can Take Action To Honor The Voting Rights Act

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    As the Voting Rights Act reaches its 59th anniversary Tuesday, it must urgently be reinforced against recent efforts to dismantle voter protections, and lawyers can pitch in immediately by volunteering and taking on pro bono work to directly help safeguard the right to vote, says Anna Chu at We The Action.

  • 3 Healthcare FCA Deals Provide Self-Disclosure Takeaways

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    Several civil False Claims Act settlements of alleged healthcare fraud violations over the past year demonstrate that healthcare providers may benefit substantially from voluntarily disclosing potential misconduct to both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, say Brian Albritton and Raquel Ramirez Jefferson at Phelps Dunbar.

  • How Loper Bright Weakens NEPA Enviro Justice Strategy

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    The National Environmental Policy Act is central to the Biden administration's environmental justice agenda — but the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo casts doubt on the government's ability to rely on NEPA for this purpose, and a pending federal case will test the strategy's limits, say attorneys at Perkins Coie.

  • Series

    After Chevron: ERISA Challenges To Watch

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    The end of Chevron deference makes the outcome of Employee Retirement Income Security Act regulatory challenges more uncertain as courts become final arbiters of pending lawsuits about ESG investments, the definition of a fiduciary, unallocated pension forfeitures and discrimination in healthcare plans, says Evelyn Haralampu at Burns & Levinson.

  • Opinion

    Expert Witness Standards Must Consider Peer Review Crisis

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    For nearly two decades, the so-called replication crisis has upended how the scientific community views the reliability of peer-reviewed studies, and it’s time for courts to reevaluate whether peer review is a trustworthy proxy for expert witness reliability, say Jeffrey Gross and Robert LaCroix at Reid Collins.

  • How To Grow Marketing, Biz Dev Teams In A Tight Market

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    Faced with fierce competition and rising operating costs, firms are feeling the pressure to build a well-oiled marketing and business development team that supports strategic priorities, but they’ll need to be flexible and creative given a tight talent market, says Ben Curle at Ambition.

  • Series

    Rock Climbing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Rock climbing requires problem-solving, focus, risk management and resilience, skills that are also invaluable assets in my role as a finance lawyer, says Mei Zhang at Haynes and Boone.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Dance The Legal Standard Two-Step

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    From rookie brief writers to Chief Justice John Roberts, lawyers should master the legal standard two-step — framing the governing standard at the outset, and clarifying why they meet that standard — which has benefits for both the drafter and reader, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

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