Lawsuits
'Nuclear verdicts' in Florida last year totaled $492 million, new study finds
Florida jury awards exceeding $10 million over the years 2009 to 2023 amounted to a total payout of $33.2 billion, making the Sunshine State second in the nation in terms of the combined value of these so-called “nuclear verdicts.”
Lawsuits
2 Florida insurers accused of using inexperienced or unlicensed claims adjusters to 'lowball' damages claims
Reform
Florida Insurance Commissioner: ‘recent legislation is having positive impacts to the property insurance market’
Florida Insurance Commissioner, Michael Yaworsky, recently announced in an April press release that newly implemented legislative reforms, such as the elimination of attorneys’ fee multipliers, are bolstering the state’s insurance market.
State Court
Florida attorney general sues ACC over withholding of media rights contracts
Florida’s attorney general is suing the Atlantic Coast Conference for failing to turn over media rights contracts involving the Florida State University football program in violation of the state’s Public Records Act.
As Floridians grapple with the unprecedented cost of property insurance we risk losing focus on the root cause of the problem while spending too much time discussing symptoms. Yes, most of us have seen our rates skyrocket, some, like me, have had it cancelled and others have been forced to move half-way back to whence they came.
From WV Record
From WV Record
From Madison Record
From Northern California Record
Dean Mead exits Tallahassee legal market to focus on other Florida regions
In conjunction with its alliance with the national law firm Jones Walker LLP, Florida’s Dean Mead firm has exited the Tallahassee legal market as of Jan. 1 after a decade of doing business there.
State Court
Paul Hickey sues Privilege Underwriters for underinsured motorist coverage
In the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, plaintiff Paul Hickey, M.D., has filed a lawsuit against defendants Privilege Underwriters, Inc. (PURE Insurance Company) and USAA Insurance Agency, Inc. of Texas.
State Court
Patrick Santeramo sues BCM Snell for negligence leading to personal injury
In the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, Florida, plaintiff Patrick Santeramo has filed a lawsuit against defendants BCM Snell, LLC, Burton Carol Management, LLC and Burton Carol Management Facilities Florida, LLC.
State Court
Nicolas Luzes sues School District of Palm Beach County for negligence causing bodily injury
In a lawsuit filed on April 22, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County, Florida (Case No. 502024CA003734XXXAMB Div: AD), Nicolas Luzes is suing the School District of Palm Beach County for damages exceeding $50,000.
State Court
Alicia Montalvo sues Johnny Mayo for damages from a motor vehicle accident
In the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida, plaintiffs Alicia Montalvo and Ashley Montalvo Weiner have filed a lawsuit against defendant Johnny Mayo.
State Court
Miss America Competitions sues Robin Fleming for unauthorized asset acquisition and name change
In the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, a lawsuit has been filed by Miss America Competitions, LLC, Miss America IP, LLC, and MAO IP Holding Company, LLC against Robin Fleming and the Miss America Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
State Court
Adam Van Hoesen sues State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company for refusal to pay uninsured motorist benefits following an accident
Adam Van Hoesen has filed a lawsuit against State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, Florida.
State Court
Pamela Peterson sues Jorge Casanova Riestra for damages due to a motor vehicle accident
In the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas, Florida, Pamela Peterson has filed a lawsuit against Jorge Casanova Riestra.
State Court
Jacques Hagan sues Alejandro Moscoso for motor vehicle collision damages
The lawsuit filed by Jacques Hagan against Alejandro Moscoso in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County, Florida (Case No: 50-2024-CA-003809-X XX A-MB) on April 23, 2024, pertains to a motor vehicle collision.
State Court
Christopher McFarland sues Lisa M. DiSanto for malpractice leading to severe health complications
Christopher McFarland has filed a lawsuit against Lisa M. DiSanto, D.O., and Diagnostic Clinic Medical Group, Inc. in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida.
Lawyer sues Fla. country club after he's not allowed to visit with mother
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A lawyer says he was wrongfully kept from visiting with his mother at a Florida country club and has gone to court.
'Nuclear verdicts' in Florida last year totaled $492 million, new study finds
Florida jury awards exceeding $10 million over the years 2009 to 2023 amounted to a total payout of $33.2 billion, making the Sunshine State second in the nation in terms of the combined value of these so-called “nuclear verdicts.”
Lawsuit says child at daycare allowed to play with toys leaking bleach
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida daycare facility faces allegations it let a child play with toys that appeared to be leaking bleach.
Wendy's hit with lawsuit after fired teenager disappears for five days
TAMPA, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Parents of a 17-year-old daughter who worked at a Florida Wendy's say her wrongful firing caused her to be missing for five days.
Fla. convenience store blamed after customer shot, paralyzed
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida woman who was shot at a Tallahassee convenience store is suing for her injuries, which include her being paralyzed from the waist down.
Realtors to pay $418M to end home seller commission class action; Big changes coming to home sale process
Lawyers who brought the lawsuits could be in for a big payday, as well, potentially claiming $140 million from the deal, plus $69 million from earlier settlements with large real estate brokerages facing similar claims of alleged collusion to boost real estate agent commissions
Florida has second best volunteer rate for answering civil legal questions, ABA report finds
A total of 1,106 Florida attorneys have volunteered to answer the public’s legal questions through the American Bar Association’s virtual clinic, called ABA Free Legal Answers – the second-highest volunteer rate among all 50 states.
DeSantis touts Florida's 'sanity,' reform record in 2024 State of the State address
Taking a detour from his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted “failed” federal policies on Tuesday while hailing Florida as a “refuge for freedom and sanity” during his State of the State speech to the Legislature.
Researchers report orchestrated high-tech campaign to assault Florida insurance firms with lawsuits
A tsunami of technology-generated litigation has been pummeling Florida insurance companies in recent years, contributing to the liquidation of six property insurers in the state in 2022, according to insurance researchers.
Medical marijuana firm seeks to counter cannabis legalization ballot measure
Signs of discord between medical marijuana advocates and recreational cannabis supporters are emerging in a legal battle now before the Florida Supreme Court that will determine whether the Smart & Safe initiative goes before state voters.
Contractor gives up case against Fla. law firm after sanctions motion filed
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A former client that hoped to keep lawyers from taking fees in pending cases is giving up its quest.
Trump can't convince federal judge to reopen $475M defamation case against CNN
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Former President Donald Trump failed to raise any new issues that would reopen his defamation case against CNN, which he says compared him to Adolf Hitler while he fought the results of his 2020 loss to President Joe Biden.
Litigation financing transparency bill fails to pass Florida Legislature
Tort reform supporters are expressing disappointment over the failure of the Florida Legislature to pass a bill that would have shed more light on third-party litigation financing agreements and their potential relationships with foreign entities.
Woman files wrongful death mesothelioma lawsuit against Seminole Electric
TAMPA — A woman has filed a lawsuit against Seminole Electric after her mother died from mesothelioma allegedly caused by asbestos exposure.
California reclaims top spot on 'Judicial Hellhole' list; ATRA bemoans state's adoption of 'innovator liability'
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - California tops the list of jurisdictions regarded as "Judicial Hellholes" by a national civil justice reform group.
Patrick Santeramo sues BCM Snell for negligence leading to personal injury
In the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Pinellas County, Florida, plaintiff Patrick Santeramo has filed a lawsuit against defendants BCM Snell, LLC, Burton Carol Management, LLC and Burton Carol Management Facilities Florida, LLC.
Celebrity cruise passenger sues after finding piece of nail in pecan pie
A passenger on a Celebrity Cruise says she found a piece of nail in her pecan pie.
R Street insurance expert: Florida insurance market recovering after ‘reform legislation’ targeted ‘unmerited litigation’
Jerry Theodorou, the Policy Director for Finance, Insurance, and Trade at the R Street Institute, has stated that Florida's insurance market has reaped benefits from legislative reform measures such as capping attorney's fee awards. These measures have led to a reduction in the volume of "unmerited litigation" within the state. Theodorou made this statement in a commentary on April 4.
4th Florida Bar complaint filed against Coral Gables attorney
The Florida Bar has filed its fourth complaint against Miami-Dade County attorney Scot Strems, alleging that Strems and the Strems Law Firm (SLF) engaged in a pattern of duplicitous behavior and subterfuge to enroll property owners into legal services.