Florida

  • October 23, 2024

    Character.AI, Google Face Suit Over Teen's Suicide

    A woman claiming her 14-year-old son killed himself after becoming addicted to Character.AI sued the company, its founders and Google on Tuesday, claiming the tech giant is a co-creator of the AI startup's development, marketing and infrastructure, which made the teen believe the artificial intelligence platform's chatbots were real.

  • October 23, 2024

    Fla. Law Firm Gets Win In Trial Over Pregnancy Bias

    A Florida federal judge on Wednesday granted a judgment in favor of a law firm accused of firing its former human resources manager because she was pregnant, agreeing that the evidence presented at trial wasn't sufficient to prove a discrimination claim.

  • October 23, 2024

    Venezuelan TV Mogul Charged In $1.2B PDVSA Bribe Scheme

    A Florida federal grand jury returned an indictment Wednesday charging a Venezuelan television news network owner with participating in a $1.2 billion scheme to launder funds from Venezuela's state-owned energy company Petróleos de Venezuela SA in exchange for bribes to Venezuelan officials.

  • October 23, 2024

    Late Smoker's Spouse Can Argue Survivor's Benefits At Retrial

    The husband of a deceased smoker whose $157 million win against tobacco companies was erased can claim surviving spouse damages under Florida's Wrongful Death Act on retrial even though he was not married to his partner at the time he was diagnosed with lung disease, according to an opinion released Wednesday by a Florida appeals court.

  • October 23, 2024

    Fla. College Savings Plan Wasn't Impaired By Fee, Court Told

    A Florida agency that administers the state's prepaid college savings program urged a federal judge Wednesday to toss a proposed class action brought by parents alleging their promised benefits were deprived with an additional fee, arguing that they fail to state a cause of action.

  • October 23, 2024

    Fla. Judge Fights Ethics Charges Of 'Intemperate' Conduct

    A Sunshine State judge attempted to explain away accusations by the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission that he acted "intemperately," saying that while he, at times, struggles with patience, he treats those who appear before him with "dignity and courtesy."

  • October 23, 2024

    Foley & Lardner Adds Burr & Forman Corporate Duo In Fla.

    Foley & Lardner LLP has ramped up its innovative technology sector and transactions practice group with two former Burr & Forman LLP partners in Jacksonville, Florida, where a Foley & Lardner leader said their arrival aligned with the firm's strategic focus on four key sectors of the economy. 

  • October 23, 2024

    JAMS Adds International Arbitration Veteran To Miami Office

    Alternative dispute resolution service JAMS has added the managing member of Squires International Law PLLC to its Miami office, strengthening its services with a multilingual attorney who brings a strong business and law background.

  • October 23, 2024

    Ga. Firm Owner Denies SEC Ponzi Scheme Allegations

    The owner of an Atlanta-area firm accused of running a multimillion-dollar "classic Ponzi scheme" has denied all wrongdoing, telling a Georgia federal judge he merely acted in reasonable reliance on others' advice and experience.

  • October 22, 2024

    Giuliani Must Give NYC Apartment, Watches To Poll Workers

    A New York federal judge Tuesday ordered Rudy Giuliani to hand over most of his property to two Georgia poll workers, including his Manhattan apartment, Mercedes-Benz, luxury watches and valuable sports memorabilia, to help cover the $148 million judgment the former mayor owes for defaming them.

  • October 22, 2024

    Blink Investor Deal Gets Final OK, Attys Score $1.25M Fee

    A Florida federal judge has granted final approval to a $3.75 million settlement between electric-vehicle charging station operator Blink Charging Co. and a proposed class of investors who alleged the company mischaracterized the functionality of its charging network.

  • October 22, 2024

    Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Cops Want 2020 Protest Suit Dismissed

    Several Fort Lauderdale police officers Tuesday urged a Florida federal court to toss a proposed class action brought by demonstrators alleging their civil rights were violated during a 2020 George Floyd protest, saying they're entitled to qualified immunity.

  • October 22, 2024

    Fla. Says 1st Amendment Doesn't Protect 'False' Abortion Ad

    The Florida Department of Health said Tuesday that a campaign ad promoting an abortion rights ballot initiative is not protected by the First Amendment because it is an "out-and-out falsehood" that causes harm by misleading residents about the availability of emergency medical services in the state.

  • October 22, 2024

    11th Circ. Signals Fla. Gun Ban Turns On 'Age Of Majority'

    Whether the full Eleventh Circuit will strike down or uphold Florida's firearms sales ban to anyone under 21 appeared to hinge Tuesday on whether the court adopts modern notions of when adulthood begins or prior beliefs understood as "18-year-old Johnny on his way to the militia," circa 1789.

  • October 22, 2024

    Hertz Board Panel Takes Control Of Shareholder Buyback Suit

    Delaware's chancellor has granted a Hertz Global Holdings Inc. board special committee's request to investigate stockholder-filed derivative claims challenging the fairness of $4 billion in stock buybacks in 2022 that vaulted a private equity-based shareholder into a controlling position, in a ruling that also sidelined related direct damage claims.

  • October 22, 2024

    Fla. Union Says License Application Was Wrongfully Denied

    A public sector union told a Florida appeals court Tuesday that the state's Public Employees Relations Commission erred in holding the union to newly passed higher standards for re-registration before the law went into effect and upholding this decision would allow administrative agencies to simply ignore effective dates.

  • October 22, 2024

    Baker Donelson Picks Up Carlton Fields Health Ace In Florida

    Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC announced Tuesday that it had brought a former Carlton Fields PA healthcare attorney to its practice in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, enabling the firm to deepen its health law bench with a lawyer who has private practice and in-house experience.

  • October 22, 2024

    A Piece Of Baseball Lore Went Over The Fence And Into Court

    Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani's 50th home run of the season caused a mad dash in the stands for a piece of baseball history. That melee has carried over into Florida state court, where at least three people are claiming ownership of the ball and its seven-figure price tag.

  • October 22, 2024

    Fla. Judge Accused Of Misusing Contempt, Cuffing Victim

    A Sunshine State judge has been hit with ethics charges for allegedly improperly holding people in her courtroom in contempt, including an alleged crime victim who was placed in handcuffs and held in custody for nearly three hours.

  • October 22, 2024

    11th Circ. Knocks Class Cert. In Emory COVID Refund Suit

    An Eleventh Circuit panel vacated and remanded a Georgia federal judge's certification of a proposed class of tuition payers in a parent's lawsuit seeking refunds for Emory University's switch to remote learning during the pandemic.

  • October 22, 2024

    How Law Firms Get And Keep Elite Status

    For decades, a handful of New York-based law firms thoroughly dominated the national consciousness when it came to power, profitability and prestige. But in today's legal market, increased movement of partners and clients from one firm to the next has begun to shake things up and create opportunities for go-getters to ascend the ranks.

  • October 22, 2024

    The 2024 Prestige Leaders

    Check out our Prestige Leaders ranking, analysis and interactive graphics to see which firms stand out for their financial performance, attractiveness to attorneys and law students, ability to secure accolades and positive legal news media representation.

  • October 22, 2024

    Grassley Probes Delayed Charges For Threat To Trump Judge

    U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is seeking answers as to why it took the U.S. Department of Justice four months to indict an Illinois man for allegedly threatening to kidnap and murder the Florida federal judge who handled Donald Trump's classified documents case.

  • October 22, 2024

    11th Circ. Nixes $440M Win For Dock Co. In Cuba Port Row

    The Eleventh Circuit on Tuesday tossed a $440 million judgment for Havana Docks Corp. in its suit accusing luxury cruise companies of wrongly docking at its terminal — which the Cuban government seized decades ago — with the appellate panel reasoning the company no longer had a stake in the pier. 

  • October 22, 2024

    Ex-Abercrombie CEO Charged With Sex Trafficking

    Former Abercrombie & Fitch Co. CEO Mike Jeffries was indicted Tuesday on charges he ran an international sex trafficking and prostitution ring that abused male models who were led to believe their participation in sex parties would benefit their careers.

Expert Analysis

  • How Loper Bright Is Affecting Pending FCC Litigation

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    Pending challenges against Federal Communications Commission orders at the Sixth and Eleventh Circuits following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Loper Bright highlight that counsel must be familiar with the statutes, regulations and precedent relevant to the FCC to best navigate the rapidly changing compliance landscape, say attorneys at Davis Wright.

  • Series

    Round-Canopy Parachuting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Similar to the practice of law, jumping from an in-flight airplane with nothing but training and a few yards of parachute silk is a demanding and stressful endeavor, and the experience has bolstered my legal practice by enhancing my focus, teamwork skills and sense of perspective, says Thomas Salerno at Stinson.

  • And Now A Word From The Panel: The MDL Map

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    An intriguing yet unpredictable facet of multidistrict litigation practice is venue selection for new MDL proceedings, and the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation considers many factors when it assigns an MDL venue, says Alan Rothman at Sidley Austin.

  • Why Now Is The Time For Law Firms To Hire Lateral Partners

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    Partner and associate mobility data from the second quarter of this year suggest that there's never been a better time in recent years for law firms to hire lateral candidates, particularly experienced partners — though this necessitates an understanding of potential red flags, say Julie Henson and Greg Hamman at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.

  • Considering Possible PR Risks Of Certain Legal Tactics

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    Disney and American Airlines recently abandoned certain litigation tactics in two lawsuits after fierce public backlash, illustrating why corporate counsel should consider the reputational implications of any legal strategy and partner with their communications teams to preempt public relations concerns, says Chris Gidez at G7 Reputation Advisory.

  • It's No Longer Enough For Firms To Be Trusted Advisers

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    Amid fierce competition for business, the transactional “trusted adviser” paradigm from which most firms operate is no longer sufficient — they should instead aim to become trusted partners with their most valuable clients, says Stuart Maister at Strategic Narrative.

  • Expect More Restaurant Ch. 11s As COVID Debt Comes Due

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    The wave of restaurant bankruptcies is likely to continue in the coming months as companies face the looming repayment of COVID-19 pandemic-era government loans, an uncertain economy and increased interest rates, says Isaac Marcushamer at DGIM Law.

  • What VC Fund Settlement Means For DEI Grant Programs

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    An unexpected settlement in American Alliance for Equal Rights v. Fearless Fund, based on specific details of an Atlanta venture capital fund's challenged minority grant program, leaves the legal landscape wide open for organizations with similar programs supporting diversity, equity and inclusion to chart a path forward, say attorneys at Moore & Van Allen.

  • Missouri Injunction A Setback For State Anti-ESG Rules

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    A Missouri federal court’s recent order enjoining the state’s anti-ESG rules comes amid actions by state legislatures to revise or invalidate similar legislation imposing disclosure and consent requirements around environmental, social and governance investing, and could be a blueprint for future challenges, say attorneys at Paul Hastings.

  • How Methods Are Evolving In Textualist Interpretations

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    Textualists at the U.S. Supreme Court are increasingly considering new methods such as corpus linguistics and surveys to evaluate what a statute's text communicates to an ordinary reader, while lower courts even mull large language models like ChatGPT as supplements, says Kevin Tobia at Georgetown Law.

  • The State Law Landscape After Justices' Social Media Ruling

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    Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent NetChoice ruling on social media platforms’ First Amendment rights, it’s still unclear if state content moderation laws are constitutional, leaving online operators to face a patchwork of regulation, and the potential for the issue to return to the high court, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • What's Next For Federal Preemption In Financial Services

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    The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's review of its preemption interpretations and growing pressure from state regulators signal potential changes ahead for preemption in U.S. financial services, and the path forward will likely involve a reevaluation of the entire framework, say attorneys at Clark Hill.

  • Avoiding Corporate Political Activity Pitfalls This Election Year

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    As Election Day approaches, corporate counsel should be mindful of the complicated rules around companies engaging in political activities, including super PAC contributions, pay-to-play prohibitions and foreign agent restrictions, say attorneys at Covington.

  • Why Attorneys Should Consider Community Leadership Roles

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    Volunteering and nonprofit board service are complementary to, but distinct from, traditional pro bono work, and taking on these community leadership roles can produce dividends for lawyers, their firms and the nonprofit causes they support, says Katie Beacham at Kilpatrick.

  • Firms Must Offer A Trifecta Of Services In Post-Chevron World

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    After the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision overturning Chevron deference, law firms will need to integrate litigation, lobbying and communications functions to keep up with the ramifications of the ruling and provide adequate counsel quickly, says Neil Hare at Dentons.

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