Legal Updates

MASK REQUIREMENT A circuit court judge has ruled against a Leon County man who sought to invalidate the County’s ordinance requiring the wearing of a mask in businesses. The judge cited evidence that mask wearing has been demonstrated to be effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19.

NURSING HOME LICENSE A Broward County nursing home, which saw several deaths during the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017, is suing both the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and the U.S. Department of Health. The Agency is being sued because of an attempt to revoke the facility’s licensure. The home is battling the Department of Health because they have been removed from the list of approved facilities and therefore, are unable to participate in federal programs.

OPIOID DOCTORS A circuit court judge has thrown out the request of several pharmacies to add over 500 practicing physicians as defendants in the legal action brought by the state. The state is suing to recover costs associated with the opioid crisis. The pharmacies contend it is the prescribing doctors who should be sued. The judge left open the possibility of allowing some doctors to be added to the suit at a later date.

CLASSROOM REOPENING Florida’s teacher union filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the planned opening for in-person classroom instruction due to COVID-19. The state sought to have the suit dismissed, but the judge refused. The action has been fast-tracked with the judge urging the two sides to hash out their differences and reach an agreement.

DON’T MESS WITH GRANDMA’S CBD An $18 million lawsuit has been filed against the Walt Disney Company, the City of Orlando Police Department, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department by a great-grandmother who was arrested at the Magic Kingdom. She is claiming improper arrest and was strip searched after she was found with a legal bottle of CBD oil.