Florida

Florida Attorney Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for $10M Tax Fraud Scheme, Funding a Lavish Lifestyle

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DAVIE, Florida – A Florida attorney has been sentenced to eight years in prison for his involvement in a $10 million tax evasion conspiracy. Michael L. Meyer, based in Davie, pleaded guilty to the charges earlier this year. The case revolved around a fraudulent tax shelter scheme that aimed to assist high-income clients in minimizing their tax liabilities through the use of fabricated charitable deductions. According to the Department of Justice, Meyer personally profited over $10 million from the illegal scheme. With this newfound wealth, he indulged in an extravagant lifestyle, acquiring luxury vehicles such … Read more

Federal Judge Blocks Florida Law, Protecting Transgender Teacher’s Pronouns in the Classroom

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A federal judge in Tallahassee has issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida from enforcing a law that requires a transgender teacher to use pronouns that align with her sex assigned at birth. The judge ruled that the law violated the teacher’s First Amendment rights. The 2023 law restricts the use of personal pronouns and titles by educators in schools. Violations of the law can result in teachers losing their certifications and hefty financial penalties for school districts. The law is one of several measures supported by the Republican-controlled Legislature and Governor Ron … Read more

Florida Governor Signs Legislation to Protect Children from Exploitation and Combat Domestic Violence, Inspired by Gabby Petito’s Tragic Story

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ST. PETERSBURG, Florida — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a series of bills on Wednesday aimed at protecting children from exploitation and online predators, as well as a domestic violence bill inspired by the tragic killing of Gabby Petito. During a news conference in St. Petersburg, DeSantis signed five pieces of legislation. One of the bills, referred to as the “Gabby Petito Act” or SB 1224, requires law enforcement officers investigating domestic violence incidents to administer a lethality assessment under certain circumstances. The assessment involves asking a series of questions to determine if the victim … Read more

Governing Dispute Ends: Disney and Florida Governor Reach Settlement, Pausing Federal Lawsuit

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ORLANDO, Fla. – Disney has been granted a two-month pause in a federal lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his appointees to Walt Disney World’s governing district. The decision follows a settlement reached by the two parties in separate state court litigation. Disney had filed a request to the federal appellate court last week, citing a settlement agreement between the company and the DeSantis-appointed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The lawsuit had emerged after a dispute over the future development of Disney World sparked disagreement between the company and the district. As part of … Read more