Florida

Florida Enacts Law to Ban Homeless from Public Property, Sparks Controversy and Concerns of Forced Encampments

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Tampa, Florida – Stephanie Bennett has called a tent in the woods her home for the past eight years. Recently, she learned about a new law that could make living in her tent illegal. The legislation, known as “Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping” (HB 1365), has been sent to Governor Ron DeSantis to sign. If passed, the law will prohibit people from camping or sleeping on public property in local municipalities. Under the proposed law, municipalities will be required to designate a specific public space for camping and sleeping, provided they receive approval from … Read more

Cleveland Clinic Florida Found Negligent, Ordered to Pay $32 Million After Man’s Death from Septic Shock

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A jury in Broward County has awarded nearly $32 million to the estate of a man who died after the Cleveland Clinic Florida failed to put him in intensive care following septic shock. The jury found the hospital negligent, resulting in a $30 million award for present and future pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and guidance to the patient’s minor daughter. An additional $1.9 million was awarded for medical expenses, funeral services, and loss of support. The patient, Saverio Sasso, 51, sought medical attention at the Cleveland Clinic emergency department … Read more

Florida Reaches Settlement in Landmark Lawsuit, Paving the Way for Inclusive Education and LGBTQ+ Acceptance

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Tallahassee, Florida – The state of Florida has reached a settlement in a lawsuit regarding a controversial law known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The legislation, which was passed in 2021, restricted the discussion of homosexuality in public schools. The settlement comes after years of legal battles and serves as a significant milestone in the ongoing debate on LGBTQ+ rights in the state. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill, officially titled the “Florida Student and School Personnel Religious Liberties Act,” garnered widespread attention and criticism upon its introduction. Advocacy groups argued that the law was … Read more

Florida Death Row Inmates Outlive Sentencing Judges, Casting Doubt on Death Penalty’s Effectiveness

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — The death penalty in Florida may not be as swift or effective as intended, as many inmates on death row outlive the judges who sentenced them. Last year, Florida executed six inmates, but four of them lived longer than the judges who condemned them. One example is Duane Owen, who was sentenced to death in 1986 for the murders of a 14-year-old babysitter and a 38-year-old mother in separate attacks. Owen was 62 when he was executed last June, four years after the death of Palm Beach Judge Richard Burk, who … Read more