Circuit Court Judge Jennifer J. Frydrychowicz denied Jonathan Green’s request for a hearing in his request for an emergency temporary restraining order on the demolition of the Malcolm Yonge Gym so a group would have 60 days to gather signatures to force a referendum on the issue.
The judge found Green failed to follow the requirements of Fla. R. Civ. R. 1.160.
Read 2024-02-21 – Order Denying Request for Hearing Without Prejudice-1.
—-
Andrade’s Defamation Bill Moves Forward
From The News Service of Florida: The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved HB 757, a controversial proposal that would overhaul the state’s defamation laws, potentially exposing media organizations to increased liability.
- The Republican-controlled committee voted 14-7 along almost straight party lines to support the bill (HB 757), which is now positioned to go to the full House.
What’s in the bill
Among other things, the bill could make it easier for public figures to sue journalists who rely on anonymous sources for information that turns out to be false. The bill would create what is known as a “rebuttable presumption” of actual malice that journalists would have to overcome to avoid being found liable in cases involving anonymous sources.
Critics
The bill has drawn opposition from a wide range of organizations, from the conservative Americans for Prosperity to the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. Greg Gonzalez, legislative counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, or FIRE, told the House committee that the bill poses “grave dangers” to First Amendment rights and would harm freedom of the press.
Andrade’s Response
But bill sponsor Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, brushed off criticism. “Shocking, media outlets and their attorneys are afraid that a bill that protects your reputation and recognizes that your reputation has value don’t want it to pass,” Andrade said.
- The Senate version of the bill (SB 1780) needs approval from the Fiscal Policy Committee before it can go to the full Senate.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that former Trump White House adviser Stephen Miller came out against the bill on social media Wednesday:
“…conservative influencers, podcasters and alternative media companies based in Florida are going to get WRECKED solely because they are conservative. And I mean WRECKED. Reject this law before it’s too late.”
