MIAMI, May 19 (UPI) -- The lawsuit of a Florida Orthodox Jewish prison inmate to get kosher food that had been dismissed has now been reinstated, court records showed. The Eleventh Circuit appellate court last week put Bruce Rich, who has been serving a life sentence since a Miami-Dade County jury found him guilty in 1999 of shooting to death his parents and who filed suit in 2010 alleging the denial of a kosher diet violated his federal rights, a step closer to getting kosher food for himself and hundreds of Florida inmates who likewise require kosher food, the Miami Herald reported Saturday. Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2013/05/19/Orthodox-Jewish-prisoners-lawsuit-for-kosher-food-reinstated/UPI-10731369005106/#ixzz2TpuNW2Nw … [Read more...]
Florida’s Tomato Farmers Filed Lawsuit Challenging Commerce Department’s Recent Suspension Agreement
Florida’s Tomato Farmers are challenging the Commerce Department’s recent suspension agreement with Mexico. The Florida Tomato Exchange has filed a lawsuit with the US Court of International Trade, questioning whether the antidumping case complies with federal laws designed to ensure fair trade on imported goods. Federal trade laws provide a remedy for “dumping” – selling imported goods into the U.S. market at a price below the home market price or the full cost of production, according to a press release. “Farming is one of America’s most important industries, and most enduring ways of life,” said Reggie Brown, Executive Vice President of the Florida Tomato Exchange. “Tomato farmers in Florida and across America can compete favorably in a market that is both free and … [Read more...]
Lawsuit Launched to Protect Coastal Florida Sparrow and Lizard Threatened by Sea-level Rise
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.— The Center for Biological Diversity filed a formal notice of intent today to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the agency’s failure to protect the MacGillivray’s seaside sparrow and the Florida Keys mole skink under the Endangered Species Act. Both species are severely threatened by sea-level rise: The sparrow depends on marshes that are threatened by rising seas, while the mole skink is found only on Florida’s low-lying keys, at risk of inundation. Driven by climate change, sea-level rise of three feet to six feet in Florida is highly likely within this century. “Help can’t come too soon for the seaside sparrow, Florida Keys mole skink or many other plants and animals on our vulnerable coasts,” said Jaclyn Lopez, a Center attorney based in … [Read more...]
New Florida law permits headlight flashing warnings
TALLAHASSEE — Flashing your headlights to alert oncoming drivers that police are lurking on the roadside ahead will no longer be illegal in Florida, though a lawyer who has represented ticketed motorists says a new law legalizing the practice still has loopholes. A provision legalizing such speed trap warnings is part of a wide-ranging motor vehicle law taking effect Tuesday with the new year. Other changes range from allowing homeless people to get free state identification cards to creating a pair of new specialty license plates. It also would for the first time permit the state to issue specialty driver licenses and ID cards. http://on.pnj.com/W0MLta … [Read more...]
Man Charged in Trayvon Martin’s Death Sues NBC for Defamation
By BRIAN STELTER -- 5:51 p.m. | Updated George Zimmerman,accused of second-degree murder in the shooting of Trayvon Martin earlier this year, filed suit against NBCUniversal on Thursday, alleging that news reports that edited his voice on a 911 tape constituted defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The suit, filed in circuit court in Seminole County, Fla., asked for a jury trial. A spokeswoman for NBCUniversal said in response to the suit: “We strongly disagree with the accusations made in the complaint. There was no intent to portray Mr. Zimmerman unfairly. We intend to vigorously defend our position in court.” http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/man-charged-in-trayvon-martins-death-sues-nbc-for-defamation/ … [Read more...]
