PARI-MUTUEL CARD GAMES The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation will appeal an administrative law judge’s ruling that the Department illegally abolished rules governing card games at pari-mutuel facilities. The facilities argued that, without the rules, games are effectively shut down while the State insists the facilities are operating their games outside of existing rules.
WATER STANDARDS An administrative law judge dismissed a challenge to new water standards approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation filed by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and three others. The judge ruled that the paperwork was not timely filed. The City of Miami, one of the other litigants has appealed the decision, and the Tribe has stated they will also appeal the decision.
MARIJUANA LICENSE RULING An administrative law judge has ruled against a northeast Florida nursery who sought to overturn the decision by the Department of Health’s Office of Compassionate Use not to award them a license to grow marijuana. The judge stated the nursery had not proved its application was superior to two others who received licenses.
EXECUTION DRUG FIGHT The State continues to refuse to provide information about the triple drug lethal injection protocol for death row inmates. Attorneys from Arizona had subpoenaed the Florida Department of Corrections for records concerning the types of drugs used, dosage, expiration dates and suppliers. While three other states provided the requested information to the attorneys, Florida maintains that such records are exempt from our Sunshine laws.