MIAMI HIGHWAY EXTENSION A Florida administrative judge has ruled against Miami-Dade County and its $1 billion plan for a highway extension into wetlands and agricultural areas. The judge ruled the plan was inconsistent with the county’s transportation and conservation goals and would have had no real effect on commute times.
AIRBNB EXEMPTION A Florida appeals court has affirmed a decision from a lower court which said Airbnb, and other short-term rental platforms, are not required to collect and remit a county’s local tourist development tax. The court ruled that Airbnb does not manage the property and therefore, does not have to comply with state statute.
FACE MASK PRICE GOUGING 3M, the world’s largest manufacturer of N95 masks, has filed lawsuits in Tallahassee, Orlando and Tampa alleging companies are claiming to be affiliated with 3M and are attempting to sell masks at over 460 percent of the retail value. In the suits, 3M states that it has not raised prices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNPAID RENT In another development tied to COVID-19, a South Florida landlord is suing AMC Theaters for $7.5 million in unpaid and accelerated rent. The landlord is claiming the impact of the pandemic is an insufficient reason to not pay under the terms of the lease agreement.
WEAR A SHIRT A Broward County judge issued an urgent plea to attorneys participating in court hearings via videoconferencing – ‘please ensure that a shirt is worn prior to joining such hearings’.