[SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA]
Oral Argument Press Summaries
May 6-10, 2002

The following summaries are drawn from briefs and lower court judgments. They are meant to provide a general idea of facts and issues presented in cases, and should not be considered official court documents. Facts and issues presented in these summaries should be checked for accuracy against records and briefs, available from the Court, which provide more specific information.

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[ETCHING: SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA]
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Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Monday, May 6, 2002
Arrive early. Times & order of appearance are tentative and subject to change with no notice. Cases may be postponed due to exigent circumstances.
Case Time Facts & Issues Place of Origin
No Cases Scheduled

Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Tuesday, May 7, 2002
Arrive early. Times & order of appearance are tentative and subject to change with no notice. Cases may be postponed due to exigent circumstances.

Case Time Facts & Issues Place of Origin
Humana of Florida, Inc. v. Jacob Thomas Tomlian

SC01-1260 & SC01-1259

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 9:00 Tomlian was born with cerebral palsy. His parents sued their health care providers alleging that the injuries causing this condition occurred during birth due to their negligence. At trial, the Tomlians offered a neuropsychologist as an expert witness to testify on the cause of Jacob's condition, but the trial court refused to let him testify because he was not a physician. On appeal, the Fourth District Court reversed. Broward County
The Florida Bar v. Alan Ira Karten

SC00-256

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 Approx. 9:40 A referee has recommended that Karten be disbarred for allegedly selling a client's property without proper authorization. The matter is before the Supreme Court for a ruling. Dade County
Ray Lamar Johnston v. State of Florida

SC00-979

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 Approx. 10:10 Johnston was arrested for the August 1997 murder of Leanne Coryell. The jury found him guilty and recommended the death penalty 12-to-0, which the judge imposed. This is his direct appeal. Hillsborough County

Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Wednesday, May 8, 2002
Arrive early. Times & order of appearance are tentative and subject to change with no notice. Cases may be postponed due to exigent circumstances.

Case Time Facts & Issues Place of Origin
Florida Dep't of the Lottery v. Gtech Corp.

SC01-1795 & SC01-1796

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 9:00 In 1995, the Florida Lottery issued a request for proposals for a new contract for on-line gaming systems. Two companies submitted proposals, Gtech and Automated Wagering International. When the contract was awarded to AWI, Gtech filed a bid protest. After the bid protest was resolved, AWI and the Lottery negotiated a new contract. Gtech filed suit challenging the validity of the new contract and the trial court entered summary judgment in Gtech's favor. On appeal, the First District agreed. Leon County
Level 3 Communications, LLC v. E. Leon Jacobs, Jr.

SC01-2050

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 Approx. 9:40 This case involves the validity of regulatory fees imposed on certain telecommunications companies as a result of deregulation in the 1990s.  Leon County
Ian Deco Lightbourne v. State of Florida

SC01-553

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 N/A Removed from calendar Marion County
Clyde Timothy Bunkley v. State of Florida

SC01-297

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 Approx. 10:30 Bunkley was sentenced to life imprisonment for burglarizing a closed, unoccupied restaurant. The jury was allowed to consider the fact that, at the time of his arrest, Bunkley had in his possession a pocket knife. He argued that this was improper, but the Second District Court disagreed. Sarasota County

Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Thursday, May 9, 2002
Arrive early. Times & order of appearance are tentative and subject to change with no notice. Cases may be postponed due to exigent circumstances.

Case Time Facts & Issues Place of Origin
Advisory Opinion to the Attorney General: State University System

SC02-449

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 9:00 A citizen's initiative has been proposed to amend the state Constitution to establish governance procedures for the state university system. The Court must review the initiative to determine whether it contains only a single subject and whether the ballot language is fairly worded.  Statewide impact
Amendments to Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure

SC02-270

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 Approx. 9:40 The Florida Bar's Appellate Rules Committee proposes changes to the Rules of Appellate Procedure. Statewide impact
Amendments to Florida Evidence Code

SC02-240

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 Approx. 10:30 The Florida Bar Code & Rules of Evidence Committee proposes changes to the Rules of Evidence. Statewide impact
James King v. State of Florida

SC01-1883

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 Approx. 11:10 The Office of Statewide Prosecutor charged King with various crimes committed in Orange County. King challenged the charges on grounds that the Prosecutor did not have authority to prosecute crimes occurring within a single judicial circuit. The Prosecutor contended that King's activities involved more than one circuit. He was convicted, and the Fifth District Court affirmed. Orange County

Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Friday, May 10, 2002
Arrive early. Times & order of appearance are tentative and subject to change with no notice. Cases may be postponed due to exigent circumstances.

Case Time Facts & Issues Place of Origin
Amendments to Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure

SC02-230

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 8:30 The Florida Bar Criminal Procedure Rules Committee proposes changes to the Rules of Criminal Procedure.  Statewide impact
Amendments to Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure 

SC02-117

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 Approx. 9:10 The Florida Bar Juvenile Court Rules Committee proposes changes to the Rules of Juvenile Procedure. Statewide impact
The Florida Bar v. Domenic L. Massari, III

SC01-724

View briefs in Acrobat format by clicking the case number(s) here 

 Approx. 9:50 A referee determined that Massari misappropriated clients funds and has recommended that he be disbarred. The matter is now before the Supreme Court. Hillsborough County


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