[SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA]
Oral Argument Press Summaries
December 1-5, 2003

NOTE: The Busby case previously scheduled for Thursday
has been rescheduled for Friday at 9 a.m.

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]
Robert Craig Waters, Director of Public Information
(850) 414-7641


Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Monday, December 1, 2003
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, December 2, 2003
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
Pablo Ibar v. State of Florida

SC00-2043

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

 9:00 Ibar was charged with the June 1994 murders of Casimir Sucharski, Sharon Anderson, and Marie Rogers. The jury found him guilty and recommended the death penalty 9-to-3. The trial court sentenced him to death. This is his direct appeal. Broward County

Spanish connection
Lewis Ward v. Gregory S. Brown

SC03-783

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

 Approx. 10:00 The Petitioners in this case appeal the striking of their challenge to a tax assessment under the sixty-day jurisdictional time limit period provided by law. Petitioners argued that their property should have been classified as exempt government property. The Petitioners argue that challenges to classification of property are not subject to the sixty-day filing period for assessment challenges. The First District Court of Appeal found that the Petitioners' "classification" argument was tantamount to an assessment challenge and agreed with the trial court that it was untimely filed. The Petitioners now seek a reversal of the First District's opinion. Santa Rosa County
Dwayne Irwin Parker v. State of Florida

SC02-1471 | SC03-1045

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

 Approx. 10:40 Parker was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death for the April 1989 murder of William Nicholson. His sentence was affirmed on appeal. He now challenges its validity. Broward County
Advisory Opinion to the Attorney General: Slot Machines

SC03-857

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

 Approx. 11:20 The Attorney General has asked the Court to review a proposed constitutional amendment that would authorize slot machines under certain conditions in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. The Court must determine whether the proposed ballot summary meets legal requirements. Miami-Dade & Broward Counties

Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Wednesday, December 3, 2003
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
Post-Newsweek Stations Florida, Inc. v. City of Miami

SC03-530

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

 9:00 This case involves an attempt to obtain records related to criminal charges brought against then-Miami Mayor Joe Carollo for alleged domestic violence against his wife. The Third District Court held that the records remained exempt from public inspection under the active criminal intelligence or investigative information exemptions to public records laws. Post-Newsweek then filed for rehearing where the court certified the issue as one of great public importance. Miami-Dade County
Travelers Indemnity Co. v. PCR Inc.

SC03-630

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

 Approx. 9:40 In November 1991 an explosion in an Alachua County chemical plant killed Paul Turner and seriously injured James Creighton, both PCR technicians. Creighton and Turner's estate sued to collect damages. The issue in this case involves interpretation of the insurance policy PCR purchased from Travelers. Alachua County
Allison Gae Reeves v. Fleetwood Homes of Florida, Inc.

SC03-134

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

 Approx. 10:30 Dennis Reeves died in a forklift accident at the Fleetwood plant. His estate alleged that his death resulted from a continuing pattern of negligence in the use of the forklift. This case involves questions of the employer's liability under worker's compensation laws. Polk County
State of Florida v. Anthony T. Bodden

SC03-622

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

 Approx. 11:10 Bodden was arrested for driving under the influence and his urine tested positive for a controlled substance. This case involves questions about the validity of procedures for urine testing. Hillsborough County

Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Thursday, December 4, 2003
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
Inquiry Concerning a Judge: Patricia A. Kinsey

SC96,629

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

 9:00 Judge Kinsey has been ordered to appear before the Court to be publicly reprimanded for ethical breaches. Escambia County
Verizon Florida, Inc. v. Lila Jaber

SC02-2647

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

 Approx. 9:10 On November 15, 2002, Florida's Public Service Commission (PSC) issued its Final Order on Rates for Unbundled Network Elements Provided by Verizon Florida. Verizon now appeals PSC's order to this Court, which has mandatory jurisdiction in this matter. AT&T has filed a cross-appeal. Statewide impact
State of Florida v. Morris Harris; State of Florida v. Donald Gentes

SC02-2172 | SC02-2440

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

 Approx. 9:50 These two cases involve persons committed under the Jimmy Ryce Act for sexual offenses. The issue on appeal is whether a plea agreement for prison time followed by probation is violated when the State later initiates civil commitment proceedings under the Jimmy Ryce Act. Gadsden & Leon Counties

Florida Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Friday, December 5, 2003
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
Andrew Darryl Busby v. State of Florida

SC02-1364

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

 9:00 Busby was charged with the July 2000 murder of Elton Ard, a fellow inmate at the Columbia Correctional Institution. The jury found him guilty and recommended the death penalty 11-to-1. The trial judge sentenced him to death. This is Busby's direct appeal. Columbia County

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