Florida Supreme Court Oral Argument Press Summaries

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 presentedin cases, and should not be considered official court documents. Factsand issues presented in these summaries should be checked for accuracyagainst records and briefs, available from the Court, which provide morespecific information.

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Names &phone numbers of attorneys in these cases are available in Acrobatformat.

RobertCraig Waters, Director of Public Information
(850) 414-7641

Florida Supreme Court OralArguments
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.table border width="100%">

Case

Time

Facts & Issues

Place of Origin

No Cases Scheduled

Florida Supreme Court OralArguments
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.

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Case

Time

Facts & Issues

Place of Origin

Humana of Florida, Inc.v. Jacob Thomas Tomlian

SC01-1260& SC01-1259

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

9:00

Tomlian was born with cerebralpalsy. His parents sued their health care providers alleging that the injuriescausing this condition occurred during birth due to their negligence. Attrial, the Tomlians offered a neuropsychologist as an expert witness totestify on the cause of Jacob's condition, but the trial court refusedto let him testify because he was not a physician. On appeal, the FourthDistrict Court reversed.

Broward County

The Florida Bar v. AlanIra Karten

SC00-256

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

Approx. 9:40

A referee has recommendedthat Karten be disbarred for allegedly selling a client's property withoutproper 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 Acrobatformat by clicking the case number(s) here 

Approx. 10:10

Johnston was arrested forthe August 1997 murder of Leanne Coryell. The jury found him guilty andrecommended the death penalty 12-to-0, which the judge imposed. This ishis direct appeal.

Hillsborough County

Florida Supreme Court OralArguments
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.

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Case

Time

Facts & Issues

Place of Origin

Florida Dep't of theLottery v. Gtech Corp.

SC01-1795& SC01-1796

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

9:00

In 1995, the Florida Lotteryissued 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. Afterthe bid protest was resolved, AWI and the Lottery negotiated a new contract.Gtech filed suit challenging the validity of the new contract and the trialcourt entered summary judgment in Gtech's favor. On appeal, the First Districtagreed.

Leon County

Level 3 Communications,LLC v. E. Leon Jacobs, Jr.

SC01-2050

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

Approx. 9:40

This case involves the validityof regulatory fees imposed on certain telecommunications companies as aresult of deregulation in the 1990s. 

Leon County

Ian Deco Lightbournev. State of Florida

SC01-553

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

N/A

Removed from calendar

Marion County

Clyde Timothy Bunkleyv. State of Florida

SC01-297

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

Approx. 10:30

Bunkley was sentenced tolife imprisonment for burglarizing a closed, unoccupied restaurant. Thejury 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 OralArguments
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.

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Case

Time

Facts & Issues

Place of Origin

Advisory Opinion to theAttorney General: State University System

SC02-449

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

9:00

A citizen's initiative hasbeen proposed to amend the state Constitution to establish governance proceduresfor the state university system. The Court must review the initiative todetermine whether it contains only a single subject and whether the ballotlanguage is fairly worded. 

Statewide impact

Amendments to FloridaRules of Appellate Procedure

SC02-270

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

Approx. 9:40

The Florida Bar's AppellateRules Committee proposes changes to the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

Statewide impact

Amendments to FloridaEvidence Code

SC02-240

View briefs in Acrobatformat 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 ofFlorida

SC01-1883

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

Approx. 11:10

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

Orange County

Florida Supreme Court OralArguments
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.

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Case

Time

Facts & Issues

Place of Origin

Amendments to FloridaRules of Criminal Procedure

SC02-230

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

8:30

The Florida Bar CriminalProcedure Rules Committee proposes changes to the Rules of Criminal Procedure. 

Statewide impact

Amendments to FloridaRules of Juvenile Procedure 

SC02-117

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

Approx. 9:10

The Florida Bar JuvenileCourt Rules Committee proposes changes to the Rules of Juvenile Procedure.

Statewide impact

The Florida Bar v. DomenicL. Massari, III

SC01-724

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

Approx. 9:50

A referee determined thatMassari misappropriated clients funds and has recommended that he be disbarred.The matter is now before the Supreme Court.

Hillsborough County

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