Recent Cases & News

JUN 13
Florida Arbitration Decision Appealed to the United States Supreme Court

Dr. Eileen Hernandez and Women's Care Florida LLC filed a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court, appealing the Florida Supreme Court's decision from December 2016. Creed & Gowdy represented Lualhati and Jose Crespo in their state court appeals. The Florida Supreme Court ruled to void two provider-patient medical malpractice arbitrations agreements. The Petition argues that the interpretation of the Medical Malpractice Act was inconsistent with the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). Bryan Gowdy explained to Law360 that the FAA was never included in the Clinic's argument until the Motion for Rehearing, which was denied on February 27th. To read the full Law360 article, click here

MAY 25
Florida Ends Tampon Tax

The law suit that Creed & Gowdy filed in July of 2016 on the unconstitutionality of taxing feminine hygiene products is finally seeing relief in Florida. Starting in January, feminine hygiene products will be tax-exempt in the state of Florida.  Joining 13 other states and the District of Colombia on tax exempting feminine hygiene products, Floridians will save an average of $11 million per year. Gov. Rick Scott signed the $180 million tax cut package bill on Thursday, May 25, 2017 after it was approved in the Florida House of Representatives and Senate.

To read more, click here to read the article in the Tampa Bay Times and here to read the article in the Huffington Post. 

MAY 08
Florida Lawmakers Vote to End Tampon Tax

Florida will eliminate taxes charged on tampons under a measure passed by the state Legislature on Tuesday. The Florida House of Representatives and Senate approved the bill with a 109-3 and 34-4 vote, respectively. The bill will become law if approved by Gov. Rick Scott in January, exempting feminine hygiene products from taxation in Florida. Creed & Gowdy filed a law suit on July 6, 2016, alleging that the tax charged on tampons and sanitary pads - products used exclusively by women - is discriminatory and unconstitutional. For more information on the bill, click here to read the full article.

Read the press statement released by Creed & Gowdy's co-counsel, Barrett Fasig & Brooks, here

 

APR 25
Creed & Gowdy successfully defends an order granting separate trials in a personal injury suit

The plaintiffs, a family injured when the defendant's employee crashed into the rear of their vehicle, had asked the trial court for separate trials on their distinct and independent claims for damages. The trial court agreed that separate trials were appropriate, and the defendant filed a petition for a writ of certiorari to quash the order. The First District Court of Appeals summarily denied the defendant's petition. Rebecca Creed and Meredith Ross briefed the certiorari response.

Read the response here.

APR 21
Rebecca Creed Selected for Inclusion in the 2017 Best Lawyers® "Women in the Law" Spring Business Edition

Rebecca Creed was recently selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers® 2017 "Women in the Law" Spring Business Edition, produced in collaboration with the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law, for Appeallate Practice in Jacksonville. The business edition highlights all women lawyers recognized in the 23rd (2017) Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© and the 2017 women "Lawyer of the Year" recipients across all practice areas in the United States.

See the issue here.