FL Advances Defamation Bill That Even The Right Fears

February 21, 2024 Politics, Republicans

Florida Politics reports:

A third and final House committee has advanced a contentious defamation bill. But one critic testified the legislation will help its sponsor bring forward lawsuits against anyone criticizing his political allies. At a House Judiciary Committee meeting, Milton gun shop owner Chris Smith discussed a lawsuit filed against his business.

Santa Rosa County Commissioner Sam Parker filed suit against Smith’s business in September over use of his likeness in a “taxation is theft” promotion. The lawsuit was filed by attorneys at the same law firm where Rep. Alex Andrade, the bill’s sponsor, works.

“The fact that I’m getting sued right now and this makes it a little easier for his law firm to sue me and win also kind of hits home that he’s filing the bill,” Smith said.

Read the full article.

The bill would create a “presumption of malice” in reporting something later proven to be false. Most defamation suits against news outlets fail because intentional malice is difficult to establish.

As I reported yesterday, the National Association of Religious Broadcasters has begged Florida Republicans to drop the bill, fearing that it could “could lead to the ruin of many Christian stations.” At the link above, you’ll find a lawyer for Newsmax expressing similar fears.

Andrade appeared here in February 2023 for his bill requiring public universities to teach “Western values.” In December 2023, a different Florida GOP rep introduced a bill making it “defamatory per se” to call someone anti-LGBTQ, racist, or sexist.



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