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Board hears update on lawsuit challenging state protections; hearing set for Aug. 31 in Miami
Summary
The advisory board was told a private lawsuit has been filed seeking removal of a state legal protection that limits claims against certain mining operations; an initial in-person administrative hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31 in Downtown Miami and board members were asked to consider attending.
The Miami Lakes Classic Advisory Board was updated July 27 that a private lawsuit has been filed against the State of Florida seeking to remove a legal protection the Chair described as preventing certain claims against mining operations.
"A lawsuit has been filed against the state of Florida," the Chair told board members, saying the suit is not intended to seek monetary awards but to remove the legal shield that, in the Chair’s description, prevents ordinary lawsuits in circuit court and requires affected parties to use the Department of Education/administrative hearings process instead. The Chair said an initial in-person hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31 in Downtown Miami and invited members and residents to attend and show support.
The Chair said Town Councilman Steven Herzberg and the town attorney are working on the case pro bono and that a consultant attorney has been retained to assist. "It is not a town lawsuit," the Chair said, adding that the effort is a private statewide action that could affect homeowners across multiple municipalities if the protection is removed.
Board members discussed that legislative work will be delayed until after the election season and that any new draft bills would be prepared once sessions resume. The Chair said the board will circulate further details about the Aug. 31 hearing and that he expects to testify at the initial hearing.
