Copyright 2000 Times Publishing Company
St.
Petersburg Times
May 09, 2000, Tuesday, 0 South Pinellas
Edition
SECTION: CITY & STATE; AROUND THE STATE;
Pg. 5B
DISTRIBUTION: CITY & STATE; METRO &
STATE; TAMPA & STATE
LENGTH: 293 words
HEADLINE: Judge refuses to dismiss challenge to
tort reform
SOURCE: Compiled from
Staff and Wire Reports
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE; ORLANDO
BODY:
A Leon County Circuit Court judge has
refused to dismiss a case challenging the constitutionality of a law passed last
year that made sweeping changes to the civil justice system.
"This case
involves an actual controversy that is directly affecting, or can directly
affect the lives of many Florida residents," wrote Circuit Judge Nikki Ann
Clark in an opinion dated Friday. Clark's decision means the case will go
forward in her court. It comes as a setback for those who support protecting
businesses from lawsuits and curbing large jury awards in negligence cases.
The law was a top priority for Gov. Jeb Bush and Florida's business
community during the 1999 legislative session.
But whichever way the
judge rules, the case is likely to wind up before the state Supreme Court.
Prison crew guard fired
over inmate sex breaks
ORLANDO -
A prison guard was fired after a Florida Department of Corrections investigation
revealed he allowed an inmate to have sex while working in a roadside cleanup
crew.
John F. Walker allowed inmate Melvin Hunter to leave the crew
several times to have sex with his girlfriend in a car out of sight, the DOC
said Monday. Hunter would then return to the Central Florida Reception Center
work crew.
Prison officials learned of the sexual encounters after
reviewing telephone calls between the inmate and the woman.
Hunter,
serving a two-year sentence for possession and sale of cocaine, admitted they
had sex.
Walker, supervisor of the work crew and guard for three years,
was fired on May 1.
Also cited as reasons for Walker's firing: missing
eight days' work in April without telling a supervisor and giving homemade
sandwiches to the inmates in the crew, the department said.
- Staff,
wire reports
LOAD-DATE: May 9, 2000
