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FL H0951
Bill
Status
Introduced
2/20/2023
Primary Sponsor
Alex Andrade
Click for details
AI Summary
- Narrows the definition of "public figure" for defamation claims by excluding persons whose fame arises solely from defending themselves against accusations, granting interviews on specific topics, non-elected public employment, or viral internet content
- Establishes that a failure to verify or corroborate an alleged defamatory statement constitutes evidence of actual malice, and creates a presumption that statements from anonymous sources are false in defamation cases
- Expands venue options for defamation claims based on material published via radio, television, or Internet, allowing suit in any Florida county where the material was accessed
- Awards prevailing defamation plaintiffs reasonable attorney fees and costs, while exempting defamation claims from the existing fee-shifting provisions of s. 768.79
- Includes legislative findings challenging New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) and its actual malice standard, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to return defamation law authority to the states; effective date July 1, 2023
Legislative Description
Defamation
Last Action
Withdrawn prior to introduction
2/21/2023
Full Bill Text
No bill text available