Middlebrooks & Middlebrooks P.A.

02/17/2026

“Legislature annual budget tussle could be a referendum on Ron DeSantis” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — Florida lawmakers are heading toward another tense budget showdown as House and Senate Republicans clash over spending levels and how much authority to leave in DeSantis’ hands during his final months in office. The divide echoes last year’s drawn-out fight that stretched the Session to 105 days.
Both chambers unveiled competing budgets this week in an unusual rollout. The Senate proposal totals just over $115 billion, while the House plan comes in at nearly $113.6 billion, compared with roughly $115 billion in current spending.

Ron DeSantis faces renewed budget tensions as House and Senate Republicans clash over spending levels, emergency fund limits and oversight authority in the final months of his term.
House budget chief Lawrence McClure said the lower House figure reflects a fiscally conservative approach and insisted negotiations remain fluid. Senate President Ben Albritton said the Senate plan strikes a balance between spending and saving.
Key differences center on DeSantis’ emergency fund, which the House wants limited to natural disasters and funded at $100 million. The Senate would allow broader use and set aside $250 million, short of the Governor’s $500 million request.
The House eliminated funding for the Florida State Guard and the Job Growth Grant Fund, both backed by DeSantis, while the Senate preserved partial or full funding. The House also proposes redirecting $250 million from debt reduction to prison improvements.
On oversight, lawmakers rejected DeSantis’ proposal for a new office under Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, but the House advanced its own Florida Accountability Office with $53 million in funding. Pay raises for state workers also divide the chambers.
With the Fiscal Year beginning on July 1, leaders want to avoid another stalemate. But with major policy gaps unresolved and the Session nearing its midpoint, another prolonged budget fight remains possible.
—“Senate budget proposal rings in at $115B” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

02/12/2026

Bill seeks fair accountability for public hospital malpractice

02/09/2026

"Behind the big defeat for Broward public hospitals" via Steve Bousquet of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — A rare surprise unfolded in Florida’s otherwise predictable Legislature when a bill sought by Broward County’s two public hospital districts stalled amid bipartisan resistance. The proposal would have allowed the tax-supported systems to form joint ventures without antitrust scrutiny, a move critics warned could undermine consumer protections. Despite heavy lobbying and a powerful Republican sponsor, Broward Democrats objected to what they described as a rushed, opaque process that excluded community input. Private hospital operators also pushed back, amplifying concerns. With votes uncertain, the bill was temporarily postponed in the Senate Committee, a likely death sentence. The episode underscored that even in a one-party-dominated Capitol, internal dissent and public scrutiny can still derail well-funded legislative efforts.

02/02/2026

” Another tort tussle in the House” via Christine Sexton of Florida Phoenix — The amount in damages that injured parties can recover in personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits could grow under a bill moving its way through the House. The Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee voted 13-4 to pass HB 1553 onto its next — and only other — remaining scheduled stop, the Judiciary Committee. The four “no” votes were cast by Reps. Kim Berfield, Dean Black, Danny Nix, and Paula Stark. There are 56 lobbyist registrations for the bill, which would crack open a hard-fought, sweeping 2023 tort law (HB 837). Some trial court judges applying the law have held that the burden to produce evidence — including what a plaintiff’s health insurance would reimburse for care — falls solely on the plaintiff. Other judges have ruled that the burden also falls on the defendant.

The amount in damages injured parties can recover in personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits could grow under a bill moving its way through the Florida House of Representatives.

The Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee voted 13-4 Thursday to pass HB 1553 onto its next — and only other — remaining scheduled stop, the Judiciary Committee. The four “no” votes were cast by Reps. Kim Berfield, R- Clearwater; Dean Black, R- Jacksonville; Danny Nix, R-Port Charlotte; and Paula Stark, R-St. Cloud.

There are 56 lobbyist registrations for the bill, which would crack open a hard-fought, sweeping 2023 tort law (HB 837).

According to a legislative staff analysis at the time, the 2023 law “defined and limited the types of evidence the judge or jury could hear” when it comes to a plaintiff’s medical bills, a driving factor in settlements and jury awards.

But to whom does it apply, and when?

Some trial court judges applying the law have held that the burden to produce evidence — including what a plaintiff’s health insurance would reimburse for the care — falls only on the plaintiff. Other judges have ruled that the burden also falls on the defendant.

HB 1553 supporters, including the statewide association that represents trial attorneys, insist the existing law is flawed and needs to be fixed legislatively.

The Florida Justice Reform Institute, insurance, and business lobbyists who oppose HB 1553 argue the conflicting trial court decisions need to wind their way through the legal process and be decided by state appellate courts and potentially the Florida Supreme Court. They also argue the bill would roll back changes that encouraged plaintiffs to use their health insurance to get the care they need.

01/29/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GVmGzbtEM/

Police in Broward County have made an arrest for a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred last year.

01/29/2026

**Happy Heavenly Birthday, Edward "Ed" Middlebrooks**

Today we honor the life of a remarkable man a devoted father, a loving husband, a proud grandpa, and a brilliant legal mind whose integrity shaped every room he entered. Though you are no longer here with us, your presence is still felt in the lessons you taught, the love you gave, and the legacy you built with quiet strength and unwavering principle.

Your family carries your wisdom in their decisions, your humor in their stories, and your compassion in the way they treat others. The world is better because you were in it, and those who loved you continue to feel your guidance in the moments that matter most.

On your birthday, we celebrate not just the years you lived, but the impact you left — one that continues to ripple through generations.
⚖
You are missed deeply, remembered proudly, and loved endlessly.

09/16/2025

The Power of Teamwork!

08/19/2025

The Miami area has seen the lowest jobless figure among major metropolitan regions for several months in a row.
Florida’s unemployment rate has now held steady for four months straight.

Florida Commerce, the state’s business development bureau, released the jobless figures for July showing the unemployment rate remains unchanged at 3.7%. That number has been the same since April.

But the July figure is up in the year-over-year comparison. July 2024 saw an unemployment rate of 3.4%, 0.3 percentage points lower than the current rate. Indeed, every month this year has had a higher rate than a year ago.

The July figure accounts for about 417,000 Floridians who are out of a job. That’s out of an entire estimated workforce in the state of about 11.19 million people. July also saw an expansion of nonagricultural jobs by about 7,300 workers compared to June. That was a gain of about 134,000 people in the annual comparison.

Florida’s job growth has increased in 50 of the last 52 months. The 3.7% July unemployment rate is lower than the national figure of 4.2%. The state has had a lower figure than the national rate for 57 straight months.

As far as individual local jobless reports, the Miami area has seen the lowest unemployment rate among major metropolitan regions in Florida for several months in a row and did so again in July, with a 2.8% jobless figure. That’s the same rate from a year ago.

The Fort Lauderdale area posted a 3.8% unemployment rate in July, up by 0.2 percentage points from July 2024’s figure of 3.6%.

Orlando saw a 3.9% jobless rate in July, up from the 3.7% number a year ago.

Tampa recorded a 4.1% jobless rate last month, an uptick of 0.2 percentage points from July 2024, when that rate was 3.9%.

West Palm Beach had the same rate as Tampa in July, up 0.3 points from 3.8% a year ago.

Jacksonville has one of the higher jobless rates among big metros. The July figure was 4.2%, up from the figure of 3.9% a year ago.

Pensacola posted a 4.4% unemployment rate last month. That’s up from 3.9% posted last year.

The Fort Myers area posted the highest jobless figure among large metros in July, reporting a 4.5% rate. It’s a significant jump from 4% in July 2024.

08/14/2025

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If Americans won't quit, the caucus wants to make sure they have access to less harmful alternatives.

08/08/2025

Exceptional Representation and Client Service- Your Needs Are Our Top Concern!

What makes our firm unique is that for over sixty-eight (68) years we have been providing each of our clients with one-on-one communication, legal knowledge, guidance and ultimately success in making them “whole” again. Once a personal injury client retains our firm, they become part of our “family”. It is not easy for most people to disclose with a “stranger” their most personal thoughts, health, work, and family history. However, each person in our firm has a unique ability to provide their undivided attention with each of our client’s, listen to their concerns, provide guidance, and answer their questions. This helps with our clients’ becoming “comfortable” which results in a trusting and loyal relationship. It is not an everyday occurrence wherein your whole health, mental and work history is disclosed to a complete stranger, many families and friends are not even privy to such information. However, by the middle of the process, we have developed a relationship that is built on trust and that trust leads to success.

If experience and trust are important qualities in the attorney you choose, call our law firm today at (954) 462-4500.

08/08/2025

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/08/08/abruzzo-move-will-let-desantis-appoint-republican-as-palm-beach-county-court-clerk/

When Democrat Joe Abruzzo becomes Palm Beach County administrator, Gov. Ron DeSantis will be able to pick a Republican to replace him.