case studies
Cases by Topic
- Behavioral Services not Baker Act 1
- Discrimination on the Basis of Disability 6
- Discrimination on the Basis of Race 2
- Discrimination on the Basis of Sex Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation 5
- Drivers’ License Suspensions for Municipal Ordinance Violations 1
- Ensuring Due Process 7
- First Amendment 5
- Food Sharing is Not a Crime 2
- Government Accountability & Access to Courts 4
- High Quality Education 4
- Home & Community-based Medicaid Services 13
- Homeless 12
- Juvenile Justice 3
- LGBTQ Rights 3
- Mental Health 5
- Promoting Fairness and Due Process 7
- Property Sweeps 2
- Protecting Freedom of Speech 3
- Right to Ask for Help 3
- Right to Be in Public Places 2
- Sleeping is a Human Need 1
- Students with Disabilities 6
- Transgender Rights 2
Fane v. Florida State Bd. of Accountancy
In a First Amendment challenge to the restrictions on certified public accountants from soliciting business in person, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Florida’s ban was an impermissible restriction of commercial speech. Co-counsel was Public Citizen Litigation Group.
Lake Worth for Global Justice, Inc. v. City of Miami
This First Amendment case came out of the political demonstrations against the first U.S.-based meetings of the Free Trade Area of the Americas to take place in Miami. Plaintiffs sought, inter alia, a temporary restraining order to prevent enforcement of the City of Miami’s unconstitutional permit laws concerning marches and demonstrations on public sidewalks, streets, and parks, as well as other regulations restricting the size and activities of public assemblies and parades.
Killmon, et al. v. City of Miami et al.
When law enforcement coordinated an all-out assault on the First Amendment during the protests of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) in November 2003 in Miami, SLC successfully challenged the mass false arrests and use of excessive force by over 40 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to deliberately disrupt lawful protests. We won significant monetary settlements for violations of protesters’ rights to challenge police and government misconduct based on false arrest, use of excessive force and unlawful political profiling against activists for merely exercising their First Amendment rights. Co-counsel were Carol A. Sobel, Robert W. Ross, Jr., Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, Carl Messineo and Jonathan Moore.
Ft. Lauderdale Food Not Bombs, et al. v. City of Ft. Lauderdale
Cities and counties are increasingly restricting sharing food with persons experiencing homelessness in public spaces as a response to the visibility of homelessness, particularly if large groups are gathering in public parks for purposes of sharing a meal together.
Jimenez, et al v. City of Daytona Beach
Founders of Spreading the Word Without Saying A Word Ministry were arrested by the Daytona Beach Police Department for trespassing and using Manatee Park without a permit while attempting to minister to people experiencing homelessness through sharing food as an expression of their religious faith.