In a case of first impression, the Eleventh Circuit held that when a claim sounds in fraud, based on the underlying allegations, it must comply with Federal Rule 9(b)’s particularity requirement. This requirement applies to claims asserting violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA). Because the plaintiff failed to plead his FDUTPA…
The SEC’s 2023 Funding Order for Consolidated Audit Trail is Arbitrary and Capricious
The Eleventh Circuit vacated the SEC’s 2023 Funding Order for its Consolidated Audit Trail (the “CAT”) as arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act. Am. Sec. Ass’n v. SEC, No. 23-13396 (11th Cir. July 25, 2025). The court remanded the matter to the SEC for further proceedings. For over a decade, the…
Prior Employment Retaliation Action Precludes False Claims Act Qui Tam Action
A False Claims Act (“FCA”) qui tam action may be barred by res judicata because of a prior employment retaliation action, the Eleventh Circuit held in Milner v. Baptist Health Montgomery, 132 F.45h 1354 (11th Cir. 2025). A physician brought suit against his former employer-hospital, alleging that he was fired for whistleblowing on a scheme…
Unrebutted Declaration Sufficient to Show Agreement to “Clickwrap” Arbitration Provision; Waiver Question Delegated to Arbitrator
“Clickwrap” arbitration agreements—that is, agreements that require an online “click” to agree—are enforceable under Florida law if certain requirements are met. And a defendant’s unrebutted declaration describing the circumstances of the “click,” and the terms to which the user agreed, may be sufficient to require arbitration. Lamonaco v. Experian Inform. Sols., Inc., 2025 WL 1831283…
Foreign IP-Holding Companies May Be Subject to Personal Jurisdiction in Federal Court Based on Registration and Enforcement of U.S. Trademarks
In a significant decision for foreign companies with U.S. trademarks, the Eleventh Circuit held that a foreign intellectual-property holding company can be subject to personal jurisdiction in U.S. courts based solely on its registration and strategic use of U.S. trademarks. The court’s opinion, Jekyll Island-State Park Authority v. Polygroup Macau Limited, 2025 WL 1637952,…
The Little Profits of an Idle Issuer: Stock Repurchases Do Not Trigger Liability Under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act
No matter how much a shareholder strives and seeks, it cannot find the “profit realized” when an issuer repurchases its own stock on the open market. This according to the Eleventh Circuit’s per curiam opinion in Roth v. Russell. 2025 WL 1553628 (11th Cir. June 2, 2025). Andrew Roth saw an opportunity when Luminar Technologies,…
Once Litigation Filed, It’s Too Late to Cure Failure to Meet AAA Arbitration Requirements
Business parties who seek the advantages of arbitration, including protection from class actions, must take care to comply with the arbitral forum’s requirements or risk losing those advantages. This is the upshot of the Eleventh Circuit’s recent decision in Merritt Island Woodwerx, LLC v. Space Coast Credit Union, 2025 WL 1450492 (11th Cir. May 21, 2025)(per curiam). …
Court Clarifies Scope of Florida’s Litigation Privileges in Defamation Suit
The Eleventh Circuit this month weighed in on the appealability and scope of Florida’s litigation privileges in the context of a defamation lawsuit. In Grippa v. Rubin, No. 23-11717, 2025 WL 997347 (11th Cir. Apr. 3, 2025), the court allowed—under the collateral-order doctrine—immediate appeal of an interlocutory order denying application of the absolute litigation privilege…
Summary Judgment for Insurer Improper in Bad Faith Case Where Insurer Failed to Initiate Settlement Negotiations After Deadly Shooting
A reasonable jury could have found that a property insurer knew or should have known it was clearly liable to pay its insured the $50,000 policy limit in a case involving a bar fight gone wrong, culminating in a deadly shooting. Kinsale Insurance Company v. Pride of St. Lucie Lodge 1189, Inc., No. 22-12675, 2025…
Changes to Eleventh Circuit Filing Rules
On April 1, 2025, two important changes to the Eleventh Circuit’s filing rules will take effect. First, all sealed documents must be sealed through ECF. See 11th Cir. R. 25-3(h). Instructions for doing so are available on the Eleventh Circuit’s website. Second, the court will no longer accept submission of paper copies of briefs and…