August 14, 2020
By: Staff Report
TAMPA, Fla. – The back-to-school legal battle continues on in Florida after Leon County Judge Charles Dodson ruled the lawsuit over the state’s emergency order to physically re-open schools during the pandemic can move forward. The state filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed from The Florida Education Association.
The Florida Education Association is suing Governor DeSantis, Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, Florida Department of Education, Florida State Board of Education and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, “to safeguard the health and welfare of public school students, educators and the community at large,” the association said in a press release.
“I am denying the motion to dismiss,” Judge Dodson said during the Zoom Hearing on Friday. “As each side has pointed out, I am required to accept the allegations of the complaint as being true. I’m not in any way saying that the plaintiffs are going to be successful with their case. They still have the burden of proving their case, and based on the procedural status at this time. I’m denying the motion to dismiss.”
On Friday, the judge ordered both the state and the association, to meet for mediation, setting a deadline of Tues, August 18th at midnight. Injunction hearings are set for Wed, August 19th at 8:30 a.m., and Thurs, August 20th if needed.
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