STU Moot Court Blog
The St. Thomas Moot Court Board has decided to implement “Moot Court Mondays”. Our members are to research recent Florida Supreme Court opinions or Florida District Courts of Appeal opinions and pick an opinion they are interested in writing about. The blog post is brief but comprehensive to help practitioners have notice/knowledge about the recent decisions on issues that may be useful for their cases.
Hallucinated Justice: Florida’s Fourth DCA Warns Against AI-Fabricated Legal Authority
On March 11, 2026, the Fourth District Court of Appeal of Florida issued its per curiam opinion in Roussell v. Bank of New York Mellon, affirming the trial court’s judgment on the merits but writing separately to address a troubling issue: the appellant’s reliance on...
State Lines and Border Lines: Florida’s Immigration Law Faces Federal Challenge
A recent Eleventh Circuit dispute addresses the ongoing tension between state immigration enforcement efforts and the federal government’s constitutional authority over immigration policy. The litigation centers on Florida’s Senate Bill 4-C (SB 4-C), a bill proposal...
One Dragon, One Emperor, and One Professor Walk into a Hospital
In Brown v. Fla. Health Sci. Ctr., Inc., the Second District Court of Appeals held that the trial court erred by not recognizing there were factual disputes that precluded summary judgment.[i] The trial court granted summary judgment to the respondent, Tampa General...
Breaking Chains on Bar Access: Florida Supreme Court Ends ABA Monopoly
One credential quietly determined whether a law graduate could even attempt to become a Florida lawyer: graduate from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association (“ABA”). In April 1950, the Florida Supreme Court created the Florida Bar, uniting all...
Home Court Advantage: The Potential Rise of State Court Favoritism in NCAA Eligibility Litigation
In the prominent world of Name, Image, and Likeness (“NIL”) in collegiate athletics, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”) has been involved in their fair share of litigation surrounding athletes requesting additional years of eligibility. The most...
Florida Court Reaffirms Strict Gatekeeping Standard for Punitive Damages
Motor vehicle negligence cases account for a large portion of personal injury litigation, yet punitive damages are rarely permitted unless there is sufficient supporting evidence.[i] Florida law imposes strict procedural and evidentiary requirements; under Florida...
Moot Court Resume 2026
Moot Court Resume St. Thomas University College of Law Moot Court Honor Society 16401 N.W. 37th Ave. | Miami Gardens, Florida 33054 Tel: 305.628.6536 Email: mootcourt@stu.edu Moot Court Competitions / Honors/ Awards Notable Honors/Awards Semi-Finalist – 2026 – Jerome...
Authenticating AI Evidence in Florida: Closing the Gaps
Authentication is the foundation of admissibility. Under § 90.901, evidence must be authenticated or identified before it can be admitted, a requirement satisfied by showing enough proof that the evidence is what the proponent claims it to be.[i] In Florida, this...
Prospective Plaintiff Denied Pursuant to Florida Pre-Suit Requirements Under Chapter 766 in Recent District Court of Appeals Decision
One detail missed, several lives affected. Despite the harm that can result from medical misconduct, it is not as easy for prospective plaintiffs to file a medical negligence claim. First, a claimant must complete an adequate pre-suit investigation prior to filing the...
Upon Deaf Ears: Understanding 3M’s Invocation of the Government-Contractor Defense
3M corporation, long a staple of American industry, has recently been rocked by a string of lawsuits related to defective earplugs it sold to the U.S. military in what has been termed the largest multi-district litigation in U.S. history.1 As of the writing of this...
To Die in A Pastor’s Arms
The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) of 2000, provides that no substantial burden can be imposes on the religious exercise of a person, including state prisoners, unless the imposed burden is in furtherance of a compelling governmental...
Alumni Newsletter
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