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A Miami jury has awarded almost $253 million in a wrongful death case against Cuba, the biggest such penalty to date against the communist government, local news media reported Saturday. The Miami Herald said the Miami-Dade circuit court jury delivered its verdict Friday after a civil trial that began Wednesday. The decision was not available on the court's Web site on Saturday. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports on the ruling of an appeals court in Florida, which cites that the Office of Insurance Regulation has the authority to suspend the companies of Allstate Corp. from writing new policies in the state because the insurer has not complied with subpoenas. According to the court, the suspension would end if the company produced the documents. It is stated that the company was frustrated with the ruling.

The article reports that judge Anne C. Conway of the Federal District Court in Orlando, Florida, has granted a stay of execution to Mark S. Schwab, a man scheduled to die for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old boy. Conway said, she was compelled to delay Schwab's execution because some of the questions in his case were pending in the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Florida's governor, Charlie Crist said he was disappointed that the victim's family will have to wait to see justice done.

The article discusses a court ruling that overruled a zoning requirement in Coral Gables, Florida. The zoning requirement bans parking of pickup trucks in driveways and on residential streets at night. The aforesaid ruling on the lawsuit filed by Lowell Kuvin, a lawyer who owns a Ford pickup, in 2003 was passed by the Third District Court of Appeals in Florida.

The article reports that sex offender John E. Couey was sentenced to death on August 25, 2007 for kidnapping and raping 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford and burying her alive in his yard in Florida. The judgment given by judge Richard A. Howard has led many states in the U.S. to enact laws cracking down on sex offenders. A lawyer of Couey had argued that the latter cannot be executed for the crime legally because the offender was mentally retarded.

The article informs that Thomas D. Wingate, a Kentucky trial judge, on February 14, 2007 has refused to reconsider a decision exempting the Christian Care Ministry of Melbourne, Florida from compliance with state insurance laws. The judge ruled that the ministry qualified for a religious exemption built into Kentucky's insurance statutes.

The article presents information on a U.S. federal court ruling that legalizes conducting exit polls outside voting areas in the United States. The judgment overrules part of a Florida law that banned such exit polls considering it as electioneering and other banned activities. Judge Paul C. Huck of Federal District Court in Miami, Florida, ruled that such exit polls do not disrupt the voting process.

The article reflects on the decision of Florida prosecutor Scott Andringa to imprison Richard Paey for taking regulated drugs more than his physician's prescription.

Reports on the decision of a federal appeal court that dismissed the convictions and sentences of several men accused of being Cuban spies in Florida.

Comments on the court ruling ordering the investment bank, Morgan Stanley, to pay the actual and punitive damages to billionaire financier, Ronald Perelman in Florida.

Comments on the ruling of Florida Judge George Greer on a case regarding the mercy killing of Terri Schiavo, a woman who was declared in a vegetative state in 2005. Information on several politicians who were against the killing; Information on husband Michael Schiavo who lobbied for the death of his wife; Denouncement of U.S. representative Chris Shays (R-Conn.) on a legislation granting federal courts jurisdiction over the case.

Reports on the court-approved removal of a feeding tube from Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman in Florida.

Reports on the protest action against Judge George Greer ruling in Schiavo feeding-tube case in Florida.

Reports on the ruling issued by judge George Greer that the husband of brain-damaged woman Terri Schiavo could remove her feeding tube to bring an end to the long-fought case in Miami, Florida. Request of the parents of Schiavo for an indefinite delay to seek new medical tests for their daughter; Claim of Greer that Schiavo's parents, Robert and Mary Schindler would have to take any further motions to appellate courts; Acceptance of the testimony of husband Michael Schiavo that Terri had told him several times that she was against being kept alive artificially.

Reports that a circuit court judge has delayed the removal of a brain-damaged woman's feeding tube in Florida. Basis for the judge's decision to delay feeding tube removal; Impact of the decision on family and relatives of the patient; Details on the medical condition of the patient.

Reports on the rejection of arguments by Judge George Greer that a brain-damaged woman was deprived of fair legal representation potentially paving the way for her husband Michael Schiavo to remove her feeding tubes in Florida. Realization of Schiavo's plan to stop feeding his wife; Solicitation of legal options.

Reports on the decision of the Supreme Court which ended the legal efforts of Governor Jeb Bush to keep a brain-damaged woman alive using a feeding tube against her husband's wishes in Florida. Declaration of the so-called Terri's law named after Terri Schiavo which was adopted by the state legislature, unconstitutional by the court; Statement of Schiavo's parents regarding the court's decision; Facts of the case.

Reports on the decision upholding the federal law letting states ban same-sex marriages by Judge James S. Moody of the Federal District Court in Tampa, Florida.

Reports that a state appeals court panel in Florida has upheld an award to a former flight attendant of the Trans World Airlines, who blamed second smoke on airliners for her bronchitis and sinusitis disease.

Reports that two federal judges in Ohio have blocked the Republican Party from placing thousands of people inside polling places to challenge the eligibility of voters in the November 2, 2004 presidential elections. Significance of the decision for Democrats, who argued that the challengers would have intimidated minority voters; Details of the rulings by Judge Susan J. Dlott and Judge John R. Adams, which came within hours of each other; Intent of Republican officials to mount such challenges in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in Florida and New Mexico; Outlook for lawsuits that are likely to be filed if the election is close in any so-called swing state; Background on the battle over Election Day challenges; Arguments of the Republicans; Appeals by Republicans. INSET: Legal Challenges on the Horizon.

Reports that Florida Governor Jeb Bush's efforts to keep a brain-damaged woman alive against her husband's wishes all but collapsed when the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the law letting the governor order her feeding tube reinserted violated the separation of powers guaranteed by the state's Constitution. Exploration of options like requesting a re-hearing or appealing to the United States Supreme Court; Possibility that Mr. Bush might accept the ruling; Description of the case of Theresa Schiavo; Conflict in the family over hopes for her recovery.

Reports that the Florida Supreme Court ruled that Ralph Nader could appear on the November ballot as the reform party's presidential candidate. Decision, which could bolster President George W. Bush's prospects for reelection in this battleground state; High court, which rejected Democratic arguments that the reform Party had not met state requirements for receiving a ballot line; Nader, who is now on the ballot in 27 states; Bush, who won the state of Florida by just 537 votes in 200, when Nader received more that 97,000 votes in that state.

Reports on the decision of an administrative law judge to struck down a new state rule that bans manual recounts in counties that use touch-screen voting machines in Tallahassee, Florida.

Reports on a Florida court ruling that enjoined Bobby Jo Ferrell and her husband from further objections or legal actions related to recovering the remains of her father, former baseball player Ted Williams, from the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Reports on the ruling of jurors in Florida, that the family of TyRon Lewis, the black driver killed by the Saint Petersburg police in 1996, should not receive any money because he was threatening an officer when he was shot.

Reports on the decision of U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in banning four gay men from adopting children in Florida.

Focuses on a Florida Supreme Court decision denying visitation rights to a woman, whose grandchild was left in the custody of his father after his mother died.

Reports on the appeal of the attorney's general office to reconsider the its decision rejecting the conviction of teenager Lionel Tate sentenced to life for killing his playmate in Florida.

Reports on the court decision allowing an investigation on the medical files of Rush Limbaugh in West Palm Beach, Florida. Analysis on the appropriateness of charging Limbaugh of improperly obtaining prescription painkillers; Denial on the request of Limbaugh to keep his record sealed by Palm Beach Circuit Court judge Jeffrey A. Winikoff.

Reports on the actions being taken by Florida Governor Jeb Bush to save Terri Schiavo, a brain-damaged woman from court-ordered starvation. Presentation of the condition of Schiavo as a right-to-die case; Overview of the medical condition of Shiavo; Right to refuse extraordinary means of medical treatment to preserve life when there is no reasonable hope for recovery.

Reports on the ruling by a New York State Supreme Court justice ordering that a referendum aimed at reducing the size of classes in the city's public schools be put on the ballot in next month's election. City's plan to appeal; At issue whether or not to create a commission to look into writing class size limits into the City Charter; Example of Florida where the cost of similar legislation is being felt.

Reports on the November 14, 2002 order of a jury in West Palm Beach, Florida to gun distributor Valor Corp. to pay millions of dollars to the widow of Barry Grunow, a teacher who was killed by student Nathaniel Brazil in 2000.

Reports that the judge who tried teenage brothers Alex and Derek King in the bludgeoning death of their father threw out their murder conviction. Ruling on a defense motion for a retrial by Frank Bell of Escambia County Circuit Court, Pensacola, Florida; Belief that the boys' rights were violated; Outlook for resolving the case in mediation; Questions of legal experts; Background on the case, in which the boys were tried as adults; Acquittal of Ricky Chavis for the murder; Options for mediation.

Reports on the Florida trial court ruling which held that the state's capital sentencing statute is constitutional, as of July 2002.

Reports the decision of a judge in Saint Petersburg, Florida, to continue the nourishment of a comatose woman.

Reports that United States District Court Judge Bernard A. Friedman has ruled that the admission policies at the University of Michigan's Law School are unconstitutional because race plays too large a role in the admissions. Order issued by Friedman to the university in line with the ruling; Impact of the ruling on affirmative action in admissions; Admission of Afro-Americans in the law school.

Presents the excerpts of the Florida Supreme Court rulings on the cases dealing with the contested November 2000 Unites States presidential election results.

Deals with the ruling made by the Florida Supreme Court on the of ballot-counting for the November 7, 2000 United States presidential election. Reply of the Florida Supreme Court to the ruling of the United States Supreme Court on the contested election in Florida between George W. Bush and Al Gore; Opinion of the justice of the Florida Supreme Court on the issue.

Presents the text of the decision of the United States Supreme Court on the recount of contested ballots in Florida in 2000.

Comments on the ruling of the United States Supreme Court on the recount of contested ballots in Florida in 2000. Significance of the ruling; Majority opinion of the court; Role of Chief Justice William Rehnquist in the final decision.

Focuses on the exposition of the United States Supreme Court on the claim of David Boies, lawyer of presidential candidate Al Gore, to recount all votes in Florida. Highlights of a trial which discussed the standard for counting votes.

Comments on the United States (U.S.) Supreme Court decision on the role of the Florida legislature in selecting Presidential electors to the Electoral College in line with the results of the 2000 U.S. presidential elections. Role of the Florida legislature in the outcome of presidential elections; Implications of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on Florida's institutions, courts and legislature.

Discusses the implications of the Florida Supreme Court decision which allowed a vote recount for the United States (U.S.) presidential election in Florida on December 8, 2000. Information on the possible actions by the Florida Republican legislators in selecting electors; Analysis of the decision; Role of the U.S. Supreme Court in the recount issue.

Comments on the reaction of the Republican Party to the Florida Supreme Court decision that allowed a vote recount for the United States presidential election in Florida on December 8, 2000. Basis of the justices who voted for the recount; Reasons for the protests from the supporters of Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush; Role of Florida legislators on the issue of selecting presidential electors in Florida.

Discusses the implications of the refusal of two Florida judges to disquality absentee votes for the 2000 United States presidential election in Martin and Seminole Counties. Details on the court rulings; Analysis of the decision; Background on a 1975 Florida Supreme Court case on absentee voting.

Discusses the significance of the Florida Supreme Court decision which allowed a vote recount for the United States presidential election in Florida on December 8, 2000. Opinion on the right to vote; Critique on the plan of the Republican Party to block the decision; Implications of the court order.

Presents the text of the Florida Supreme Court ruling which ordered a vote recount for the United States presidential election in Florida on December 8, 2000.

Reports on the reaction of several groups to the Florida Supreme Court decision which allowed a vote recount for the 2000 United States presidential election in Tallahassee, Florida on December 8, 2000. Reaction of Democratic and Republican supporters; Situation in Tallahassee since Election Day 2000; Response of the major political parties.

Reports on the reaction of several television broadcasting networks on the Florida Supreme Court decision which allowed a second vote recount for the United States presidential election in Florida on December 8, 2000. Scene at the television program `NBC News'; Information on the errors made by political forecasters; Opinion from television journalists and politicians.

Analyzes the possible outcome of the Florida Supreme Court decision which allowed a second vote recount for the United States presidential election in Florida on December 8, 2000. Significance of the decision; Reasons given by the justices for the recount; Reaction to the decision; Information on other state election disputes in history.