Popping up across Florida these days are T-shirts and hats celebrating the free state of Florida, suggesting “Make America Florida.”

The appellate court reversed a ruling by the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Alabama, which held that once a summary judgment had been granted in favor of the defendant, the defendant was precluded from seeking an award of sanctions or damages under Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Political enthusiasts will recall the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign’s watchword: “It’s the economy, stupid!”

In a question of first impression in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit (which has jurisdiction over Florida, Georgia, and Alabama), the court was presented with the question of whether monthly mortgage statements were communications in connection with the collection of a debt under the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA). In classic lawyer language, the answer is “it depends.”

Today’s headlines are filled with hot-button issues — polarizing Americans with different political beliefs. The leaked Supreme Court draft that would overturn Roe v. Wade, Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and Texas’ abortion bounty laws are just a few items on the shortlist.

A current or prospective tenant is presented with a lease contract with several seemingly untenable terms. The landlord says the contract is non-negotiable. The tenant takes him at his word, quickly signs and returns the contract, and hopes nothing bad arises.

The “Side Hustle” may sound like a laterally moving disco dance, but it’s actually one of the hottest trends in business today.

An Op-Ed featuring analysis from Tripp Scott's Chuck Tatelbaum and Corey Cohen