Florida's Senate President unilaterally approved a $900,000 settlement with an alleged victim of sexual harassment by Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Jack Latvala.
The settlement includes a provision barring the victim from ever applying for a job with the Florida State Senate again. That's wrong.
The settlement was negotiated by Florida State Senate General Counsel Jeremiah Hawkes, 41, a failed county court judge candidate who worked for Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco -- Hawkes is the son of a lobbyist for judges and former Chief Judge of the First District Court of Appeals in Tallahassee, Paul M Hawkes.
Ethics charges were dismissed against the senior Hawkes over a $49 million "Taj Mahal" courthouse in South Tallahassee after he resigned, with the Florida Supreme Court finding the case moot, while maintaining continuing jurisdiction if Hawkes ever became a judge again. Florida Politics reports that the senior Hawkes was a prosecutor, a Republican legislator from Citrus County, a top staffer to Gov. Jeb Bush and two (2) Republican House speakers, Dan Webster and Tom Feeney, and a close friend of Education Commissioner designate Richrd Concern, former House Speaker. His clients include "Duke Energy, the Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges, the Florida Medical Association, the Florida Public Defender Association, and the Florida State University Foundation. He also represented The Stronach Group, which operates South Florida’s Gulfstream Park. Stipanovich said he will continue to represent all those clients."
I've asked the Leon County State's Attorney for the files on his abortive investigation of Latvala. No Response.
I've asked OUR State Senate for OUR documents.
I've asked OUR State Senate to sue LATVALA for restitution of the amount paid out to the victim.
This $900,000 sexual harassment and retaliation settlement is being paid for by We, the People, the taxpayers of Florida. The alleged sexual harasser, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair JACK LATVALA, escapes criminal prosecution and personal accountability. As my mentor, former USDOL Chief Judge Nahum Litt told me in 1985, when a government manager sexually harasses, retaliates or commits discrimination, the wrongdoer should pay personally. Will the Florida State Sente bring an action to require LATVALA to reimburse the Senate for the $900,000 being paid to his victim?
It's our money.
No documents from these rebarbative retromingent reprobate reptilian Tallahassee Republicans, yet.
The Florida Bar website currently lists Florida State Senate General Counsel JEREMIAH MAHLON HAWKES as President of the "Florida Association of Police Attorneys" (through the year 2030) and as a member of the Florida Bar's Constitutional Judiciary Committee and the Governmental and Public Policy Advocacy Committee.
Here's the correspondence:
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin
Sent: Fri, Jan 4, 2019 8:40 pm
Subject: Re: Ed Slavin Request No. 2019-6: Florida State Senate $900,000 EEOC sexual harassment and retaliation settlement in Rachel Perrin Rogers v. State Senator Jack Latvala, et al./ florida Senate Public Records Request #19
Dear Mr. Hawkes:
1. Will the Florida State Senate -- or its insurance company -- please file an action against JACK LATVALA for restitution of the $900,000 settlement?
2. Please send any documents researching the law on this option.
3. Please call me to discuss.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
www.edslavin.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin
Sent: Fri, Jan 4, 2019 8:14 pm
Subject: Ed Slavin Request No. 2019-6: Florida State Senate $900,000 EEOC sexual harassment and retaliation settlement in Rachel Perrin Rogers v. State Senator Jack Latvala, et al./ florida Senate Public Records Request #19
Dear Mr. Hawkes:
1. Please call me to discuss.
2. Please send me the requested documents.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
www.edslavin.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Slavin
To: PublicRecordsRequests
Sent: Fri, Jan 4, 2019 6:14 pm
Subject: Re: Ed Slavin Request No. 2019-6: Florida State Senate $900,000 EEOC sexual harassment and retaliation settlement in Rachel Perrin Rogers v. State Senator Jack Latvala, et al./ florida Senate Public Records Request #19
Dear Ms. Perez:
1. The Florida State Senate's delay is disdainful and disrespectful to the public's constitutional Right to Know, voted by 83% of Florida voters in Article I, Sec. 24, Florida Constitution.
2. Please send documents. Now.
3. As James Madison wrote, "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."
4. Please call me today to discuss.
5. Please include "Request No. 2019-6: Florida State Senate $900,000 EEOC sexual harassment and retaliation settlement in Rachel Perrin Rogers v. State Senator Jack Latvala, et al." in the title of all e-mails and correspondence.
Thank you.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed Slavin
904-377-4998
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
www.edslavin.com
-----Original Message-----
From: PublicRecordsRequests
To: Ed Slavin
Sent: Fri, Jan 4, 2019 5:09 pm
Subject: Public Records Request #19
Dear Mr. Slavin:
The Senate received your public records request dated January 4, 2019, for the following:
· “Please send me all of the documents on Rachel Perrin Rogers v. State Senator Jack Latvala, et al., involving a reported $900,000 EEOC settlement re: sexual harassment and retaliation by former State Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Jack Latvala. Please include all draft settlement agreements and documents on discussion and discussion between the parties, negotiations on the amount and terms of settlement, legal filings, analytical statements of position, briefs, EEOC and court investigative statements, affidavits, depositions, etc.”
A response to this request will be given in a reasonable amount of time. Should this request result in an extensive use of Senate information technology resources, clerical or supervisory assistance, an extensive use fee estimate will be provided for approval prior to processing the request.
The Senate provides this response pursuant to Article 1, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution, section 11.0431, Florida Statutes, and Senate Rule 1.48. Under Article 1, Section 24(c) of the Florida Constitution, each house of the Legislature is exclusively authorized to adopt rules governing the enforcement of the maintenance, control and disposition of public records with respect to their own public records.
The Senate will be in contact should any additional information be needed. Otherwise, a notification will be sent once the records are ready for release.
Sincerely,
Michelle
Michelle Perez
Public Records Manager
Office of the Senate General Counsel
302 The Capitol
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Phone: (850) 487-5237
Fax: (850) 487-6444
Here is the POLITICO article on the settlement:
Perrin Rogers was one of six women who told POLITICO in November, 2017 — anonymously at first — that disgraced former Senate budget chief Jack Latvala sexually harassed. | Flickr
Perrin Rogers resigns, settles for nearly $1M with Senate
TALLAHASSEE — Top staffer Rachel Perrin Rogers will resign from the state Senate on Friday after settling with the chamber for nearly $1 million over sexual harassment and workplace discrimination allegations.
As part of the settlement reached last month, the Florida Senate will make a one time $900,000 payment to a trust account held by the law firm of Perrin Rogers’ attorney, Tiffany Cruz.
All parties had been barred last month from discussing the case, which was reviewed in federal administrative court by Judge Alexander Fernandez. That gag order was lifted when the case was dismissed on Wednesday.
Perrin Rogers, the top aide to future Senate President Wilton Simpson, directed POLITICO to her resignation letter, dated Dec. 19.
“I feel an immense sadness that at this time I am no longer able to do this work for you in the Senate. Thank you for your unwavering support,” Perrin Rogers wrote in the letter, which was addressed to Simpson. “Having the opportunity to assist as you’ve served your constituents has been an honor.”
She had no further comment.
Several prominent politicians may have had to testify if the case had progressed, which could have forced them to talk about some of the Legislature's skeletons under oath. Among those Perrin Rogers wanted to put under oath were Simpson, disgraced former Senate Budget Chair Jack Latvala, former Senate President Joe Negron, Senate Rules Chairwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto, Florida Senate counsel and lobbyist George Meros, St. Petersburg publisher Peter Schorsch and even Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to court records.
Perrin Rogers was one of six women who told POLITICO in November, 2017 — anonymously at first — that Latvala sexually harassed them by groping them or making lewd and demeaning comments. She followed those accusations with a confidential Senate complaint.
Following two explosive probes into Latvala’s behavior by the Senate — one of which determined that he likely harassed and groped Perrin Rogers — he resigned last January. One of those reports said Latvala might have broken state law by engaging in a sex-for-votes offer with a lobbyist with whom he had an affair, but the state attorney declined to prosecute.
Senate spokesperson Katie Betta told POLITICO through a written statement on Thursday that Fernandez had always recommended “mediation as a solution that would bring a more timely resolution to what had already become a protracted and public employment matter.”
Betta added: “President [Bill] Galvano believed the matter would continue to negatively impact the parties and distract from the important work of the Senate, while legal fees mounted for all involved. For those reasons, President Galvano authorized the recent mediation which led to the settlement. The settlement brings this matter to a conclusion that allows both parties to move forward.”
Here is the News Service of Florida/Orlando Weekly article:
Florida Senate uses $900,000 in taxpayer money for settlement in discrimination lawsuit
Posted By Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida on Fri, Jan 4, 2019 at 10:29 am
Here are Paul M. Hawkes' 2018 legislative lobbying clients:
Paul M. Hawkes
Mailing Address:
101 N Monroe Street
Suite 1090
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Suite 1090
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone Number:
(850) 212-3067
Principals:
• Lobbyists registered to lobby the House and Senate will not display any chamber reference.• Lobbyists registered to lobby one chamber and/or the PSCNC (Public Service Commission Nominating Council) will display the names of the entity(ies) next to their names (e.g., (Senate, PSCNC)) within the principal's information.
• Lobbyists registered to lobby all three legislative entities will display all entity names (e.g., (House, Senate, PSCNC)).
Autolotto
Autolotto
#1052
San Francisco, California 94131
Industry Code: 511210 Software publishers
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Bradford County School Board
501 W Washington St
Starke, FL 32091
Industry Code: 236220 Educational building construction
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
City of Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency
100 W Atlantic Boulevard
2nd Floor; Suite 276
Pompano Beach, Florida 33060
Industry Code: 925120 Community development agencies, government
Effective Date: 2/21/2018
Coalition of Ignition Interlock Manufacturers
Po Box 523172
Springfield, VA 22152-5172
Industry Code: 441310 Automotive parts and supply stores
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Conference of County Court Judges
339 E Macclenny Ave
Suite 21
Macclenny, FL 32063
Industry Code: 922110 City or county courts
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Dixie County School Board
16077 NE Hwy 19
Cross City, FL 32628
Industry Code: 611110 Elementary and Secondary Schools
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Dosal Tobacco Corporation
4775 NW 132nd St
Opa-locka, FL 33054
Industry Code: 312230 Cigarettes manufacturing
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Duke Energy Corporation
550 S Tryon St
Charlotte, NC 28202
Industry Code: 221122 Distribution of electric power
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Experian Information Solutions, Inc
900 17th St NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006
Industry Code: 561450 Credit bureaus
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Florida Chapter American College of Cardiology
3208 E Colonial Dr
Suite 264
Orlando, FL 32803
Industry Code: 621111 Cardiologists' offices (e.g., centers, clinics)
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges
2000 Drayton Dr
Tallahassee, FL 32311
Industry Code: 922110 Courts of law, civilian (except American Indian or Alaska Native)
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers
3544 Maclay Blvd
Tallahassee, FL 32312
Industry Code: 921110 County supervisors' and executives' offices
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Florida Greyhound Association
Po Box 21237
Sarasota, FL 34276-4237
Industry Code: 813920 Professional associations
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Florida Medical Association
Po Box 10269
Tallahassee, FL 32302-2269
Industry Code: 541820 Lobbying services
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Florida State University Foundation
2010 Levy Ave
Building B, Suite 300
Tallahassee, FL 32310
Industry Code: 611310 Academies, college or university
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Government Services Group
1500 Mahan Dr
Ste 250
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Industry Code: 541611 Administrative management consulting services
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Green Point Consultants
914 Railroad Ave
Tallahassee, FL 32310
Industry Code: 531190 Agricultural property rental leasing
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Guardian Group
20380 Halfway Rd Ste 1
Suite 1
Bend, OR 97703-6997
Industry Code: 813319 Public safety advocacy organizations
Effective Date: 3/9/2018
Marsy's Law for All
9500 W Flamingo Rd
Suite 203
Las Vegas, NV 89147
Industry Code: 813311 Human rights advocacy organizations
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Pinch A Penny, Inc
6385 150th Ave N
Clearwater, FL 33760
Industry Code: 453998 Swimming pool supply stores
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida
101 N Gadsden St
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Industry Code: 813910 Business Associations
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Shands Teaching Hospital & Clinics, Inc
1600 SW Archer Rd
Gainesville, FL 32608
Industry Code: 622310 Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
South Central Florida Express, Inc
900 S W C Owen Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 482112 Short-line railroads
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Southern Gardens Citrus Groves Corporation
111 Ponce De Leon Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 311411 Juices, fruit or vegetable, frozen, manufacturing
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Southern Gardens Citrus Holding Corporation
111 Ponce De Leon Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 115112 Disease control for crops
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Southern Gardens Citrus Nursery Corporation
111 Ponce De Leon Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 111421 Fruit stock (e.g., plants, seedlings, trees) growing
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Southern Gardens Citrus Processing Corporation
111 Ponce De Leon Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 311411 Juices, fruit or vegetable, frozen, manufacturing
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
State Farm Florida Insurance Co.
285 Peachtree Center Ave
Ste 1200
Atlanta, GA 30303
Industry Code: 524126 Property and casualty insurance carriers, direct
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
Marquis 2 Tower
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30303
Industry Code: 524126 Insurance carriers, property and casualty, direct
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
The Able Trust
3320 Thomasville Road
200
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Industry Code: 624310 Vocational rehabilitation or habilitation services (e.g., job counseling, job training, work experience)
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
United States Sugar Corporation
111 Ponce De Leon Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 111930 Sugarcane farming, field production
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Universal City Development Partners, LTD dba Universal Orlando
1000 Universal Studios Plaza
Plaza B-5
Orlando, FL 32819
Industry Code: 713110 Theme parks, amusement
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Vertical Bridge Holdings, LLC
750 Park of Commerce Dr.
Suite 200
Boca Raton, FL 33487
Industry Code: 531190 Equity real estate investment trusts (REITs), primarily leasing real estate (except residential buildings and dwellings, nonresidential buildings, miniwarehouses, and self-storage units)
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Watershed Technologies, LLC
3208 Westchester Dr
Cocoa, FL 32926
Industry Code: 562910 Environmental remediation services
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Wexford Health Sources
680 Andersen Dr
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
Industry Code: 621999 Medical care management services
Effective Date: 1/25/2018
Here are Paul M. Hawkes' 2018 Florida executive branch lobbying clients:
Paul M. Hawkes
Mailing Address:
101 N Monroe Street
Suite 1090
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Suite 1090
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone Number:
(850) 212-3067
Principals:
Autolotto
Autolotto
#1052
San Francisco, California 94131
Industry Code: 511210 Software publishers
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Bradford County School Board
501 W Washington St
Starke, FL 32091
Industry Code: 236220 Educational building construction
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
City of Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency
100 W Atlantic Boulevard
2nd Floor; Suite 276
Pompano Beach, Florida 33060
Industry Code: 925120 Community development agencies, government
Effective Date: 2/22/2018
Coalition of Ignition Interlock Manufacturers
Po Box 523172
Springfield, VA 22152-5172
Industry Code: 441310 Automotive parts and supply stores
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Conference of County Court Judges
339 E Macclenny Ave
Suite 21
Macclenny, FL 32063
Industry Code: 922110 City or county courts
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Dixie County School Board
16077 NE 19 Hwy
Cross City, FL 32628
Industry Code: 111110 Soybean Farming
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Duke Energy Corporation
550 S Tryon St
Charlotte, NC 28202
Industry Code: 221122 Distribution of electric power
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Experian Information Solutions, Inc
900 17th St NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006
Industry Code: 561450 Credit bureaus
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Florida Conference of District Court of Appeal Judges
2000 Drayton Dr
Tallahassee, FL 32311
Industry Code: 922110 Courts of law, civilian (except American Indian or Alaska Native)
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers
3544 Maclay Blvd
Tallahassee, FL 32312
Industry Code: 921110 County supervisors' and executives' offices
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Florida Medical Association
Po Box 10269
Tallahassee, FL 32302-2269
Industry Code: 541820 Lobbying services
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Florida State University Foundation
2010 Levy Ave
Building B, Suite 300
Tallahassee, FL 32310
Industry Code: 611310 Academies, college or university
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Government Services Group
1500 Mahan Dr
Ste 250
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Industry Code: 541611 Administrative management consulting services
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Green Point Consultants
914 Railroad Ave
Tallahassee, FL 32310
Industry Code: 531190 Agricultural property rental leasing
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Guardian Group
20380 Halfway Rd Ste 1
Suite 1
Bend, OR 97703-6997
Industry Code: 813319 Public safety advocacy organizations
Effective Date: 3/11/2018
Marsy's Law for All
9500 W Flamingo Rd
Suite 203
Las Vegas, NV 89147
Industry Code: 813311 Human rights advocacy organizations
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Pinch A Penny, Inc
6385 150th Ave N
Clearwater, FL 33760
Industry Code: 453998 Swimming pool supply stores
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Safety Net Hospital Alliance
101 Gadsden St
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Industry Code: 813910 Business Associations
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
Shands Jacksonville Medical Center
655 W 8th St
Jacksonville, FL 32209
Industry Code: 622310 Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals
Effective Date: 1/2/2018
South Central Florida Express, Inc
900 S W C Owen Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 482112 Short-line railroads
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
South Central Florida Express, Inc.
900 S W C Owen Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 482112 Short-line railroads
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Southern Gardens Citrus Groves Corporation
111 Ponce De Leon Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 311411 Juices, fruit or vegetable, frozen, manufacturing
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Southern Gardens Citrus Holding Corporation
111 Ponce De Leon Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 115112 Disease control for crops
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Southern Gardens Citrus Nursery Corporation
111 Ponce De Leon Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 111421 Fruit stock (e.g., plants, seedlings, trees) growing
Effective Date: 1/18/2018
Southern Gardens Citrus Processing Corporation
111 Ponce De Leon Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 311411 Juices, fruit or vegetable, frozen, manufacturing
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
State Farm Florida Insurance Co.
285 Peachtree Center Ave
Ste 1200
Atlanta, GA 30303
Industry Code: 524126 Property and casualty insurance carriers, direct
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
Marquis 2 Tower
Suite 1200
Atlanta, GA 30303
Industry Code: 524126 Insurance carriers, property and casualty, direct
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
United States Sugar Corporation
111 Ponce De Leon Ave
Clewiston, FL 33440
Industry Code: 111930 Sugarcane farming, field production
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Universal City Development Partners, LTD dba Universal Orlando
1000 Universal Studios Plaza
Plaza B-5
Orlando, FL 32819
Industry Code: 713110 Theme parks, amusement
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
Vertical Bridge Holdings, LLC
750 Park of Commerce Dr.
Suite 200
Boca Raton, FL 33487
Industry Code: 531190 Equity real estate investment trusts (REITs), primarily leasing real estate (except residential buildings and dwellings, nonresidential buildings, miniwarehouses, and self-storage units)
Effective Date: 1/4/2018
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