Who sued Florida Department of Health over COVID-19 data? Ron DeSantis' administration settles lawsuit

Florida Department of Health settles lawsuit over COVID-19 data release, agreeing to post detailed stats weekly for three years.

In a recent development, the legal battle between the Florida Department of Health and former state representative Carlos Guillermo Smith over the release of COVID-19 data has finally come to an end. The lawsuit, which accused the department and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo of violating public records law, has been settled. As part of the settlement, the department has agreed to publish detailed data about the disease on a weekly basis for the next three years.

The lawsuit was initially filed by Smith on August 30, 2021, and was later joined by various media outlets and the Florida Center for Government Accountability. Smith argued that all Floridians have a constitutional right to access public records, including critical public health data. He emphasized the importance of receiving this information in a timely manner.

Under the terms of the settlement, the Florida Department of Health will now provide comprehensive COVID-19 statistics every week. This data will include information on vaccination counts, case counts, and deaths. Importantly, the data will be broken down by county, age group, gender, and race, providing a detailed understanding of the impact of the disease across different demographics. In addition to this, the state has been ordered to pay over $152,000 in legal fees to cover the plaintiff's expenses.

The controversy surrounding the release of COVID-19 data in Florida began when Governor Ron DeSantis decided to restrict access to the information. DeSantis made this decision in June 2021, arguing that the state was seeing a decline in cases and an increase in vaccinations. This approach was subsequently adopted by other states. However, at the time, the Delta variant of the coronavirus was spreading rapidly in Florida, resulting in a significant number of deaths.

The lawsuit was prompted by requests for data on pediatric hospitalizations, deaths, and positive cases in Orange County, made by Smith and the Florida Center for Government Accountability. Both requests were denied, leading to the legal action.

Following the settlement, Smith expressed his satisfaction with the outcome and criticized the DeSantis administration for downplaying the severity of the disease. He highlighted the devastating impact of the Delta variant, which claimed the lives of thousands of Floridians. Smith's comments reflect a sense of justice being served and a belief that accountability has been established.

Recent reports from the Florida Department of Health paint a grim picture of the COVID-19 situation in the state. As of September 28, 2023, over 91,000 Floridians have died from the virus, with more than 10,000 new cases being reported each week. Shockingly, Newsweek reports that over 7.8 million Floridians have tested positive for the virus, which accounts for more than a third of the state's population.

Despite the settlement, neither the Florida Department of Health nor Dr. Ladapo have admitted to any wrongdoing. They maintain that they provided the necessary data to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). James Williams, the Press Secretary for the department, criticized Smith's actions, dismissing them as a "political stunt." Williams argued that valuable government time and resources were wasted on debating the formatting of data with individuals lacking expertise in epidemiology.

Smith, on the other hand, contends that the department deliberately restricted access to information to suit their own political agenda. He implies that the existence of public records does not guarantee transparency, as data can be manipulated or withheld to shape a particular narrative.

In conclusion, the settlement of the lawsuit between the Florida Department of Health and Carlos Guillermo Smith represents a significant victory for transparency and accountability. The agreement ensures that detailed COVID-19 data will be made available to the public on a weekly basis for the next three years. This information will shed light on the impact of the disease across different demographics in Florida. Despite the settlement, the department maintains that they did not act wrongly, and they emphasize their cooperation with the CDC. The legal battle highlights the importance of open access to public health data and the need for transparency in shaping public policy.

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