Professional Documents
Culture Documents
FREDERICK W. KORTUM
Appellant,
Appellee.
/
Michael H. Davidson
200 E. Gaines Street
612 Larson Bldg.
Tallahassee, Fl. 32399
(850) 413-4178
Fl. BarNo. 191637
Counsel for Appellee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preliminary Statement I
Table of Authorities ii
Summary of Argument 1
Argument 3
Standard of Review 2
Conclusion 32
Certificate of Service 33
Certificate of Compliance 33
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Amerisure Ins. Co. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 865 So.2d 590
(Fla. 2 DCA 2004) 29
City of Cleburne, Tex. v. Cleburne Living Center, 473 U.S. 432, 440 (1985) 24
Florida Bar v. Went For It, Inc., 515 U.S. 618, 115 S. Ct. 2371,
132 L.Ed,2d 541 3,11,12,30
Florida Dept. of Revenue v. Florida Mun. Power Agency,
789 So.2d 320 (Fla. 2001) 8
II
Gore Newspaper Co. v. Department of Revenue,
398 So.2d945 (Fla.4thDCA 1981) 8
Kirby Center of Spring Hill v. State, Dept. of Labor and Employment Sec.,
Div. of Unemployment Compensation, 650 So.2d 1060 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995) 8
The Florida Bar v. St. Louis, 967 So.2d 108 (Fla. 2007) 30
Warren v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 899 So. 2d 1090 (Fla. 2005) 28
West Flagler Kennel Club, inc. v. Florida State Racing Commission,
153 So.2d 5 (Fla. 1963) 19
iv
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
merely incidental to the regulation of that conduct. It is content neutral. It does not
control the actual content of any speech between a public adjuster and an insured.
It does not seek to control speech because the content of the message conveyed
conveyed through the conduct in question. Both public adjusters who testified for
the Appellant stated that the statute had not caused them to change the content of
their speech directed to insureds. The statute proseribes only face-to-face and
telephonic solicitations by public adjusters, and then only for the first 48 hours
solicitations made within the first 48 hours after a claims producing event. The
the ethical behavior of public adjusters practicing in Florida, and protecting the
privacy interests of Florida citizens. The regulation of public adjusting falls within
the constitutional powers of the State of Florida. The statute thus meets the O'Brien
I
Therefore, there can be no disparate treatment of the Appellant in violation of the
rewarded for his industry. Any such deprivation has been caused by Appellant's
STANDARD OF REVIEW
practicing their profession in this state. A dogged persistence in the assertion that
this is purely a "commercial free speech" case does not make it so, especially when
that assertion is contravened by fact findings made by the lower court that are
supported by competent substantial evidence and come to this court clothed with a
presumption of correctness. This case does not come before this court for review
from a summary judgment, but from a bench trial in which testimony was taken
and exhibits admitted. The parties apparently agree that although review of the
the statute are not reviewed de novo, but are reviewed under the competent
2
ARGUMENT
The U.S. Supreme Court has held that when speech and nonspeech elements
constitutional muster. United Staes v. O'Brien, 391 U.S. 367, 88 S. Ct. 1673, 20
L.Ed.2d 672 (1968) Two recognized substantial governmental interests are the
promotion of ethical conduct on the part of those professionals who practice within
a stat&s boundaries, and the protection of the privacy of its citizens, particularly
after the occurrence of a calamity. Edenfield v. Fane, 507 U.S. 761, 113 S. Ct,
1792, 123 L. Ed. 2d 543 (1993); Florida Bar v, Went For It, Inc., 515 U.S. 618,
3
The Fourth bistrict Court of Appeal has recognized and followed the
teaching of O'Brien, supra. In State v. conforti, 688 So.2d 350 (Fla. 4DCA 1997),
rev, den. 697 So.2d 509, where the court observed that if a statute does not restrict
constrict the flow of information and ideas. State v. Conforti, supra, at 354. The
court then went on to apply the O'Brien test to the conduct at issue to decide
whether the statute there in question unduly constricted the flow of information
and ideas, and ultimately concluded that it did not. While the nude dancing conduct
the instant case, the test for determining the content neutral aspect of the instant
statute is the same as in Conforti, supra, and O'Brien, supra, to wit; does the
statute seek to restrict the message expressed within the conduct. If it does not do
so, it is content neutral. In the instant case the statute does not seek to restrict any
message content, and both Mr. Altieri and Mr. Kortum testified that the statute IIcI
not change the content of the messages they conveyed to the public about their
services. (Tr. Vol. I, 98-100; Vol. 2, 175-176)The statute is thus content neutral on
its face and as applied to the Appellant, to Mr. Altieri, and other public adjusters.
4
Moreover, in Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., v. Public
Service Commission of New York 447 U.S. 530, 100 S. Ct. 2326,65 L.Ed. 2d 319
(1980), the court recognized the constitutional validity of reasonable time, place, or
interest and leave ample alternative channels for communication. It is oniy when
the content of the speech is being regulated that that the governments regulation
must be subjected to careful scrutiny review rather than the rational relationship
Against the backdrop of that established case law let us consider the statute
Thus, what the statute regulates and restricts for only 48 hours is the direct
solicitation purposes, and the time of entry into a contract between the parties,
5
telephonic contact with the public adjuster. What the statute does not regulate or
restrict is: contact initiated by a public adjuster after the expiration of 48 hours;
and subseqiient contract entry initiated by written or electronic means, entry into a
public adjuster's contract after the expiration of 48 hours, or the actual content of
any speech exchanged between the public adjuster and the claimant. Thus, a public
written means, and may engage in solicitation if contact is initiated by the claimant
or insured. All that is regulated by the statute is the conduct of face-to-face and
regulated for a period of only 48 hours. Thus, it is the conduct of public adjusters,
and not their speech, that is being directly regulated by the statute.
Moreover, the statute does not seek to regulate that conduct simply because
their professional services, nor does the state contend that the speech of public
instant Appellant does not contend that the statute seeks to suppress the content of
any speech by public adjusters. The statute merely seeks to regulate their personal
6
allowed under O'Brien, and Conforti, and which does not offend the regulation of
comments made and amendments approved at the November 16, 2007 Citizens'
supported by Terry Butler's testimony at the bench trial below. (Tr. Vol. 2, 240-
in the process of promulgating an administrative rule to that effect. (R. Vol. 4, 623-
638)
assistance of his employer and their counsel and without any consultation with the
department (Tr. Vol. I, 91-94, 151; R. Vol. 4, 750-759, Stipulated Facts 7, 8, 9),
which contends that the statute imposes a total ban on all communication between
producing event, is supported only by the argument of counsel, and that argument
is defective. That argument ignores and gives no meaning or effect to the words
7
regulation on written or electronic communication between insurance claimants
and public adjusters. That was the purpose of the arnendatory language about
which Terry Butler testified at the November 16, 2007 Task Force meeting and at
trial, below. It is only by ignoring the words "through any other person or entity"
and thereby giving them no force or effect that the Appellant can argue that the
statute imposes a total ban on all communications for 48 hours. Such a practice is
and effect be given to every word of a statute. Florida Dept. of Revenue v. Florida
Mun. Power Agency, 789 So.2d 320 (Fla. 2001); Kirby Center of Spring Hill v.
650 So,2d 1060 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995), and Gore Newspaper Co. v. Department of
Revenue, 398 So.2d 945 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981), cited by Appellant at page 18 of his
Initial Brief. Therefore, the Appellant's contention that the statute imposes a total
ethical responsibilities and the privacy interests of persons who have just
8
at a time that the claimant or witness is, or would
reasonably expected to be, in shock or in serious
mental or emotional distress as a result of physical,
mental, or emotional trauma associated with a loss.
This rule is designed to prevent unethical public adjusters from taking undue
advantage of traumatized persons who are having to simultaneously deal with such
concerns as the loss of or injury to loved ones, the loss of substantial personal
property, the matter of having to relocate the family, the question of continuing
danger to family members, the presence of and questioning from police and fire
property is involved, and other such overwhelming concerns. In this same regard, it
to "refrain from improper solicitation". (R. Vol. 4, 75 0-759, Stipulated Facts 56,
57) Forcing the afflicted homeowner or business owner to fend off multiple and
contentious public adjusters eager to gain a contract at such a time and under the
business owner. An ethical public adjuster would not seek to take advantage of the
9
such circumstances simply to gain a contract entitling them to a portion of the
testimony, the Appellant; to his credit, candidly and freely admitted that
solicitation conduct of the type here at issue was improper solicitation (R. Vol. 4,
665-670; R. Vol. 4, 750-759, Stipulated Fact 58), and there was no contention by
the Appellant that the statute attempts to regulate the actual content of any
business owner regarding the advisability of his or her services. (R. Vol. 1, 43-55)
Succinctly put, the statute does not seek to suppress the actual speech content of
public adjusters solicitation efforts, and the Appellant did not so contend in his
public adjusters that even the Appellant admits offends the published and self
imposed ethical solicitation standards required of public adjusters. (R. VoL 4, 758;
Thus, to state the matter succinctly, what is being regulated by the statute is
not the speech of ethical public adjusters but the conduct of unethical public
adjuster was continually on the damaged premises or on the phone to the claimant
giving his or her protracted views of who would win the next Super Bowl in an
attempt to solicit funds to place a Las Vegas wager, and never uttered a single
10
word relative to solicitation for a contract. It is the burdensome distraction caused
homeowner or business owner immediately after a calamity, and not the message
claim, that is being regulated. The statute thereby promotes the ethical behavior of
public adjusters practicing their profession with the state of Florida, and regulates
the conduct of those public adjusters who are not so ethical. This is a recognized
substantial governmental interest. Edenfleld v. Fane, 507 U.S. 761, 113 S. ct.
1792, 123 L. Ed. 2d 543 (1993); Florida Bar v. Went For It, Inc., 515 U.S. 618,
Similarly, the statute protects the privacy of persons who have just suffered a
calamity. If ever there is a time in the life of an individual when privacy is needed
to help make rational decisions directly affecting the well being of life and limb, of
person and property, and the well being of dependents and loved ones, it is
immediately after a calamity. The tranquility of mind needed to soundly make such
contact friends and family members, insurance claims offices, hospital personnel,
professional service providers, and others needed to assist in decision making. The
11
Plaintiffs own solicitation letters, delivered days after the occurrence of a loss,
comprehend the emotional devastation that follows a loss such as yours.") That
letter is sent by Appellant via U.S. mail, to calamity victims days afterwards. (Tr,
Vol. 2, 171) If the emotional devastation is still there days after the calamity, how
much more is it there right after the calamity has occurred, and how much more is
privacy then needed? That privacy cannot be secured amidst a seemingly never-
is not the speech but the conduct of public adjusters relative to an individual's need
for privacy in the face of a crisis that is being regulated. Thus, the statute is content
Conforti, supra, and the protection of an individual's privacy during such moments
is a recognized substantial governmental interest. Florida Bar v. Went For It, Inc.,
O'Brien test for statutes that incidentally limit speech where the governmental
interest is not the suppression of free expression but the promotion of ethical
12
temporal limitation on the conduct in question, coupled with the allowance for
written or electronic means of solicitation by public adjusters, and the provision for
that the statute has been narrowly drawn to accomplish its non-speech objectives in
a manner no greater than needed to do so. Thus, the instant statute is unlike the
Services Commission of New York, 447 U.S. 557, 100 S. Ct. 2343, 65 L..Ed. 2d
341 (1980), which imposed a total ban on all written advertising, or in Insurance
Pennsylvania, 518 A. 2d 1317 (Penn. 1988), which imposed a total ban on all
Edison company of New York, Inc., v. Public Service Commission of New York
447 U.S. 530 100 5. Ct. 2326, 65 L.Ed. 2d 319 (1980), which placed a total ban on
placing written inserts discussing controversial issues of public policy into monthly
utility bills, or in Edenfleld v. Fane, 507 U.S. 761, 113 5. Ct. 1792, 123 L. Ed. 2d
543 (1993) which imposed a total and perpetual ban on direct, in-person
solicitations by Certified Public Accountants, The instant statute's limited
regulation of conduct is also unlike the factual scenario in Francis J Ducoin,
D.D.S., et al v. Dr. Ana M Viamonte Ros, etc. Case No. 2003 CA 696 Second
Judicial Circuit, order filed April 3, 2009, relied on below by the Appellant, in
13
which the actual speech content of an advertisement was being statutorily
regulated. The narrow drawing of the instant statute, the exemptions it makes for
both written and electronic modes of communication, the exemption it provides for
contact initiated by the insured, the limited temporal existence of the ban, and the
establishes its constitutional status. United States v. O'Brien, 391 U.S. 367, 88 S.
constitutional authority of the state legislature to enact. Florida case law has long
acknowledged the state's police power to regulate the insurance industry, agents
and adjusters. As far back as 1936 the Florida Supreme Court observed:
On the basis of that public interest, the legislature requires that insurance
companies, agents, and adjusters be licensed and regulated in the conduct of their
profession by the state, and the instant statute is in furtherance of the public's
interest in the regulation of the conduct, not the speech, of public adjusters. Again,
the statute meets the O'Brien test for constitutionality in all pertinent regards.
Because the challenged statute regulates conduct and meets all O'Brien tests
for constitutionality, the Appellant's "commercial free speech" analysis of the same
14
is inapposite and thus obviates detailed refutation. The case authorities relied on by
that regulates conduct and only incidentally affects speech. O'Brien is the standard
study (Plaintiffs Exhibit 6) and the Citizens Task Force report is inapposite to the
constitutional question at bar; neither deal with constitutional issues but are
confined to statistical analyses. Additionally, Appellant overlooks the fact that the
Task Force report and the OPPAGA review thereof were limited to a survey of the
property and casualty market carriers either before or after that time period.
of a claims producing event leads to absurd results (Initial Brief, pgs 20-21) is
conjectural and has no support in the record. Moreover, the claimed absurdities are
communication through that medium does not offend the statute. If the public
15
adjuster comes upon a claimant while in the process of leaving written material on
appropriate, and leave. The departure can later be easily explained to the claimant.
accompany that procedure did not render the statute unconstitutional. (Tr. Vol.2,
163-164) If the claimant calls the public adjuster within 48 hours of the claims
is the claimant who initiated the telephonic communication, which the statute
specifically allows. This contention is no more than a complaint that the temporary
infirm. Such contentions have been rejected by the courts in cases such as Fuller
v. Watts, 74 So.2d 676 (Fla. 1954), where the announced standard is an undue
hardsh,o. The Appellant has made no showing of an undue hardship, so this entire
argument is without merit. Moreover, the reality of the matter is that the claimed
16
Appellant relies on the testimony of Mr. Ray Altieri to establish certain of
inform the court that Mr. Altieri was not a party to this proceeding below, was not
offered as an expert witness, and at trial failed to demonstrate that he had any
who lives and practices in Tampa, whereas the Appellant practices in the greater
Orlando and east central area of the state. (Tr. Vol. 1, 35; R. Vol. 4, 750-759,
Stipulated Fact 16) His testimony as a fact witness was erroneously admitted over
strenuous objection by the Appellee (Tr, Vol. 1, 42-47; R. Vol. 5, 824-826), and
during cross examination he was forced to admit that his testimony was based on
what others had told him (Tr. Vol. 1, 103-107), rendering that testimony
allegations should not have been admitted, does not appear to be the basis for any
finding of fact made in the Final Judgment under review, and should be
disregarded by this court to the extent that Appellant attempts to use it to establish
a "record fact".
support the conclusion that the first 48 hours are not critical to the claims process,
the Department's expert, Mr. Daniel Montgomery. (Tr. Vol. 2, 25 7-259, 263-267,
17
270-271; Defendant's Exhibit 5) Moreover, as both Appellant and Mr. Altiei
admitted, insurance claims are rarely if ever settled within 48 hours after a claims
producing event, and the statute of limitations for resolution of insurance claims is
five years, during which any claim can be re-opened. (R. Vol. 4, 750-759,
Stipulated Facts 33, 34; Tr. Vol. 1, 111-112; Tr. Vol. 2, 162-163, 166) Those
admissions, from the Appellant and the Appellant's own witness, belie the
Appellant's contention of the "critical" nature of those first 48 hours to the claims
ARGUMENT
In Count Three of the amended and corrected Complaint (R. 43-5 5), the
App ellant sought strict scrutiny review foi' violation of equal protection tenets, but
rights. The federal and Florida constitutions require the presence of both, among
other things, to establish an equal protection claim. The Florida High School
Activities Ass'n, Inc. v. Thomas By and Through Thomas, 434 So.2d 306 (Fla.
1983).
The United States Constitution provides that "no state shall.. .deny to any
person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. U.S. Const. Amend.
XIV, § 1. Analogously, the Florida Constitution says that "all natural persons,
18
female and male alike, are equal before the law." Fla. Const. Art. I, § 2. The Equal
Protection clauses do not prevent a state legislature from exercising its authority in
a constitutional manner; they only prohibit the abuse of such authority. West
Flagier Kennel Club, Inc. v. Florida State Racing Commission, 153 So.2d 5 (Fla.
It is true that the constitution requires that all similarly situated people be
treated alike. Ocala Breeders Sales Co., Inc. v. Florida Gaming Centers, Inc., 793
So.2d 899 (Fla. 2001). The Appellant asserts that he is similarly situated to other
experts, and cleaning services. The Appellant, however, admits that none of those
other business provides the same services a public adjuster provides (R. Vol. 1, 62-
insurance claims proceeds (R. Vol. 1, 62-7 1, Answer 9; Tr. Vol. 2, 258, 274, 285-
public adjusters require the claimant to sign a contract that requires the claimant to
name the public adjuster as a co-payee on every claims proceeds check, and it is
standard practice for the public adjuster to require the claimant to sign a document
19
requiring the insurance carrier to send all proceeds checks to the public adjuster,
not to the claimant. (R. Vol. 1, 98; R. Vol. 4, 665-666, 750-759; Stipulated Fact 41;
Tr. Vol. 2, 274-275) Further, unlike the others to whom lie compares himself, a
The Appellant also maintains and admits that among all those to whom lie
the claimants. (R. Vol. 4, 750-759, Stipulated Facts 36, 37). Moreover, the
not mere tradespeople, (R. Vol. 4, 750-759 Stipulated Facts 18, 26, 27; Defendant's
Exhibits 1,4)
regulations unique to the field of public insurance adjusting, including those which,
role. See, Section 626.8738, Fla. Stat. He does not challenge those protective
regulations. The Appellant should not be allowed to benefit from the state's
while simultaneously arguing for equal protection purposes that he should be just
insured loss.
20
The Appellant argues that public adjusters are similarly situated to insurance
company adjusters, which are not subject to a 48-hour rule. However, the
Appellant ignores the fact that the insurance company already has a contractual
relationship with the homeowner that obligates the insurance company to provide
compensate the company adjuster for his or her services. In contrast, public
losses, and contractually require that their compensation come from the claims
proceeds. (R. Vol. 1, 72-78, Admissions 9, 10) Moreover, as pointed out in Mr.
compares himself may eventually, through judicial process, acquire real property
lien rights to secure payment for their services, it is only the public adjuster that is
contractually entitled to insert him/her self into the money stream between the
carrier and the insured, thus giving the public adjuster significant leverage power
over the insured, an attribute not shared by the tradespeople. (Tr, Vol. 2, 258-259,
274, 285-288)
knowledgeable about their insurance contracts, and coverage and claims filing
procedures (R. Vol. 4, 750-759 Stipulated Fact 21), while public adjusters hold
21
them selves out to be professionals and experts in those areas
behalf of claimants, advise the claimants about their policies, and explain coverage
issues, policy limits, exclusions and rights under their policies. (R. Vol. 4, 750-759,
Stipulated Facts 18, 24, 25, 26, 27) Thus, the "playing field" is heavily tilted in
favor of public adjusters who are licensed, trained professionals intimately familiar
with insurance contracts and insurance claims issues and procedures, who because
of that superior knowledge can easily persuade an otherwise reluctant claimant into
contracting with them while in a distressed state of mind shortly after suffering a
"art of persuasion" that the court found an acceptable reason for limiting lawyers'
access to calamity victims in Ohralik v. Ohio State Bar Association, 436 U.S. 447
(1978). The same rationale applies here, where the legitimate government purpose
to be served is the protection of the privacy interests of those who are suffering
Essentially, a close analysis shows that the Appeflanfs services are easily
distinguishable from the services offered by the tradesmen to whom the Appellant
compares himself, and arise under circumstances far different from those attendant
22
The Appellant, himsclf has expressed these distinctions in his Responses to
Department's Admission Requests 6, 7, 8, 13, and 15, (R. Vol. 1, 79-94) and in his
response to the Department's Request For Production No. 2 (R. Vol. 1 72-78), as
well as in his pre-trial deposition testimony. Thus, not only has the Plaintiff failed
to show that his profession is similarly situated to, but regulated differently from,
others of the same classification, but he repeatedly insists that his profession is
insular and distinct from the other tradespeople to whom he compares his
classification (the existence of which the Plaintiff, himself, denies) the instant
arises, the court must first determine the appropriate standard for judicial review.
B,S. v. State, 862 So.2d 15, 18 (Fla. 2 DCA. 2003). The three judicial standards
scrutiny, or 3) strict scrutiny. Id. For strict scrutiny, the most discerning level of
certain groups that have been the traditional targets of irrational, unfair, and
23
unlawful discrimination. The Florida High School Activities Ass'n, Inc. v. Thomas
The United States Supreme Court has considered very few groups to be
and national origin. City of Cieburne, Tex. v. Cieburne Living Center, 473 U.s.
432, 440 (1985). Clearly, public insurance adjusters are not considered a suspect
class, so the only way for strict scrutiny to apply is if their fundamental rights have
arbitrary, discriminatory, and unreasonable. Lite v. State, 617 So. 2d 1058, 1060
(Fla. 1993). As shown above, the appellant has failed to carry this burden. The
Appellee has explained how the Appellant's right to protected commercial speech
has not been unconstitutionally or unduly restricted. The Appellant may, within the
48 hours in question, still communicate with prospective customers via written and
initiates the contact, and then enter into a contract with the homeowner. Only the
directly regulated, and even that has only been regulated for 48 hours. The effect of
conduct by means that satisfy the O'Brien test for constitutionality. The Appellant
24
is still free to engage in unrestrained truthful commercial speech by written or
hardship on him but not on others. However, equal protection of the laws is not
the regulation is reasonable. Fuller v. Watts, 74 So.2d 676, 678 (Fla. 1954). (If
regulatory statute, none would pass muster because every regulatory statute
inherently burdens and visits some degree of hardship upon the regulated party.)
rather than drive to the scene or call the victims, but that inconvenience is
constitutionally permissible. Using the lowest judicial standard of review for this
type of legislative classification, the 48-hour rule passes the rational basis test as a
ARGUMENT
The Plaintiff alleges that his fundamental rights to benefit from his industry
and to acquire, possess, and protect property under Art. I, §2 of the Florida
25
Constitution and his right to free speech under Art. I, §4 of the Florida Constitution
have been violated. However, since, under O'Brien., supra, no right to free speech
has been violated, strict scrutiny will only apply if a Plaintiff's rights to benefit
from his work and to acquire, possess, and protect property are violated.
an estimate of the financial damages he has allegedly incurred since the effective
date of the 48-hour restriction. (Tr. Vol.2, 160-162) He admitted that his business
has suffered no identifiable monetary damages, and that the only perceived
difference in his business is the fewer number of potential clients that he contacts.
(Tr. Vol. 2, 160-161) The Appellant further admitted that the decline in
Florida public adjusters working in his area since the 2004 hurricane season. (Tr.
Vol.2, 165) The Appellant could not think of any clients who would have
contracted with him but for the 48-hour rule. (Tr. Vol. 2, 162 ) The Appellant has
not attempted electronic or written solicitations within the relevant 48 hours since
the effective date of the challenged statute. (R. Vol. 1, 79-94, Admission 1; Tr.
Vol. 2, 154l55) Appellant had some success in contracting with claimants via
written solicitation prior to the effective date of the challenged statute. (Tr. Vol.2,
152-153) The Appellant admitted that his success rate in securing contracts has
remained essentially unchanged from the time period prior to the effective date of
26
the statute. (Tr. Vol. 2, 155-156) It is the Appellants own construction of the
statute, and not anything told to him by the department, through which he has
restricted himself from reaching more potential clients via written communications
(Ti'. Vol.2, 150-15 1), and even his self-imposed restriction has not led to an
although he could articulate no legal reason for that action, admitting that it was
simply his business practice to do so. (Tr. Vol. 2, 156-159) He testified that on that
basis he simply walked away from 21 potential contracts prior to the effective date
of the statute, and 37 potential contracts after the date of the statute, both of which
numbers are substantially larger (up to six fold) than the six contracts he claimed
he should have obtained (based on his statistical analysis) but for the statute. (Ti'.
Vol. 2, 158-159)
through Mr. Kortum's own testimony, it is not possible to see how he has been
prevented from benefiting from his efforts or from acquiring, possessing, and
not provide the court with anything other than a perceived decline in the potential
27
conditions not related to the 48-hour limitation, his own peculiar business
practices, and his own misconstruction of the statute. Since the Appellant cannot
show a violation of any of his fundamental rights in these regards, and is not a
member of a suspect class, and as the statute regulates conduct and not commercial
speech, the Court must review the 48-hour limitation using the rational basis test.
Warren v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 899 So. 2d 1090, 1095 (Fla. 2005).
The rational basis test requires that the classification be rationally related to
State v. Bodden, 877 So.2d 680, 689 (Fla. 2004). When the rational basis test
North Florida Women 's Health and Gounseling Services, Inc. v. State, 866 So.2d
612, 625 (Fla. 2003). It was Mr. Kortum's burden to prove that no conceivable
factual basis could rationally support the classification, and to negate every
conceivable basis that might support the classification. The Florida High School
Activities Ass'n, Inc. v. Thomas By and Through Thomas, 434 So.2d 306, 308 (Fla.
1983); Amerisure Ins. Co. v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 865 So.2d 590, 592
the complaint (R. Vol. 1, 43-55) that "no testimony or other evidence was
presented to the task force or to legislators who considered the task force
28
recommendations to demonstrate that a 48-hour ban on early solicitation would
directly advance the state's goal of protecting the public," it must be acknowledged
that Florida case law establishes that any conceivable and rational basis that might
whether the basis has a foundation in the record. Fraternal Order of Police,
Metropolitan Dade Count, Lodge No. 6 v. Department qf State, 392 So.2d 1296,
29
Communications. Inc., 508 U.S. 307, 113 S. Ct. 2096, 124 L.Ed.2d
211(1993). u Agency For Health Care Admin. v. Harneroff 816 So.2d
1145, 1149 (Fla, 1st DCA 2002), rev, den. 835 So.2d 266, cert
dismissed, 539 U.S. 973, 124 S. Ct. 14, 156 L.Ed.2d 680 (2003)
governmental interests in this case are the promotion of ethical conduct on the part
of those professionals who practice within a state's boundaries, and the protection
Edenfleld v. Fane, 507 U.S. 761(1993); Florida Bar v. Went For It, Inc., 515 U.S.
618 (1995). Not only did the task force and legislature consider those interests, but
for the classification. The Edenfield, supra, and Went For It, supra, decisions
After determining whether a legitimate state interest exists, the court must
legitimate state interest. The Florida Bar v. St. Louis, 967 So.2d 108, 121 (Fla.
citizens' privacy after a disaster and regulating the unethical conduct of public
adjusters who would push for a signed contract immediately after the disaster. To
prevent victims of catastrophe from being rushed into a decision in the midst of
30
losing valuable possessions, the legislation reasonably addresses the conduct of
public adjusters during the victims' most stressful hours. See, Depositions of
Janine Ann Lutz, Pedro Almeida, Diedre Flashman, and Maureen Williams,
rights, it should be concluded that the rational basis test for constitutionality has
been met because the Appellant cannot successfully argue that no conceivable
basis exists for the 48-hour limitation. The Appellant is not, and does not claim to
be, a member of a suspect class, The Appellant cannot demonstrate any identified
violation of his rights to benefit from his industry or to acquire, possess, and
imposed upon himself. The Appellant's free speech rights under Article I, §4 of the
Florida Constitution have not been violated, and the statute passes the 0 'Brien test
for regulation of non-speech conduct. The 48-hour rule is no different than any of
to protect the public and to enhance public adjuster's adherence to ethical behavior.
Finally, the court must presume that, under the rational relationship test, the
statute is valid and constitutional, and must construe the statute to effect a
So.2d 640, 642 (Fla. 2005). Any doubts regarding the legislation's constitutionality
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must be resolved in favor of its constitutionality. Kass v. Lewin, 104 So.2d 572,
CONCLUS ION
court must sustain the statute as a valid legislative act. The statute in question
state, and protecting the privacy of individuals who have just suffered a calamity.
The incidental restrictions on speech are no more than necessary to achieve the
legislature to regulate the conduct of public adjusters. On those bases, the statute is
clearly constitutional.
The Appellant failed to carry his burden of making a clear showing that his
profession is being singled out for treatment disparate from others similarly
situated. Indeed, the Appellant's own testimony and admissions establish the
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within the State of Florida, and ensuring the privacy of its residents who have just
that any deprivation of his right to be rewarded for his industry was self-inflicted
Respectfully bm &1,
Michae .Davi'son
Fla. Bar o. 191637
200 E. Gaines Street, 612 Larson Bldg.
Tallahassee, Fl. 32399
(850) 413-4178
Fax. (850) 488-6097
Counsel for the Department
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
I hereby certify that the foregoing Answer Brief of Appellee was typed in 14
point Times New Roman.
Michael H. avids
33