Florida Hospitals Gain Malpractice Edge After Unusual Court Win

Florida hospitals and medical providers being sued for malpractice can immediately pursue appeals following an unusual move by the state Supreme Court Thursday.

In an extraordinary two-step maneuver, the justices first ruled a University of Florida hospital couldn’t get a quick rehearing on a motion to dismiss a medical malpractice claim. Then the court immediately issued a separate opinion changing the rules—without the normal rulemaking process—in a big win for medical providers.

The “Medical Malpractice Act changed the law such that an interlocutory remedy for parties facing claims that fail to satisfy its presuit requirements is warranted,” the court said ...