Newspapers across Florida have agreed to join the lawsuit that accuses Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet of violating Florida's open meetings law in advance of the forced resignation of former FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. Sarasota lawyer Andrea Flynn Mogensenconfirmed Monday that a number of papers would join the litigation in an amended complaint expected to be filed later this week. "There's been an influx of interest," Mogensen said.
Media outlets joining the lawsuit are The Miami Herald; Sun-Sentinel; Orlando Sentinel; Palm Beach Post; Florida Times-Union; Gannett Corp.; Scripps Media; Florida Center for Investigative Reporting; Pensacola News Journal; Fort Myers News Press; Florida Today and Tallahassee Democrat. Two Gannett-owned TV stations also joined the lawsuit, WTSP Tampa and WJXX Jacksonville.
Media interest in the lawsuit surged after a meeting of Scott and the Cabinet last Thursday in Tampa at which the four statewide officials showed no interest in discussing how and why Bailey abruptly lost his job on Dec. 16 after a brief visit from Scott's general counsel. The original lawsuit was filed by St. Petersburg lawyer Matthew Weidner, The Associated Press, the Florida Society of News Editors and Citizens for Sunshine, a non-profit open government advocacy group represented in oth
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