Governor Rick Scott signed HB 7071 into law on March 25, 2016. This law, aimed at strengthening Florida’s anti-public corruption laws, brings private contractors under the “public servant” definition under state law and lowers the burden of proof for state prosecutors. This makes it easier to prosecute public officials and contractors for bid rigging, bribery and other official misconduct.
Joseph Goldstein, managing partner of the Ft. Lauderdale office of Shutts & Bowen, said the additional tools given to state prosecutors through this bill will provide a layer of protection in the bidding process that currently doesn’t exist at the local level.
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About Joseph Goldstein
Joseph M. Goldstein is the Managing Partner of the Fort Lauderdale office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where he is a member of the Business Litigation Practice Group. Joseph also practices out of the Tallahassee office. A Martindale-Hubbell AV® rated attorney, Joseph is among the less than one percent of attorneys who are Florida Bar Board Certified in Business Litigation. A former Assistant General Counsel for the federal government, Joseph has experience in government contracting law and is well known within local and state procurement divisions.