Court Roundup

Florida Palm Beach commissioners sue over state gun law WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- The Palm Beach County Commission is suing top state officials over a law that forbids local governments form passing their own gun regulations. Filed Tuesday in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, the lawsuit names Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Florida House and the Florida Senate. According to the Palm Beach Post, the suit claims the new law is unconstitutional. County officials say the law violates the separation of powers because it gives the governor the ability to remove local officials from office and strips local officials of immunity from lawsuits. The law's sponsor, Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, says the penalties are necessary because local officials have previously ignored a law that keeps the power to regulate guns with the Florida Legislature. Georgia Refinery explosion victim settles lawsuit SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) -- A worker who suffered severe burns in a 2008 explosion at Imperial Sugar's refinery near Savannah has settled his lawsuit against the company. Attorneys for Lawrence Manker Jr. and the Texas-based sugar company announced the settlement Tuesday. Terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but Manker's lawyers say he underwent 70 surgeries that racked up medical bills exceeding $17 million. The Savannah Morning News reports the deal averted a three-week trial scheduled in Chatham County State Court. Manker, who suffered burns over 85 percent of his body, was among 40 workers injured in the February 2008 explosion, which killed 14 people. The blast was caused by sugar dust igniting like gunpowder. Dozens of lawsuits were filed, and most were settled out of court. Published: Thu, Dec 8, 2011