About fucking time! And Book should lose. And I'd be willing to testify against her since she lied about me multiple times.
Barbara Sharief sues opponent Lauren Book, alleging political ads were defamatory
By Lisa J. Huriash
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Jul 29, 2022 at 5:07 pm
Former Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief is suing state senate challenger Lauren Book, accusing her of defamation and libel in a $1 million lawsuit filed Friday afternoon.
The lawsuit claims Book has “disseminated lies to people falsely suggesting that Dr. Barbara Sharief “defrauded Medicaid” and stole tax dollars in political ads on television and by mail.
The lawsuit reads, “Book knows full well that these statements are despicable lies. Dr. Barbara Sharief has never committed a crime in her life and neither she nor any company she has ever operated has ever been found to have stolen or misspent Medicaid or any other funds.”
Book is already a senator in District 32, which is changing because of redistricting. Named as defendants in the lawsuit are Book and Winning Florida, a political action committee.
Book’s spokeswoman, Claire VanSusteren, said in an email response that Book has not yet been served with the paperwork, but VanSusteren called it a “nonsense lawsuit.”
“If Sharief continues down this frivolous path, there is little doubt she will be met with a lawsuit herself for falsely attacking Lauren Book and her family in TV commercials and mailers with disgusting, distorted attacks on a foundation whose mission is to protect children from child abuse,” VanSusteren said. “Voters rejected Barbara Sharief last November and they will do so again — and no eleventh-hour frivolous lawsuit will change that trajectory.”
The State Agency for Health Care Administration said Sharief’s home health care company overbilled Medicaid for patient services by nearly $500,000 more than a decade ago, according to a news article from the South Florida Sun Sentinel published in 2013. At the time Sharief said she did not overbill Medicaid, but still opted to settle the matter.
“Our view is the allegations are false,” said her lawyer, Michael Pizzi, of the original claim by the state. “She has never been found to have done anything wrong.”
Former Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief is suing state senate challenger Lauren Book, accusing her of defamation and libel in a $1 million lawsuit filed Friday afternoon. (John McCall & Wilfredo Lee/South Florida Sun Sentinel & AP)
The lawsuit also alleges that Book has portrayed Sharief as an advocate for gun violence; one ad reading “Barbara Sharief’s Shameful Record on Guns & Public Safety” shows her holding an assault weapon. Her lawyer says the photo was taken at a gun-buyback program in Miramar, and the police she was standing next to were cropped out.
Pizzi called it “a smear campaign against someone who dedicated her life to public service and providing quality health care.”
The race is a contentious one for Broward’s new 35th Senate District, which is mostly south and west of Florida’s Turnpike.
Book is the daughter of Ron Book, one of the state’s most influential lobbyists. She has served in the Florida Senate since 2016, won a second term in 2018 and is eligible to serve a final two years in office before term limits kick in, preventing her from running again in 2024.
Sharief was elected to the Broward County Commission in 2012 and re-elected in 2014 in contested races.
In 2018, no opponent came forward and she won a third term without appearing on the ballot. She was elected to the Miramar City Commission in 2009.
Sharief is using the same attorney who is handling a comparable congressional lawsuit. In that case, Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick is suing Dale Holness for libel, accusing her Congressional opponent of damaging her reputation and “public image” that is “irreparable.” That lawsuit also seeks $1 million in damages.
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com or 954-572-2008. Follow on Twitter @LisaHuriash
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