Slander Suit against now-FORMER Florida State Senator Lauren Book allowed to continue

It is a lot harder for the Books to get rid of a slander suit when her opponent has standing in the comunity. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/judge-rules-in-dr-barbara-shariefs-favor-to-proceed-to-trial-with-her-claim-that-senator-lauren-book-maliciously-slandered-her-with-statements-that-book-knew-were-false-302207271.html

JUDGE RULES IN DR. BARBARA SHARIEF'S FAVOR TO PROCEED TO TRIAL WITH HER CLAIM THAT SENATOR LAUREN BOOK MALICIOUSLY SLANDERED HER WITH STATEMENTS THAT BOOK KNEW WERE FALSE

News provided by Sharief For Florida 

Jul 26, 2024, 07:00 ET

DAVIE, Fla., July 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Broward County Mayor Dr. Barbara Sharief won another landmark victory and is one step closer to ultimate justice at trial for the alleged slander that she received by Lauren Book and her campaign. The Court ruled last night that Dr. Sharief had presented sufficient evidence to proceed to trial where she will be seeking over one million dollars in damages against Book and her campaign team for making false and untrue accusations that Sharief committed Medicaid fraud, among other falsehoods.

Judge Shari Africk Olefson stated as follows:

"That sufficient unrebutted evidence is reflected in the record, including but not limited to for a reasonable jury or trier of fact to conclude that Defendant (LAUREN BOOK) made and published to third parties, false information which was intended to harm Plaintiff in the context of an election campaign, and did harm Plaintiff."

The Court once again rejected Senator Book's relentless efforts to have the defamation lawsuit thrown out of court. This latest ruling was after the Court reviewed the under-oath depositions of Book and her campaign manager. The case will now head to a jury.

Expressing her stance, Dr. Sharief emphasized, "I am extremely proud that I have stood up for myself and every person who cares about truth and honesty in public discourse. No citizen should be victimized by the type of lies and politics of personal destruction and bullying exhibited Lauren Book and her campaign when they disseminated knowingly false information that harmed my family and my reputation." 

Dr. Sharief's attorney Michael Pizzi said about the Judge's decision to move the case forward to trial. "We look forward to heading to trial and obtaining an ultimate victory in Court that will send a powerful message that the truth matters in politics and that hard-working self-made public servants like Dr. Barbara Sharief cannot be the subject of defamatory statements. "

Lauren Book sued for blatantly lying about political opponent

About fucking time! And Book should lose. And I'd be willing to testify against her since she lied about me multiple times. 

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/elections/fl-ne-sharief-lawsuit-book-20220729-3sly2zoqw5c2rf57lkvavifqxu-story.html

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