The state of Florida seeks to dismiss a legal challenge to a new education law, declaring the plaintiff — a social-studies teacher in Lee County — does not have legal standing in this case.
Attorneys representing Gov. Rick Scott, the Florida Cabinet and Education Commissioner Pam Stewart filed a joint motion with Leon County Chief Circuit Judge Charles Francis to dismiss the case.
Teacher Tom Faasse is listed as a plaintiff in the case filed in July.
Backed by the Florida Education Association, the suit challenges the constitutionality of a law that contains the controversial expansion of the state’s scholarship program, seen as de-facto school vouchers. According to the case, in 2014, lawmakers improperly bundled a series of education issues into a single bill.
However, the dismissal argues that Faasse cannot show “special injury” because of the law.
“Plaintiff challenges the constitutional validity of (the law), which he claims violates Florida’s single-subject rule,” says the motion. “But this court need not address the merits of plaintiff’s challenge because plaintiff has no standing to sue.”
Francis scheduled a Sept. 24 hearing in the case, according to documents posted on the website of Meyer, Brooks, Demma and Blohm, the law firm representing Faasse.
