Andy Bardos, Tim Moore and Ashley Lukis Successfully Represent Florida Legislature in Appeals Court

TALLAHASSEE, FL – September 11, 2019 – GrayRobinson, P.A. announces attorneys Andy Bardos, James Timothy Moore, Jr., and Ashley H. Lukis of GrayRobinson’s Tallahassee law firm office represented the Florida Legislature in an appeals court in which the First District Court of Appeal agreed with the Florida Legislature and reversed a summary judgment that had declared unconstitutional 185 legislative appropriations worth more than $400 million. The Court held that article X, section 28 of the Florida Constitution, which voters adopted in 2014 to dedicate funds for certain environmental purposes, does not limit the use of those funds to the State’s acquisition of land and the maintenance of newly acquired lands, but rather permits funds to be expended for a broader range of conservation purposes, including the restoration, management, and improvement of natural resources not recently acquired by the State. The Court reversed the invalidation of 185 appropriations made in Fiscal Years 2015-16 and 2016-17 and remanded for further proceedings in light of the constitutional interpretation articulated in its opinion.

Bardos practices in civil and appellate litigation, with an emphasis on complex and constitutional claims. He has represented state agencies in high-profile litigation, including the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate in redistricting litigation, the Florida Department of State in constitutional challenges to Florida’s election laws, the Florida Legislature in its defense of the constitutionality of legislative appropriations, and the State of Florida in litigation brought by the United States Department of Justice under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Moore is a member of GrayRobinson’s Litigation Practice Group, representing public and private entities. Moore previously served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Mark E. Walker of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida as well as to the Honorable Lori S. Rowe of the Florida First District Court of Appeal.

Lukis practices civil litigation, representing private clients as well as state and local government entities. She also practices administrative law on behalf of private and public clients, and has represented both property owners and condemning authorities in eminent domain cases.


Read press coverage below:

"Court Backs Lawmakers in Conservation Fight," Florida Politics