Filing # 47401612 E-Filed 10/10/2016 11:56:41 AM

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE
11th JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CIVIL DIVISION
CASE NO:
GRANT STERN,
Plaintiff
v.
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
a political subdivision
of the State of Florida, and
PHILIP LEVINE,
Mayor, City of Miami Beach
Defendants.
_______________________________/
COMPLAINT TO ENFORCE THE FLORIDA PUBLIC RECORDS LAW AND
ARTICLE 1, SECTION 24 OF THE FLORIDA CONSTITUTION
Plaintiff, Grant Stern, a resident and citizen of Miami-Dade County, Florida sues
the City of Miami Beach (“City”) and Mayor Philip Levine , and states:
Summary of Action
1.

This is an action for injunctive and declaratory relief to enforce Plaintiff’s

rights to inspect and copy public records pursuant to the provisions of the Public Records
Act, section 119, Florida Statutes and Article I, section 24 of the Florida Constitution.1
Plaintiff also requests an expedited hearing as required by section 119.011, Florida
Statutes.

“I think the objective of the Sunshine Law, of course - is to make sure that everything is out in the open,
and I believe that assuming you’re doing the right thing for your constituents and for the people that you’re
serving, it’s a wonderful thing. Most people - I believe - appreciate the fact that…
everything you do as it relates to the business of the city is public information, and it should be.”- Mayor
Philip Levine. See http://bit.ly/2dKErm6.
1

1

 Jurisdiction and Venue
2.

This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this case pursuant to

sections 26.012, 86.011, and 119.11, Florida Statutes.
3.

Venue is proper in this Court pursuant to section 47.011, Florida Statutes.

4.

All conditions precedent to the bringing of this action has occurred.
Parties

5.

Stern is a resident of Miami-Dade County. At all times relevant, Stern was

entitled to inspect and copy public records requested pursuant to section 119, Florida
Statutes and Article I, section 24 of the Florida Constitution.
6.

City of Miami Beach is a political subdivision of the State of Florida and

at all times relevant to this case was an “agency” under Section 119.011(2), Florida
Statutes (2016).
7.

Levine is the mayor of the City of Miami Beach and at all times relevant

to this case was an “agency” under section 119.011(2), Florida Statutes.
Statement of Facts
8.

Levine is a 21st century mayor who employs various digital mediums

including social media to communicate official business.
9.

Levine’s Twitter® account identifies him as the mayor of Miami Beach.

Levine’s account name is “Mayor Philip Levine” and his Twitter® handle is
“@MayorLevine.” The self-description section on Levine’s account states that Levine is:

2

 Proudly serving as Mayor of Miami Beach. This page expresses the views
and opinions of Mayor Levine and not those of the City of MB.
#MBMayor #MiamiBeach.
10.

Similarly, Levine utilizes Facebook® to communicate the official acts and

businesses of the City of Miami Beach to his constituents. Levine’s Facebook® account
addresses him as a governmental official and that his current office is the mayor of
Miami Beach, Florida. Levine’s account states that he is: “Making Miami Beach the city
that works...for its people.”
11.

After a cursory review of Levine’s Twitter® and Facebook®, there’s no

question that Levine utilizes social media to communicate the City of Miami Beach’s
official business. Levine’s communications include posts such as renaming a Miami
Beach street after Muhammad Ali2 to informing residents of the Zika virus outbreak in
the city.
12.

Levine has two other Facebook® accounts in which he does not conduct

official business, which are his personal page and his political campaign page, neither of
which is noted as “government official”.
13.

Lastly, Mayor Levine hosts a weekly satellite radio program on SiriusXM

called, “The Mayor.” As described by Mayor Levine in the show’s pre-launch press
release, “The Mayor” provides listeners the “insiders’ perspective on everyday
government decision-making.” The show focuses on issues that directly involve the City

A day after the Levine’s Muhammad Ali’s post, the City of Miami Beach unanimously approved the
renaming of the street after Muhammad Ali. See http://bit.ly/1alimb and http://bit.ly/ali2mb and
http://www.local10.com/sports/miami-beach-commission-unanimously-votes-to-rename-street-aftermuhammad-ali.
2

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 of Miami Beach such as lobbying the U.S. Congress for Zika virus funding in his official
role as mayor.
14.

On July 23, 2016, Levine posted a photograph on Twitter® where Levine

is seen greeting Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine, who are currently running for President
and Vice-President of the United States of America. Stern responded to Levine’s post by
sharing a recent article he wrote on Huffington Post entitled, “Florida Senate Candidate
Slams Miami Beach for Fouling Biscayne Bay, Sunshine Law Failures.” In addition to
the shared article, Stern stated, “@MayorLevine hope that @HillaryClinton @timkaine
advised you fix the #MiamiBeach water pollution problem you caused.” After said
statement, Levine blocks3 Stern on Twitter®.
15.

Stern proceeded to Levine’s Facebook account (which is self-categorized

as a government official and is a verified page with a blue checkmark indicating that
Levine personally operates the account4), and requested a copy of Levine’s official posts
for the last 30 days on Twitter®. Levine responded by deleting Stern’s public records
request. Stern subsequently complained to Levine regarding the deletion of the previous
requests. Levine then blocks Stern from Facebook and then deleted any comments made
by Stern.5

3

Blocking is a feature that helps the account holder control how he or she interacts with other users on
social media such as Twitter. This feature allows the account holder to restrict specific users from
contacting the account holder, seeing the account holder’s messages, and following the account holder. See
https://support.twitter.com/articles/117063. On Facebook, blocking prevents an unwanted person or entity
from seeing things the account holder post on his or her profile, starting conversations with the account
holder or adding account holder as a friend. The person blocked will not be able to be tagged in a posts,
comments, or photos, invite the account holder to events or groups, start a conversation with the account
holder, and add the account holder as a friend. See https://www.facebook.com/help/131930530214371
4
See “Verified Page or Profile” https://www.facebook.com/help/196050490547892
5
Interestingly enough, Levine did not delete Jeff Everhart’s comment containing an icon of a laughing
child and a kitten to the same comment.

4

 16.

On July 25, 2016, Stern called the City of Miami Beach and made a public

records request for Levine’s block list6 on his government official Facebook® page. The
City emailed Stern acknowledging their receipt of Stern’s request and assigning him a
public records request number 12089.
17.

Stern followed up by providing instructions to the City on how to obtain

the block-list on Facebook®. Specifically, Stern stated:
I’d like a list or copy of all persons blocked by the Mayor of Miami
Beach’s official Facebook account. In a personal account this list can be
found at https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=blocking In a Facebook
page account it’s accessible from the below URL, there is a flip down box
that

says

“Banned

People

and

Pages”:

https://www.facebook.com/mayorphiliplevine/settings/?tab=people_and_o
ther_pages.
18.

On July 27, 2016, the City of Miami Beach’s attorney, Aleksander

Boksner, informed Stern that the City will not be producing said documents because
these documents are not public records. Specifically, Mr. Boksner stated: “Please be
advised that the request for ‘a copy of all persons blocked or banned from Mayor Philip
Levine’s Facebook page, is not a public record that was made or received in the course of
the official business of the City of Miami Beach.’”

6

A block list is the group of Facebook users the account holder has chosen to block. In the case of Levine
the block list is the group of individuals who are prohibited from commenting upon the official city
business.

5

 19.

Undeterred by the City of Miami Beach’s denial, Stern requested an in-

person inspection. On behalf of the City of Miami Beach, Mr. Boksner stated: “Please be
advised that the City of Miami Beach is disinclined to acquiesce to the below request, and
is hereby asserting its legal position that was clearly set forth in the letter remitted
directly to your attention.”
20.

Stern responded to the City’s denial, and again requested the public

records. Days later, Stern sent one last message seeking a response. Defendants did not
respond to his final request.
21.

On September 23, 2016, Stern made a public records request to the City of

Miami Beach seeking audio recordings from Mayor Levine’s SiriusXM show.
Specifically, Stern requested:
[A]ll digital recordings related to ‘The Mayor’ a radio program by
Mayor Philip Levine which broadcast on Sirius XM radio. Provide
copies of all episodes and all related audio material recorded by
Mayor Philip Levine in conjunction with his broadcast which have
been released or not, that is all recorded material whatsoever
including outtakes, to include all raw recorded episodes, all
segments and any material related to the Mayor's appearances on
Sirius XM for the entire calendar year of 2016.
On September 26th, the City of Miami Beach acknowledged Stern’s request.
22.

On September 28, 2016, Stern then requested: “Cop[ies] of [c]ontracts or

[a]ll [w]ritten [a]greements between Mayor Levine and SiriusXM radio and/or all
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 independent producers or associated studios for the show entitled, ‘The Mayor.’” On the
same day, this request was acknowledged by the City of Miami Beach. The City of
Miami Beach’s attorney sent a reply letter to Stern, denying him access to the public
records requests related to Levine’s SiriusXM show.7
ENFORCEMENT OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS LAW
23.

Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 22

of this Complaint as if fully set forth herein.
24.

Section 119.011(12), Florida Statutes defines public records as “all

documents, papers, letters, maps, books… or other material, regardless of the physical
form, characteristics, or means of transmission, made or received pursuant to law or
ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by any agency.”
25.

Section 119.011(2), Florida Statutes defines “agency” to mean “any state,

county, district, authority, or municipal officer, department… or other separate unit of
government created or established by law…and any public or private agency, person,
partnership, corporation, or business agency, acting on behalf of any public agency.”
26.

The term “received” in section 119.011(12) refers not only to a situation in

which a public agent takes physical delivery of a document, but also to one in which a
public agent examines a document. If that were not the case, a party could easily
circumvent the public records laws. See National Collegiate Athletic Ass’n v. Associated
Press, 18. So. 3d 1201 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009), pet. for rev. docketed, No. SC09-1909 (Fla.
Oct. 14, 2009); Times Publ’g Co. v. City of St. Petersburg, 558 So. 487 (Fla. 2d DCA
1990) (holding that records become public records once they have been viewed and used
7

These requests were assigned the following public records request numbers:12364, 12352 and 12354.

7

 by public officials). A “document that is used in the course of public business is a public
record under the definition in section 119.011(12) if it was… received by the public
official.” NCAA, 18 So. 3d at 1208.
27.

Section 119.07(1)(a), Florida Statutes proves “every person who has

custody of a public record shall permit the record to be inspected and copied by any
person desiring to do so.” (Emphasis added).
28.

The documents Stern requested from Defendant requested from which are

public records subject to the disclosure requirements of section 119.07, Florida Statutes
were (1) 30 days of published posts on to Twitter®, (2) a copy of Levine’s block list on
his government official Facebook® page, and (3) audio recordings and agreements
related to the SiriusXM show.
29.

These documents are public records subject to the disclosure requirements

of Article I, section 24, Florida Constitution.
30.

These documents are not exempt from the disclosure requirements of

Section 119.07, Florida Statutes, nor did Levine or the City of Miami Beach declare any
exemptions from disclosure.
31.

Defendants’ failure to produce responsive documents to Plaintiff’s

Chapter 119 requests constitutes a non-discretionary refusal to produce public records
and violates section 119.07, Florida Statutes, and Article I, section 24, Florida
Constitution.

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 32.

Plaintiff has retained the undersigned counsel to bring this suit, has

incurred costs and attorney’s fees in bringing this action, and is entitled to recovery of
costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees pursuant to section 119.12, Florida Statutes.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands entry of orders:
a. Setting an immediate hearing pursuant to section 119.11(1), Florida
Statutes in order to address Defendants’ ongoing refusal to comply with
Chapter 119 and Article I, section 24 of the Florida Constitution. Section
119.11(1), Florida Statutes, provides that “[w]henever an action is filed to
enforce the provisions of this chapter, the court shall set an immediate
hearing, giving the case priority over other pending matters.”
b. Directing the Defendants to appear at such hearing or hearings pursuant to
section 119.11(1), and to show cause why the records requested by
Plaintiff should not be ordered to be produced.
c. Directing the Defendants to produce the records requested by Plaintiff at
such hearing or hearings pursuant to section 119.11(1), Florida Statutes.
d. Directing the Defendants, by writ of mandamus or otherwise, to produce
to Plaintiff, all of the records requested.
e. Awarding Plaintiff the costs and attorney’s’ fees that he reasonably has
incurred in prosecuting this action initially, and in seeking the Court’s
intervention to obtain records requested subsequent to the initial
complaint, pursuant to section 119.12, Florida Statutes.
f. Awarding Plaintiff any other relief that is necessary or appropriate.
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 Certification
I certify that the following will be served on the Defendants via Process Server.
Respectfully submitted on October 10th, 2016 by:
s/Faudlin Pierre
Faudlin Pierre
Attorney for Plaintiff
18900 NE 1st Court
Miami, FL 33179
(305) 336-9193
FLA. BAR #56770

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