State of Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services — N.D. Fla., No. 3:21-cv-02722

Case summary

The State of Florida filed this action on November 17, 2021 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division, No. 3:21-cv-02722-MCR-HTC, against the Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary Xavier Becerra, the United States, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. It sought to set aside the interim final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on November 5, 2021 requiring COVID-19 vaccination of covered healthcare staff at facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid. The complaint pleads five counts under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Spending Clause. The court denied a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on November 20, 2021 and denied an injunction pending appeal on November 27, 2021. Florida dismissed the action on February 4, 2022.

Case at a glance

What does the complaint allege?

That the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services interim final rule of November 5, 2021, requiring COVID-19 vaccination of covered healthcare staff, is not in accordance with law and in excess of the agency's authority, was issued without the notice and comment the Administrative Procedure Act requires, is arbitrary and capricious, and is an unconstitutional condition on Florida's receipt of federal funds under the Spending Clause. The complaint states that the federal government had "not previously required" mandatory vaccination for the healthcare industry.

What did the court decide?

In an order of November 20, 2021 Judge M. Casey Rodgers denied Florida's motion for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, finding no showing of irreparable injury, and directed the defendants to respond to the complaint in due course. In a further order of November 27, 2021 the court denied Florida's emergency motion for an injunction pending appeal but, on partial reconsideration, scheduled an expedited evidentiary hearing on the request for preliminary injunctive relief, without reconsidering the denial of the temporary restraining order.

How did the case end?

Florida filed a notice of dismissal on February 4, 2022 under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i), stating that dismissal was warranted in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Biden v. Missouri and because the defendants had not yet served an answer or a motion for summary judgment.

Summary written from the documents on this page; every sentence is sourced.