Case: Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services

3:21-cv-02722 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Filed Date: Nov. 17, 2021

Closed Date: Feb. 4, 2022

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.)COVID-19 Summary: In this case, Florida sued to block the federal vaccine mandate which required Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers to become vaccinated prior to December 6, 2021. The judge denied the temporary restraining order on November 20, 2021. The state appealed and requested the district court to grant an injunction pending appeal, which was denied on November 27. Florida next moved in the Eleventh Circuit for…

(This summary is temporary, while we research the case.)

COVID-19 Summary: In this case, Florida sued to block the federal vaccine mandate which required Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers to become vaccinated prior to December 6, 2021. The judge denied the temporary restraining order on November 20, 2021. The state appealed and requested the district court to grant an injunction pending appeal, which was denied on November 27. Florida next moved in the Eleventh Circuit for an injunction pending the appeal. The motion was denied on December 6, 2021. The state then voluntarily dismissed both the appeal and the complaint in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Biden v. Missouri. The case closed on February 4, 2022.


This case is about whether the federal government can require Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. President Joe Biden announced in September 2020 that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would issue a rule requiring vaccination for all employees in Medicare- and Medicaid- participating facilities. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), which is an HHS component, issued a rule to that effect. The State of Florida sued HHS, the United States, and CMS in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on November 17, 2021. Florida argued that the the rule was made in violation go the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) because it was issued without consultation with the states and exceeded CMS's statutory authority. Florida also argued that CMS failed to engage in notice and comment as required by the APA and that the agency action was arbitrary and capricious in violation of the APA. Lastly, Florida argued that the mandate violated the Spending Clause of the United States Constitution by conditioning the state's receipt of federal funds on enforcement of the mandate. The state requested that the court enjoin the mandate and declare the federal government's actions unlawful. The case was assigned to Judge Margaret Catharine Rodgers.

On November 17, Florida moved for a preliminary injunction. On November 20, 2021, the court denied the state's motion. The court stated that, under Eleventh Circuit law, even if the plaintiff demonstrates a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, preliminary injunction relief is improper in the absence of a substantial likelihood of irreparable injury. The court found no adequate showing of a likelihood of irreparable injury prior to the December 6, 2021, which is the date that the mandate begins to take affect. While the state submitted affidavits estimating the number of employees who will resign from the state's agencies and institutions due to the mandate, the court found these estimates speculative, rather than actual and imminent, and disregarded the estimates as conclusory. The court also stated that the potential economic loss from the withholding of federal funding from the state for refusal to comply with the mandate is not irreparable since the injury could be undone through monetary remedies. In addition, the court noted that there was no evidence to suggest that the anticipated loss of federal funding from state agencies' noncompliance would occur immediately on December 6. While Florida argued that the state's sovereignty would be irreparably injured through the preemption of its own laws and policies, the court found that this argument lacked merit and that the state failed to reference any established policy in danger or preemption.

On November 23, 2021, the state appealed the court's refusal to grant its motion for a preliminary injunction (USCA Case # 21-14098) and moved in the district court for an emergency motion for an injunction pending the appeal. On November 27, the court denied the state's emergency motion but reinstated Florida's initial request for preliminary injunctive relief. While it denied the emergency motion for the same reasons that it denied the initial motion for a preliminary injunction, the court re-examined the state's argument that the federal mandate interferes with the state's policies, since the state passed a bill on November 18, 2021, which prohibited private and public employer COVID-19 vaccination mandates. The state argued that the conflict between the state and federal laws would irreparably injure the state's sovereignty by precluding the state from enforcing its own law and that it would force public health agency and facility heads to choose which law to follow and which to violate. The state also argued that the federal law would harm state residents working in healthcare and patients who may lose access to healthcare due to the mandate. Due to the passage of the state law, the court reinstated Florida's request for a preliminary injunction.

On November 28, the parties jointly moved to vacate further briefing and hearing on the state's motion for a preliminary injunction. The parties stated that, since the court originally denied the motion for a preliminary injunction and since Florida had already appealed that order, there was at a minimum a substantial doubt as to whether the court divested itself of jurisdiction to reconsider the order. Florida also stated its intent to move for an injunction pending appeal with the Eleventh Circuit on November 29. On November 29, the district court granted the joint motion and partially vacated the November 27 order insofar as it reinstated Florida's motion for a preliminary injunction.

On December 6, 2021, the Eleventh Circuit denied the state's motion for an injunction pending appeal. 19 F.4th 1271. The court noted cases by other states over the federal vaccination mandates, including Missouri v. Biden (No. 4:21-cv-1329) and Louisiana v. Becerra (No. 3:21-cv-03970). In the latter case, the Western District of Louisiana entered a nationwide preliminary injunction, which barred the federal government from enforcing the vaccine mandate in Florida. Despite the fact that the Louisiana case effectively awarded Florida the relief it sought in the district court, the state still urged the Eleventh Circuit to decide its motion for an injunction, based on its expectation that the federal government would seek a stay of the injunction issued in Louisiana. The Eleventh Circuit found that the nationwide injunction did not moot Florida's appeal based on the "capable-of-repetition-yet-evading-review" exception to mootness, which allows a court to review a matter if the challenged action is too short to be fully litigation prior to its expiration, and there is a reasonable expectation that the complaining party will be subjected to the same action again. The court found a reasonable expectation that Florida would be subjected to the vaccine rule again due to the possibility that the Fifth Circuit would not uphold the nationwide aspect of the injunction in Louisiana. The court then turned to the other aspect of the mootness exception: a short timeframe. Since the federal rule was to take effect on December 6 and the federal government requested that the Fifth Circuit decide the appeal in Louisiana by December 5, Florida would be immediately subject to the vaccine mandate if the Fifth Circuit lifted the nationwide injunction. Given that this case met both parts of the "capable-of-repetition-yet-evading-review" exception, the Eleventh Circuit found that the case was not mooted by the injunction in Louisiana.

After finding that the appeal was not moot, the Eleventh Circuit concluded that Florida failed to demonstrate a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of its appeal, failed to demonstrate that it would suffer irreparable injury absent an injunction, and failed to show that the balance of the equities favored an injunction. First, the court found that the state failed to demonstrate that the Secretary of HHS lacked the statutory authority to issue the vaccine mandate because both the Medicare and Medicaid statutes authorize the Secretary to set standards to protect the health and safety of patients and that the rule did not run afoul of 42 U.S.C. § 1395, which prohibits a federal officer from exercising supervision or control over the practice of medicine, the manner in which medical services are provided, or the operation of an institution. Rather, the court construed the Secretary's rule as a regulation of a federal program.

Second, the Eleventh Circuit found that Florida failed to demonstrate a likelihood of success in showing that the Secretary was not permitted to bypass the notice-and-comment requirement of the APA. The court found that the Secretary provided a detailed explanation for why there was good cause for dispensing with the notice-and-comment requirement, including the urgency of the pandemic, the outbreaks caused by the Delta variant, and the upcoming influenza season. Third, the court ruled that Florida failed to demonstrate likelihood of success in showing that the vaccine mandate is arbitrary and capricious. The court found that, rather than the agency's actions being irrational, the federal government offered ample evidence supporting the Secretary's determination that facility staff vaccination will provide important protection for patients.

Moving to the irreparable injury prong of the preliminary injunction analysis, the Eleventh Circuit found that Florida failed to establish that it would face irreparable injury absent injunctive relief. The court noted that the federal government does not invade state sovereignty simply because it passes laws or regulations preempting conflicting state laws. The court stated that a finding of irreparable injury in this case would mean that a state would suffer irreparable injury from any federal law with preemptive effect. The court also found that the state failed to show why the district court erred in finding that Florida's predicted staffing shortages were merely speculative and conclusory. The court also agreed with the district court's finding that Florida does not face an irreparable injury simply because employees working in federally funded facilities are forced to abide by  rules governing the federal program. The court also found that Florida failed to establish that an injunction is in the public interest because enjoining the rule would harm the public's interest in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting the safety or healthcare patients and staff.

On December 10, the parties jointly moved to stay all proceedings in the district court pending appeal. The court granted the motion and stayed the case on December 13, 2021. On January, 11, 2022, the Eleventh Circuit denied Florida's motion for an initial hearing en banc. On January 21, the state moved to voluntarily dismiss the appeal. On January 25, 2022, the Eleventh Circuit granted the motion and dismissed the appeal. 2022 WL 529044. On February 4, 2022, Florida voluntarily dismissed the case in the district court in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Biden v. Missouri, 142 S. Ct. 647 (2022). The case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Nicholas Gillan (3/18/2022)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61559583/parties/state-of-florida-v-department-of-health-and-human-services/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

BELL, DANIEL WILLIAM (Florida)

CHRISTMAS, NATALIE (Florida)

COSTELLO, DAVID MATTHEW (Florida)

GUARD, JOHN MATTHEW (Florida)

HILBORN, JASON H (Florida)

Attorney for Defendant

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3:21-cv-02722

Docket [PACER]

State of Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

Docket
2

3:21-cv-02722

Florida's Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction

Nov. 17, 2021

Nov. 17, 2021

Pleading / Motion / Brief
1

3:21-cv-02722

Complaint for Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary and Permanent Injunctive Relief, and Declaratory Relief

State of Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services

Nov. 17, 2021

Nov. 17, 2021

Complaint
6

3:21-cv-02722

Order

State of Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services

Nov. 20, 2021

Nov. 20, 2021

Order/Opinion

571 F.Supp.3d 571

9

3:21-cv-02722

Florida's Emergency Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal

State of Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services

Nov. 23, 2021

Nov. 23, 2021

Pleading / Motion / Brief
13

3:21-cv-02722

Order

State of Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services

Nov. 27, 2021

Nov. 27, 2021

Order/Opinion

[Untitled]

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

Dec. 6, 2021

Dec. 6, 2021

Order/Opinion

19 F.4th 19

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61559583/state-of-florida-v-department-of-health-and-human-services/

Last updated Feb. 25, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number AFLNDC-6550298.), filed by STATE OF FLORIDA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Exhibit Summonses) (CHRISTMAS, NATALIE) (Entered: 11/17/2021)

1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Exhibit Summonses

View on PACER

Nov. 17, 2021

Nov. 17, 2021

Clearinghouse
2

MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by STATE OF FLORIDA. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit AHCA Declaration, # 2 Exhibit DCF Declaration, # 3 Exhibit DOH Declaration, # 4 Exhibit FDC Declaration, # 5 Exhibit FDVA Declaration, # 6 Exhibit APD Declaration) (CHRISTMAS, NATALIE) (Entered: 11/17/2021)

Nov. 17, 2021

Nov. 17, 2021

Clearinghouse
3

NOTICE of Similar Case by STATE OF FLORIDA (COSTELLO, DAVID) (Entered: 11/18/2021)

Nov. 18, 2021

Nov. 18, 2021

RECAP
4

Summons Issued as to XAVIER BECERRA, CHIQUITA BROOKS-LASURE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, U.S. CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. (jfj) (Entered: 11/18/2021)

Nov. 18, 2021

Nov. 18, 2021

PACER

ACTION REQUIRED BY DISTRICT JUDGE: Chambers of JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS notified that action is needed Re: 2 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction. (jfj)

Nov. 18, 2021

Nov. 18, 2021

PACER
5

NOTICE of Appearance by JOEL L MCELVAIN on behalf of All Defendants (MCELVAIN, JOEL) (Entered: 11/19/2021)

Nov. 19, 2021

Nov. 19, 2021

PACER
6

ORDER denying 2 Motion for Preliminary Injunction. Signed by JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS on November 20, 2021. (aow) (Entered: 11/20/2021)

Nov. 20, 2021

Nov. 20, 2021

Clearinghouse

ACTION REQUIRED BY DISTRICT JUDGE: Chambers of JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS notified that action is needed Re: 5 Notice of Appearance for Defendants. (Please see proposed ISO) (jfj)

Nov. 22, 2021

Nov. 22, 2021

PACER
7

INITIAL SCHEDULING ORDER: Fed.R.Civ.P. 7.1 Corporate Disclosure Statement Deadline set for 12/7/2021. Rule 26 Meeting Report due by 1/6/2022. Discovery due by 5/18/2022. Signed by JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS on 11/23/21. (jfj) (Entered: 11/23/2021)

Nov. 23, 2021

Nov. 23, 2021

PACER
8

*DOCUMENT FILED USING INCORRECT EVENT. SEE CORRECT DOCKET ENTRY 10 . NOTICE of Appeal by STATE OF FLORIDA re 6 Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction (COSTELLO, DAVID) Modified on 11/24/2021 (jfj). (Entered: 11/23/2021)

Nov. 23, 2021

Nov. 23, 2021

RECAP
9

Emergency MOTION for Injunction Pending Appeal by STATE OF FLORIDA. (COSTELLO, DAVID) (Entered: 11/23/2021)

Nov. 23, 2021

Nov. 23, 2021

Clearinghouse

ACTION REQUIRED BY DISTRICT JUDGE: Chambers of JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS notified that action is needed Re: 9 Emergency MOTION for Injunction Pending Appeal by STATE OF FLORIDA. (COSTELLO, DAVID) (jfj)

Nov. 24, 2021

Nov. 24, 2021

PACER
10

NOTICE OF APPEAL as to 6 Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction by STATE OF FLORIDA. ( Filing fee $505 Receipt Number AFLNDC-6560164.) (COSTELLO, DAVID) (Entered: 11/24/2021)

Nov. 24, 2021

Nov. 24, 2021

PACER
11

Appeal Instructions re: 10 Notice of Appeal : The Transcript Request Form is available on the Internet at http://www.flnd.uscourts.gov/forms/Attorney/ECCA_transcript_form_fillable.pdf **PLEASE NOTE** Separate forms must be filed for each court reporter. Transcript Order Form due by 12/8/2021. (jfj) (Entered: 11/24/2021)

Nov. 24, 2021

Nov. 24, 2021

PACER
12

Transmission of Notice of Appeal and Docket Sheet to US Court of Appeals re 10 Notice of Appeal. (jfj) (Entered: 11/24/2021)

Nov. 24, 2021

Nov. 24, 2021

RECAP
19

USCA PROCEDURAL LETTER re: 10 NOTICE OF APPEAL as to 6 Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction by STATE OF FLORIDA. USCA Appeal # 21-14098. (pmc) (Entered: 12/01/2021)

Nov. 24, 2021

Nov. 24, 2021

PACER
13

ORDER denying 9 Motion for injunction pending appeal. The Court sua sponte reinstates Floridas request for a preliminary injunction, as stated in its Complaint 1 and previously filed motion 2, and requires a written response to the motion from Defendants by noon (C.T.) on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. An expedited evidentiary hearing and oral argument are scheduled for Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. (C.T.). Parties may confer and agree to a different start time if they file a notice of their agreed start time, with an indication of the anticipated length of time needed for the hearing, by 5:00 p.m. (C.T.) on Monday, November 29, 2021. Signed by JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS on November 27, 2021. (aow) (Entered: 11/27/2021)

Nov. 27, 2021

Nov. 27, 2021

Clearinghouse

Set Deadlines/Hearings: Internal deadline for referral to judge re: 13 Order, if response not filed earlier: An expedited evidentiary hearing and oral argument are scheduled for Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. (C.T.). Parties may confer and agree to a different start time if they file a notice of their agreed start time, with an indication of the anticipated length of time needed for the hearing, by 5:00 p.m. (C.T.) on Monday, 11/29/2021. A written response to the 2 motion from Defendants due by noon (C.T.) on Tuesday, 11/30/2021). (jfj)

Nov. 27, 2021

Nov. 27, 2021

PACER
14

MOTION to vacate further briefing and hearing on the motion for a preliminary injunction by STATE OF FLORIDA. (COSTELLO, DAVID) (Entered: 11/28/2021)

Nov. 28, 2021

Nov. 28, 2021

RECAP
15

REFERRAL AND ORDER granting 14 Joint Motion to Vacate Further Briefing and Hearing on Preliminary Injunction. The Court's order, ECF No. 13, is PARTIALLY VACATED insofar as it sua sponte reinstated the State of Florida's Motion for Preliminary Injunction, required further briefing on the motion, and scheduled an evidentiary hearing. The hearing scheduled for December 1, 2021, is CANCELLED at the parties' joint request. Insofar as the order, ECF No. 13, denied the request for a preliminary injunction pending appeal, the order is unchanged. A supplemental order will be entered to set out the Court's reasoning with respect to the recently enacted Florida law. Signed by JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS on 11/29/21. (jfj) (Entered: 11/29/2021)

Nov. 29, 2021

Nov. 29, 2021

Clearinghouse
16

NOTICE of Service by STATE OF FLORIDA (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Certified Mail Receipts, # 2 Exhibit USPS Tracking) (CHRISTMAS, NATALIE) (Entered: 11/30/2021)

Nov. 30, 2021

Nov. 30, 2021

PACER
17

TRANSCRIPT REQUEST by STATE OF FLORIDA Court Reporter:N/A (COSTELLO, DAVID) (Entered: 12/01/2021)

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

PACER
18

ORDER IN AID OF THE APPEAL. Signed by JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS on 12/01/21. (Order will be transmitted to the Eleventh Circuit as directed.) (jfj) (Entered: 12/01/2021)

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

PACER
20

Supplemental Record on Appeal transmitted to US Court of Appeals (document 18 ) re 10 Notice of Appeal (USCA 21-14098). (jfj) (Entered: 12/01/2021)

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

PACER
22

ORDER of USCA as to 10 Notice of Appeal USCA case 21-14098. (alb) (Entered: 12/10/2021)

Dec. 5, 2021

Dec. 5, 2021

PACER
23

Amended ORDER of USCA as to 10 Notice of Appeal. USCA case 21-14098. (alb) (Entered: 12/10/2021)

Dec. 6, 2021

Dec. 6, 2021

PACER
21

Joint MOTION to Stay All Proceedings Pending Appeal by STATE OF FLORIDA. (COSTELLO, DAVID) (Entered: 12/10/2021)

Dec. 10, 2021

Dec. 10, 2021

RECAP

ACTION REQUIRED BY DISTRICT JUDGE: Chambers of JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS notified that action is needed Re: 21 Joint MOTION to Stay All Proceedings Pending Appeal. (jfj)

Dec. 13, 2021

Dec. 13, 2021

PACER
24

ORDER. The Joint Motion to Stay All Proceedings Pending Appeal, ECF No. 21, is GRANTED. The case and all deadlines are STAYED pending further order. Plaintiff is to promptly notify the Court when the appeal is resolved and the case is ready to proceed. Signed by JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS on 12/13/21. (jfj) (Entered: 12/14/2021)

Dec. 13, 2021

Dec. 13, 2021

Clearinghouse
25

MANDATE of USCA as to 10 Notice of Appeal. ORDER: Pursuant to Appellant State of Florida's motion for voluntary dismissal, FRAP Rule 42 and 11th Cir. R. 42-1(a), the above referenced appeal was duly entered dismissed on this date. USCA case 21-14098. (jfj) (Entered: 02/03/2022)

Jan. 25, 2022

Jan. 25, 2022

PACER

ACTION REQUIRED BY DISTRICT JUDGE: Chambers of JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS notified that action is needed Re: 25 MANDATE of USCA. (jfj)

Feb. 3, 2022

Feb. 3, 2022

PACER
26

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by STATE OF FLORIDA (COSTELLO, DAVID) (Entered: 02/04/2022)

Feb. 4, 2022

Feb. 4, 2022

RECAP

ACTION REQUIRED BY DISTRICT JUDGE: Chambers of JUDGE M CASEY RODGERS notified that action is needed Re: 26 Notice of Voluntary Dismissal. (jfj)

Feb. 4, 2022

Feb. 4, 2022

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Florida

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

COVID-19 (novel coronavirus)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 17, 2021

Closing Date: Feb. 4, 2022

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The State of Florida

Plaintiff Type(s):

State Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Department of Health and Human Services (- United States (national) -), Federal

The United States of America (- United States (national) -), Federal

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (- United States (national) -), Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Non-settlement Outcome

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None