Florida Statute 760.51 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XLIV
CIVIL RIGHTS

Chapter 760
DISCRIMINATION IN THE TREATMENT OF PERSONS; MINORITY REPRESENTATION

View Entire Chapter

760.51 Violations of constitutional rights, civil action by the Attorney General; civil penalty.—

(1) Whenever any person, whether or not acting under color of law, interferes by threats, intimidation, or coercion, or attempts to interfere by threats, intimidation, or coercion, with the exercise or enjoyment by any other person of rights secured by the State Constitution or laws of this state, the Attorney General may bring a civil or administrative action for damages, and for injunctive or other appropriate relief for violations of the rights secured. Any damages recovered under this section shall accrue to the injured person. The civil action shall be brought in the name of the state and may be brought on behalf of the injured person. The Attorney General is entitled to an award of reasonable attorney’s fees and costs if the Department of Legal Affairs prevails in an action brought under this section.

(2) Any person who interferes by threats, intimidation, or coercion, or attempts to interfere by threats, intimidation, or coercion, with the exercise or enjoyment by any other person of rights secured by the State Constitution or laws of this state is liable for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation. This penalty may be recovered in any action brought under this section by the Attorney General. A civil penalty so collected shall accrue to the state and shall be deposited as received into the General Revenue Fund unallocated.

History.—s. 4, ch. 91-74.

F.S. 760.51 on Google Scholar

F.S. 760.51 on CourtListener

Amendments to 760.51

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 760.51

Total Results: 4 | Sort by: Relevance | Newest First

Copy

St. John v. Coisman, 799 So. 2d 1110 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001).

Cited 8 times | Published | Florida 5th District Court of Appeal | 2001 Fla. App. LEXIS 16277, 2001 WL 1434195

...Rather it is treated as an intentional tort under case law. See, e.g., Garcia v. Reyes, 697 So.2d 549 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997), dicta. Punishment for the kind of civil rights violation which occurred in this case and for which the punitive damage award was imposed, would be governed by section 760.51, Florida Statutes (2000), Violations of constitutional rights, civil action by the Attorney General; civil penalty....

Copy

Drum v. Pure Oil Co., 184 So. 2d 196 (Fla. 4th DCA 1966).

Cited 7 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal

the tenancy. 32 Am.Jur., Landlord and Tenant § 760; 51 C.J.S. Landlord and Tenant § 145 and Annot., 39

Copy

Ass'n for Disabled Americans, Inc. v. Amoco Oil Co., 211 F.R.D. 457 (S.D. Fla. 2002).

Cited 6 times | Published | District Court, S.D. Florida | 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22066, 2002 WL 31512705

...Jacksonville Shipyards, Inc., 696 F.Supp. 1438, 1441-42 (M.D.Fla.1988) (same). 13 Similarly, in many of those states that allow compensatory damages, the state attorney general or similar authority also can pursue damages on an individual’s behalf. See, e.g., Fla. Stat. § 760.51 (2001); 5 Ill....

Copy

Hous. Opportunities Proj. for Excellence, Inc. v. Spv Realty, Lc, 212 So. 3d 419 (Fla. 3d DCA 2016).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal | 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 18680

..., section 760.50, the provision empowering the Attorney General to bring a civil or administrative action on behalf of an individual injured as a result of interference *424 with “rights secured by the State Constitution or laws of th[e] state”, section 760.51, and the provision prohibiting discrimination in evaluating membership in private clubs that have more than 400 members, section 760.60, it is clear the Legislature knew how to include and exclude administrative exhaustion in the anti-...

...law, section 760.40, a provision empowering the Attorney General to bring a civil or administrative action on behalf of an individual injured as a result of interference with his “rights secured by the State Constitution or laws of th[e] state”, section 760.51, and a law prohibiting discrimination in evaluating membership in clubs that have more than 400 members, section 760.60....

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.