{"attribution":{"source":"legal.exploreworldai.com","canonical":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:fladistctapp-4d2024-1814-2026-01-14","cite_as":"NovaCopilot, legal.exploreworldai.com (https://legal.exploreworldai.com/api/public/v1/judgment-text?id=us:fladistctapp-4d2024-1814-2026-01-14)","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/revision","version":"legal-2026-10-12","fingerprint":"ewai:us:2a3d67","proof":"sha256:df4289cc03953b11a39fc97528d9f4a169c5174bbcfbab7212abd1b0d9b517e2","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","publisher":"NovaCopilot by ExploreWorld Legal","terms":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/om"},"brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","item":{"schema_version":"1.0.0","id":"us:fladistctapp-4d2024-1814-2026-01-14","jurisdiction":"us","lang":"en","brand_source":"Source: NovaCopilot","brand":{"product":"NovaCopilot","platform":"ExploreWorldAI","infrastructure":"ExploreWorld Legal","infrastructure_url":"legal.exploreworldai.com","legal_entity":"Valkiv Ventures AB","permanent_url":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/novacopilot","source":"Source: NovaCopilot","powered_by":"Powered by NovaCopilot","license":"https://legal.exploreworldai.com/licensvillkor"},"sections":[{"title":"DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"FOURTH DISTRICT","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"SARAH BECK, TIMOTHY HALE, ANDREA HUNTER, ROSELENE","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"JOSEPH, JAMES KIC, LORI LESLIE, and SANDY R. LEVY, individually","paragraphs":["para_5","para_6","para_7","para_8","para_9"]},{"title":"No. 4D2024-1814","paragraphs":["para_11","para_12"]},{"title":"Broward County; Jack B. Tuter, Jr., Judge; L.T. Case Nos. CACE22-","paragraphs":["para_14"]},{"title":"Dorothy P. Antullis, Stuart A. Davidson, and Facundo Scialpi of","paragraphs":["para_16","para_17","para_18"]},{"title":"Peter R. Goldman, Danna Khawam, Nina Welch of Nelson Mullins Riley","paragraphs":["para_20","para_21","para_22"]},{"title":"We affirm the circuit court’s order that the defendant below had not","paragraphs":["para_24"]},{"title":"By an amended class action complaint, the plaintiffs sued North","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Broward Hospital District (“Broward Health”) for claims arising out of an","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"October 2021 data breach incident. The plaintiffs were former patients of","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Broward Health. Broward Health is a public, not-for-profit health care","paragraphs":["para_29","para_30","para_31"]},{"title":"2","paragraphs":["para_33","para_34"]},{"title":"The plaintiffs pleaded the existence of an express contract with Broward","paragraphs":["para_36","para_37","para_38"]},{"title":"For the negligence count, the plaintiffs alleged that Broward Health","paragraphs":["para_40","para_41","para_42"]},{"title":"1. loss of control over their private information, which has","paragraphs":["para_44"]},{"title":"2. diminished personal and economic value of their private","paragraphs":["para_46"]},{"title":"3. diminished transactional or barter value of their private","paragraphs":["para_48"]},{"title":"4. loss of inherent privacy value assigned to keeping their","paragraphs":["para_50"]},{"title":"5. actual identity theft;","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"6. out-of-pocket expenses associated with protecting their","paragraphs":["para_53"]},{"title":"7. future costs in terms of time, effort, and money that will be","paragraphs":["para_55","para_56","para_57"]},{"title":"Regarding the negligence claim, Broward Health argued that the","paragraphs":["para_59","para_60","para_61","para_62","para_63","para_64"]},{"title":"3","paragraphs":["para_66"]},{"title":"Regarding the breach of contract claim, Broward Health argued that","paragraphs":["para_68","para_69","para_70","para_71"]},{"title":"The trial court granted Broward Health’s motion to dismiss with","paragraphs":["para_73","para_74","para_75","para_76"]},{"title":"Such a remedy would have to come from the Florida Legislature.” The","paragraphs":["para_78"]},{"title":"Discussion","paragraphs":["para_80"]},{"title":"Pan-Am Tobacco, 471 So. 2d at 5. “Article X, section 13 of the Florida","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Constitution provides ‘absolute sovereign immunity for the state and its","paragraphs":["para_83","para_84"]},{"title":"DCA 2005) (quoting Cir. Ct. of Twelfth Jud. Cir. v. Dep’t of Nat. Res., 339","paragraphs":["para_86"]},{"title":"The legislative waiver of sovereign immunity in section 768.28, Florida","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Statutes provides:","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"In accordance with s. 13, Art. X of the State Constitution, the","paragraphs":["para_90","para_91","para_92","para_93","para_94","para_95","para_96","para_97","para_98","para_99","para_100","para_101"]},{"title":"4","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"While the legislature explicitly waived sovereign immunity in tort in","paragraphs":["para_104"]},{"title":"Tobacco, 471 So. 2d at 5. “Nonetheless, the legislature has, by general","paragraphs":["para_106"]},{"title":"Id. “Additionally, it has authorized certain goals and activities which can","paragraphs":["para_108","para_109"]},{"title":"To determine whether sovereign immunity bars the plaintiffs from","paragraphs":["para_111","para_112","para_113","para_114","para_115","para_116","para_117","para_118"]},{"title":"Broward Health “cannot invoke sovereign immunity to bar” the plaintiffs’","paragraphs":["para_120","para_121"]},{"title":"The legislature has not explicitly waived sovereign immunity regarding","paragraphs":["para_123"]},{"title":"Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) or the Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights","paragraphs":["para_125","para_126"]},{"title":"Acara v. Banks, 470 F.3d 569, 570, 572 (5th Cir. 2006) (affirming motion","paragraphs":["para_128","para_129","para_130","para_131","para_132","para_133"]},{"title":"Fla. Stat. (2021); see also Murthy v. N. Sinha Corp., 644 So. 2d 983, 986","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"(Fla. 1994) (“declin[ing] to infer any civil liability” in construction industry","paragraphs":["para_136","para_137","para_138"]},{"title":"Furthermore, the documents relied upon by the plaintiffs did not create","paragraphs":["para_140"]},{"title":"Broward Health provided patients with notice required by federal and","paragraphs":["para_142"]},{"title":"5","paragraphs":["para_144","para_145"]},{"title":"Fla. Stat. (2021). Both the Patient’s Bill of Rights and the Privacy Notice","paragraphs":["para_147","para_148","para_149","para_150","para_151","para_152","para_153","para_154"]},{"title":"Such informational notices disseminated to patients do not give rise to","paragraphs":["para_156","para_157"]},{"title":"Supp. 3d 1359, 1367 (S.D. Fla. 2017) (holding that provisions in the","paragraphs":["para_159","para_160","para_161"]},{"title":"HIPAA and “the duties imposed upon the Defendants by these statutory","paragraphs":["para_163"]},{"title":"The plaintiffs argue that the Florida Supreme Court’s recent Rojas","paragraphs":["para_165","para_166","para_167"]},{"title":"Rojas determined that the financial liability agreement was an express","paragraphs":["para_169","para_170","para_171","para_172"]},{"title":"The Court determined the plain language of the financial liability","paragraphs":["para_174","para_175","para_176"]},{"title":"I agree to pay all UF debts and charges pursuant to UF","paragraphs":["para_178","para_179","para_180","para_181","para_182"]},{"title":"6","paragraphs":["para_184","para_185","para_186","para_187"]},{"title":"Univ. of Fla. Bd. of Trs. v. Rojas, 351 So. 3d 1167, 1171 n.4 (Fla. 1st DCA","paragraphs":["para_189"]},{"title":"Language similar to the binding contract in Rojas is absent from the","paragraphs":["para_191"]},{"title":"Because there was no “express written contract” that would bring this case","paragraphs":["para_193"]},{"title":"Tobacco, the trial court did not err in dismissing plaintiffs’ breach of","paragraphs":["para_195"]},{"title":"As to the negligence count, this court has strictly construed section","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"768.28(1) to require a waiver of sovereign immunity to be clear and","paragraphs":["para_198"]},{"title":"754 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018) (“[B]ecause waiver is an abrogation of the","paragraphs":["para_200","para_201","para_202"]},{"title":"Corrections Corp. of America, Inc., 274 So. 3d 1105 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019)","paragraphs":["para_204"]},{"title":"The factual background of Pembroke Pines II was set forth in Corrections","paragraphs":["para_206","para_207"]},{"title":"Pembroke Pines I involved a dispute between the City of Pembroke Pines","paragraphs":["para_209","para_210","para_211","para_212","para_213"]},{"title":"The trial court ruled that the City had no such duty, even though the","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"City and Southwest Ranches had entered into agreements that the City","paragraphs":["para_216","para_217","para_218","para_219","para_220","para_221"]},{"title":"7","paragraphs":["para_223"]},{"title":"Ranches” and “filed [a] second amended counterclaim against the City.”","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"Id. CCA alleged four counts relevant to that appeal: “Count I for","paragraphs":["para_226","para_227","para_228","para_229","para_230"]},{"title":"The trial court denied the City’s motion to dismiss based upon","paragraphs":["para_232","para_233"]},{"title":"768.28’s limited waiver of sovereign immunity does not apply to CCA’s","paragraphs":["para_235","para_236","para_237","para_238","para_239","para_240","para_241","para_242","para_243","para_244"]},{"title":"372 So. 3d 663, 667 (Fla. 4th DCA 2023) (holding that City was entitled to","paragraphs":["para_246","para_247","para_248"]},{"title":"Consistent with Pembroke Pines II, we hold that the damages the","paragraphs":["para_250","para_251","para_252","para_253","para_254","para_255","para_256","para_257","para_258","para_259"]},{"title":"8","paragraphs":[]},{"title":"I concur with the affirmance of the trial court’s dismissal of appellants’","paragraphs":["para_262","para_263","para_264","para_265"]},{"title":"II”).” Due to the differences in the “injury or loss of property” claims in the","paragraphs":["para_267","para_268","para_269","para_270","para_271"]}],"paragraphs":[{"text":"DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA","paragraph_id":"para_1"},{"text":"FOURTH DISTRICT","paragraph_id":"para_2"},{"text":"SARAH BECK, TIMOTHY HALE, ANDREA HUNTER, ROSELENE","paragraph_id":"para_3"},{"text":"JOSEPH, JAMES KIC, LORI LESLIE, and SANDY R. LEVY, individually","paragraph_id":"para_4"},{"text":"and on behalf of all others similarly situated,","paragraph_id":"para_5"},{"text":"Appellants,","paragraph_id":"para_6"},{"text":"v.","paragraph_id":"para_7"},{"text":"NORTH BROWARD HOSPITAL DISTRICT d/b/a BROWARD HEALTH,","paragraph_id":"para_8"},{"text":"Appellee.","paragraph_id":"para_9"},{"text":"No. 4D2024-1814","paragraph_id":"para_10"},{"text":"[January 14, 2026]","paragraph_id":"para_11"},{"text":"Appeal from the Circuit Court for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit,","paragraph_id":"para_12"},{"text":"Broward County; Jack B. Tuter, Jr., Judge; L.T. Case Nos. CACE22-","paragraph_id":"para_13"},{"text":"000803; CACE22-000857; CACE22-006111.","paragraph_id":"para_14"},{"text":"Dorothy P. Antullis, Stuart A. Davidson, and Facundo Scialpi of","paragraph_id":"para_15"},{"text":"Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, Boca Raton, and Norman E. Siegel,","paragraph_id":"para_16"},{"text":"J. Austin Moore, and Kasey Youngentob of Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP,","paragraph_id":"para_17"},{"text":"Kansas City, MO, for appellants.","paragraph_id":"para_18"},{"text":"Peter R. Goldman, Danna Khawam, Nina Welch of Nelson Mullins Riley","paragraph_id":"para_19"},{"text":"& Scarborough LLP, Fort Lauderdale, and Beverly A. Pohl of Nelson","paragraph_id":"para_20"},{"text":"Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Boca Raton, for appellee.","paragraph_id":"para_21"},{"text":"GROSS, J.","paragraph_id":"para_22"},{"text":"We affirm the circuit court’s order that the defendant below had not","paragraph_id":"para_23"},{"text":"waived its entitlement to sovereign immunity.","paragraph_id":"para_24"},{"text":"By an amended class action complaint, the plaintiffs sued North","paragraph_id":"para_25"},{"text":"Broward Hospital District (“Broward Health”) for claims arising out of an","paragraph_id":"para_26"},{"text":"October 2021 data breach incident. The plaintiffs were former patients of","paragraph_id":"para_27"},{"text":"Broward Health. Broward Health is a public, not-for-profit health care","paragraph_id":"para_28"},{"text":"system organized under the laws of Florida. It operates four major","paragraph_id":"para_29"},{"text":"hospitals and more than 30 locations and offices.","paragraph_id":"para_30"},{"text":"The complaint alleged two counts, negligence and breach of contract,","paragraph_id":"para_31"},{"text":"2","paragraph_id":"para_32"},{"text":"arising from the exposure of the patients’ private information1 to","paragraph_id":"para_33"},{"text":"unauthorized third parties.","paragraph_id":"para_34"},{"text":"The plaintiffs pleaded the existence of an express contract with Broward","paragraph_id":"para_35"},{"text":"Health cobbled together from a Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities,","paragraph_id":"para_36"},{"text":"a Notice of Privacy Practices for Protected Health Information, bylaws of","paragraph_id":"para_37"},{"text":"the medical staff, and a code of conduct.","paragraph_id":"para_38"},{"text":"For the negligence count, the plaintiffs alleged that Broward Health","paragraph_id":"para_39"},{"text":"failed to exercise due care in collecting, storing, and using the plaintiffs’","paragraph_id":"para_40"},{"text":"private information. The plaintiffs specified that the following harm was","paragraph_id":"para_41"},{"text":"caused by such negligence:","paragraph_id":"para_42"},{"text":"1. loss of control over their private information, which has","paragraph_id":"para_43"},{"text":"marketable value;","paragraph_id":"para_44"},{"text":"2. diminished personal and economic value of their private","paragraph_id":"para_45"},{"text":"information;","paragraph_id":"para_46"},{"text":"3. diminished transactional or barter value of their private","paragraph_id":"para_47"},{"text":"information;","paragraph_id":"para_48"},{"text":"4. loss of inherent privacy value assigned to keeping their","paragraph_id":"para_49"},{"text":"private information confidential;","paragraph_id":"para_50"},{"text":"5. actual identity theft;","paragraph_id":"para_51"},{"text":"6. out-of-pocket expenses associated with protecting their","paragraph_id":"para_52"},{"text":"property interests; and","paragraph_id":"para_53"},{"text":"7. future costs in terms of time, effort, and money that will be","paragraph_id":"para_54"},{"text":"expended to prevent, detect, contest, and repair the impact","paragraph_id":"para_55"},{"text":"of the private information compromised as a result.","paragraph_id":"para_56"},{"text":"Broward Health moved to dismiss the operative complaint.","paragraph_id":"para_57"},{"text":"Regarding the negligence claim, Broward Health argued that the","paragraph_id":"para_58"},{"text":"complaint should be dismissed with prejudice because the plaintiffs’ claim","paragraph_id":"para_59"},{"text":"was barred by sovereign immunity, as the limited statutory waiver of","paragraph_id":"para_60"},{"text":"sovereign immunity does not extend to the plaintiffs’ damages, which did","paragraph_id":"para_61"},{"text":"not arise out of “injury or loss of property, personal injury, or death” as","paragraph_id":"para_62"},{"text":"1 This private information included personal identification, insurance, medical,","paragraph_id":"para_63"},{"text":"and other information.","paragraph_id":"para_64"},{"text":"3","paragraph_id":"para_65"},{"text":"provided by section 768.28(1), Florida Statutes (2021).","paragraph_id":"para_66"},{"text":"Regarding the breach of contract claim, Broward Health argued that","paragraph_id":"para_67"},{"text":"under Pan-Am Tobacco Corp. v. Department of Corrections, 471 So. 2d 4, 6","paragraph_id":"para_68"},{"text":"(Fla. 1984), the waiver of sovereign immunity applied only to express,","paragraph_id":"para_69"},{"text":"written contracts, not to the pamphlet-style informational notices at issue","paragraph_id":"para_70"},{"text":"in this case.","paragraph_id":"para_71"},{"text":"The trial court granted Broward Health’s motion to dismiss with","paragraph_id":"para_72"},{"text":"prejudice. The court held that the plaintiffs “[did not] seek relief based on","paragraph_id":"para_73"},{"text":"an ‘injury or loss of property, personal injury or death.’ Instead, they seek","paragraph_id":"para_74"},{"text":"economic damages which are barred.” Thus, the court explained: “The","paragraph_id":"para_75"},{"text":"statute in question does not provide a remedy for ‘economic’ damages.","paragraph_id":"para_76"},{"text":"Such a remedy would have to come from the Florida Legislature.” The","paragraph_id":"para_77"},{"text":"court later entered a final order of dismissal.","paragraph_id":"para_78"},{"text":"Discussion","paragraph_id":"para_79"},{"text":"“In Florida, sovereign immunity is the rule, rather than the exception[.]”","paragraph_id":"para_80"},{"text":"Pan-Am Tobacco, 471 So. 2d at 5. “Article X, section 13 of the Florida","paragraph_id":"para_81"},{"text":"Constitution provides ‘absolute sovereign immunity for the state and its","paragraph_id":"para_82"},{"text":"agencies absent waiver by legislative enactment or constitutional","paragraph_id":"para_83"},{"text":"amendment.’” Orlando v. Broward Cnty., Fla., 920 So. 2d 54, 57 (Fla. 4th","paragraph_id":"para_84"},{"text":"DCA 2005) (quoting Cir. Ct. of Twelfth Jud. Cir. v. Dep’t of Nat. Res., 339","paragraph_id":"para_85"},{"text":"So. 2d 1113, 1114 (Fla. 1976)).","paragraph_id":"para_86"},{"text":"The legislative waiver of sovereign immunity in section 768.28, Florida","paragraph_id":"para_87"},{"text":"Statutes provides:","paragraph_id":"para_88"},{"text":"In accordance with s. 13, Art. X of the State Constitution, the","paragraph_id":"para_89"},{"text":"state, for itself and for its agencies or subdivisions, hereby","paragraph_id":"para_90"},{"text":"waives sovereign immunity for liability for torts, but only to","paragraph_id":"para_91"},{"text":"the extent specified in this act. Actions at law against the","paragraph_id":"para_92"},{"text":"state or any of its agencies or subdivisions to recover damages","paragraph_id":"para_93"},{"text":"in tort for money damages against the state or its agencies or","paragraph_id":"para_94"},{"text":"subdivisions for injury or loss of property, personal injury, or","paragraph_id":"para_95"},{"text":"death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of","paragraph_id":"para_96"},{"text":"any employee of the agency or subdivision[,] . . . if a private","paragraph_id":"para_97"},{"text":"person, would be liable to the claimant, in accordance with","paragraph_id":"para_98"},{"text":"the general laws of this state, may be prosecuted subject to","paragraph_id":"para_99"},{"text":"the limitations specified in this act.","paragraph_id":"para_100"},{"text":"§ 768.28(1), Fla. Stat. (2021).","paragraph_id":"para_101"},{"text":"4","paragraph_id":"para_102"},{"text":"While the legislature explicitly waived sovereign immunity in tort in","paragraph_id":"para_103"},{"text":"section 768.28, “[t]here is no analogous waiver in contract.” Pan-Am","paragraph_id":"para_104"},{"text":"Tobacco, 471 So. 2d at 5. “Nonetheless, the legislature has, by general","paragraph_id":"para_105"},{"text":"law, explicitly empowered various state agencies to enter into contracts.”","paragraph_id":"para_106"},{"text":"Id. “Additionally, it has authorized certain goals and activities which can","paragraph_id":"para_107"},{"text":"only be achieved if state agencies have the power to contract for necessary","paragraph_id":"para_108"},{"text":"goods and services.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_109"},{"text":"To determine whether sovereign immunity bars the plaintiffs from","paragraph_id":"para_110"},{"text":"bringing a breach of contract claim against Broward Health, the key","paragraph_id":"para_111"},{"text":"questions are (1) “whether the Legislature has waived immunity [and (2)]","paragraph_id":"para_112"},{"text":"whether an express, written contract exists between [the parties].” Heine","paragraph_id":"para_113"},{"text":"v. Fla. Atl. Univ. Bd. of Trs., 360 So. 3d 412, 418 (Fla. 4th DCA 2023). For","paragraph_id":"para_114"},{"text":"sovereign immunity purposes, an express contract includes those “implied","paragraph_id":"para_115"},{"text":"covenants and conditions that do not contradict, supplant, or override","paragraph_id":"para_116"},{"text":"express contract provisions[.]” Rojas v. Univ. of Fla. Bd. of Trs., 419 So. 3d","paragraph_id":"para_117"},{"text":"593, 606 (Fla. 2025). If the answer to either question is affirmative,","paragraph_id":"para_118"},{"text":"Broward Health “cannot invoke sovereign immunity to bar” the plaintiffs’","paragraph_id":"para_119"},{"text":"breach of contract claim. Heine, 360 So. 3d at 418 (citing Pan-Am Tobacco,","paragraph_id":"para_120"},{"text":"471 So. 2d at 5).","paragraph_id":"para_121"},{"text":"The legislature has not explicitly waived sovereign immunity regarding","paragraph_id":"para_122"},{"text":"the privacy issues implicated by the Health Insurance Portability and","paragraph_id":"para_123"},{"text":"Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) or the Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights","paragraph_id":"para_124"},{"text":"and Responsibilities. Neither statute creates a cause of action against a","paragraph_id":"para_125"},{"text":"governmental entity. No private cause of action exists under HIPAA. See","paragraph_id":"para_126"},{"text":"Acara v. Banks, 470 F.3d 569, 570, 572 (5th Cir. 2006) (affirming motion","paragraph_id":"para_127"},{"text":"to dismiss plaintiff’s suit against doctor for violating HIPAA by disclosing","paragraph_id":"para_128"},{"text":"her medical information without consent and holding that “there is no","paragraph_id":"para_129"},{"text":"private cause of action under HIPAA”). Similarly, section 381.026(3)","paragraph_id":"para_130"},{"text":"provides that the Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights “shall not be used for any","paragraph_id":"para_131"},{"text":"purpose in any civil or administrative action and neither expands nor","paragraph_id":"para_132"},{"text":"limits any rights or remedies provided under any other law.” § 381.026(3),","paragraph_id":"para_133"},{"text":"Fla. Stat. (2021); see also Murthy v. N. Sinha Corp., 644 So. 2d 983, 986","paragraph_id":"para_134"},{"text":"(Fla. 1994) (“declin[ing] to infer any civil liability” in construction industry","paragraph_id":"para_135"},{"text":"regulatory and penal statutes “as there is no evidence in the language or","paragraph_id":"para_136"},{"text":"the legislative history . . . of a legislative intent” to create “a private right","paragraph_id":"para_137"},{"text":"of action”).","paragraph_id":"para_138"},{"text":"Furthermore, the documents relied upon by the plaintiffs did not create","paragraph_id":"para_139"},{"text":"an “express written contract” as required by Rojas and Pan-Am Tobacco.","paragraph_id":"para_140"},{"text":"Broward Health provided patients with notice required by federal and","paragraph_id":"para_141"},{"text":"state statutes. Section 381.026, Florida Statutes, requires a health care","paragraph_id":"para_142"},{"text":"5","paragraph_id":"para_143"},{"text":"provider to “adopt and make available to the patient, in writing, a","paragraph_id":"para_144"},{"text":"statement of the rights and responsibilities of patients[.]” § 381.026(6),","paragraph_id":"para_145"},{"text":"Fla. Stat. (2021). Both the Patient’s Bill of Rights and the Privacy Notice","paragraph_id":"para_146"},{"text":"used by Broward Health are informational documents designed to promote","paragraph_id":"para_147"},{"text":"the understanding and well-being of patients, to give patients “a general","paragraph_id":"para_148"},{"text":"understanding of the procedures to be performed on them and to provide","paragraph_id":"para_149"},{"text":"information pertaining to their health care so that they may make","paragraph_id":"para_150"},{"text":"decisions in an informed manner after considering the information relating","paragraph_id":"para_151"},{"text":"to their condition, the available treatment alternatives, and substantial","paragraph_id":"para_152"},{"text":"risks and hazards inherent in the treatments.” § 381.026(3), Fla. Stat.","paragraph_id":"para_153"},{"text":"(2021).","paragraph_id":"para_154"},{"text":"Such informational notices disseminated to patients do not give rise to","paragraph_id":"para_155"},{"text":"express written contractual obligations binding the health care provider","paragraph_id":"para_156"},{"text":"and the patient. See Brush v. Mia. Beach Healthcare Grp. Ltd., 238 F.","paragraph_id":"para_157"},{"text":"Supp. 3d 1359, 1367 (S.D. Fla. 2017) (holding that provisions in the","paragraph_id":"para_158"},{"text":"defendant healthcare group’s Notice of Privacy Practices, Patient Rights","paragraph_id":"para_159"},{"text":"and Responsibilities, and Patient Visitation Rights “are not contractual in","paragraph_id":"para_160"},{"text":"nature. Instead, these provisions inform patients of their rights” under","paragraph_id":"para_161"},{"text":"HIPAA and “the duties imposed upon the Defendants by these statutory","paragraph_id":"para_162"},{"text":"provisions.”).","paragraph_id":"para_163"},{"text":"The plaintiffs argue that the Florida Supreme Court’s recent Rojas","paragraph_id":"para_164"},{"text":"decision compels reversal of the trial court’s order dismissing their breach","paragraph_id":"para_165"},{"text":"of contract claim. We distinguish Rojas because that case involved a","paragraph_id":"para_166"},{"text":"specific, written financial liability agreement.","paragraph_id":"para_167"},{"text":"Rojas determined that the financial liability agreement was an express","paragraph_id":"para_168"},{"text":"contract between the students and the university and that provision of on-","paragraph_id":"para_169"},{"text":"campus services and facilities are “permissible implied obligations that do","paragraph_id":"para_170"},{"text":"not have . . . a directly antagonistic relationship with the text of a contract.”","paragraph_id":"para_171"},{"text":"419 So. 3d at 604.","paragraph_id":"para_172"},{"text":"The Court determined the plain language of the financial liability","paragraph_id":"para_173"},{"text":"agreement at issue in Rojas shows that it was intended to be a binding","paragraph_id":"para_174"},{"text":"agreement between the university and the enrolled students. That","paragraph_id":"para_175"},{"text":"agreement stated:","paragraph_id":"para_176"},{"text":"I agree to pay all UF debts and charges pursuant to UF","paragraph_id":"para_177"},{"text":"policies. I understand that the university is advancing value","paragraph_id":"para_178"},{"text":"to me in the form of educational services and that my right to","paragraph_id":"para_179"},{"text":"register is expressly conditioned upon my agreement to pay","paragraph_id":"para_180"},{"text":"the costs of tuition, fees, and other charges and any additional","paragraph_id":"para_181"},{"text":"costs when those charges become due . . . . This agreement","paragraph_id":"para_182"},{"text":"6","paragraph_id":"para_183"},{"text":"shall be construed in accordance with Florida law and any","paragraph_id":"para_184"},{"text":"lawsuit to collect unpaid fees may be brought in the","paragraph_id":"para_185"},{"text":"appropriate court sitting in Alachua County, Florida,","paragraph_id":"para_186"},{"text":"regardless of my domicile at the time of bringing such suit.","paragraph_id":"para_187"},{"text":"Univ. of Fla. Bd. of Trs. v. Rojas, 351 So. 3d 1167, 1171 n.4 (Fla. 1st DCA","paragraph_id":"para_188"},{"text":"2022).","paragraph_id":"para_189"},{"text":"Language similar to the binding contract in Rojas is absent from the","paragraph_id":"para_190"},{"text":"informational privacy materials upon which the plaintiffs rely in this case.","paragraph_id":"para_191"},{"text":"Because there was no “express written contract” that would bring this case","paragraph_id":"para_192"},{"text":"within the waiver of sovereign immunity authorized in Rojas and Pan-Am","paragraph_id":"para_193"},{"text":"Tobacco, the trial court did not err in dismissing plaintiffs’ breach of","paragraph_id":"para_194"},{"text":"contract claim with prejudice.","paragraph_id":"para_195"},{"text":"As to the negligence count, this court has strictly construed section","paragraph_id":"para_196"},{"text":"768.28(1) to require a waiver of sovereign immunity to be clear and","paragraph_id":"para_197"},{"text":"unambiguous. See Dep’t of Fin. Servs. v. Barnett, 262 So. 3d 750, 752,","paragraph_id":"para_198"},{"text":"754 (Fla. 4th DCA 2018) (“[B]ecause waiver is an abrogation of the","paragraph_id":"para_199"},{"text":"sovereignty of the state, courts have strictly construed any statute waiving","paragraph_id":"para_200"},{"text":"immunity to protect the public purse.”).","paragraph_id":"para_201"},{"text":"This case is controlled by our decision in City of Pembroke Pines v.","paragraph_id":"para_202"},{"text":"Corrections Corp. of America, Inc., 274 So. 3d 1105 (Fla. 4th DCA 2019)","paragraph_id":"para_203"},{"text":"(“Pembroke Pines II”).","paragraph_id":"para_204"},{"text":"The factual background of Pembroke Pines II was set forth in Corrections","paragraph_id":"para_205"},{"text":"Corporation of America, Inc. v. City of Pembroke Pines, 230 So. 3d 477 (Fla.","paragraph_id":"para_206"},{"text":"4th DCA 2017) (“Pembroke Pines I”). Pembroke Pines II, 274 So. 3d at 1107.","paragraph_id":"para_207"},{"text":"Pembroke Pines I involved a dispute between the City of Pembroke Pines","paragraph_id":"para_208"},{"text":"and Corrections Corporation of America, Inc. (“CCA”). Id. The City sought","paragraph_id":"para_209"},{"text":"declaratory judgment regarding whether the City had a duty to provide","paragraph_id":"para_210"},{"text":"sewer and water services to an area outside of its boundary, where CCA","paragraph_id":"para_211"},{"text":"and the Town of Southwest Ranches entered into a contract regarding the","paragraph_id":"para_212"},{"text":"development of a correctional facility. Id. at 1108.","paragraph_id":"para_213"},{"text":"The trial court ruled that the City had no such duty, even though the","paragraph_id":"para_214"},{"text":"City and Southwest Ranches had entered into agreements that the City","paragraph_id":"para_215"},{"text":"would not interfere with the development or operation of the CCA’s jail","paragraph_id":"para_216"},{"text":"facility and agreed that the City had sufficient capacity to provide water","paragraph_id":"para_217"},{"text":"and sewer service to the future CCA facility site. Id. at 1108–09. While","paragraph_id":"para_218"},{"text":"the appeal of that trial court order was pending, Southwest Ranches","paragraph_id":"para_219"},{"text":"received notification that a detention center would not be built on the CCA","paragraph_id":"para_220"},{"text":"site. Id. at 1109.","paragraph_id":"para_221"},{"text":"7","paragraph_id":"para_222"},{"text":"“With no detention center to build, CCA sold the CCA site to Southwest","paragraph_id":"para_223"},{"text":"Ranches” and “filed [a] second amended counterclaim against the City.”","paragraph_id":"para_224"},{"text":"Id. CCA alleged four counts relevant to that appeal: “Count I for","paragraph_id":"para_225"},{"text":"declaratory judgment; Count II for promissory estoppel; Count V for","paragraph_id":"para_226"},{"text":"tortious interference with contract; and Count VI [for] tortious interference","paragraph_id":"para_227"},{"text":"with advantageous business relationship.” Id. at 1110. For the tort claims","paragraph_id":"para_228"},{"text":"in Counts V and VI, CCA claimed “damages, including lost profits and","paragraph_id":"para_229"},{"text":"costs.” Id.","paragraph_id":"para_230"},{"text":"The trial court denied the City’s motion to dismiss based upon","paragraph_id":"para_231"},{"text":"sovereign immunity. Id. This court reversed, holding that the City was","paragraph_id":"para_232"},{"text":"entitled to sovereign immunity. Id. at 1111. We observed that “section","paragraph_id":"para_233"},{"text":"768.28’s limited waiver of sovereign immunity does not apply to CCA’s","paragraph_id":"para_234"},{"text":"state law tort claims which are not based on ‘injury or loss of property,","paragraph_id":"para_235"},{"text":"personal injury, or death caused by the negligent or wrongful act or","paragraph_id":"para_236"},{"text":"omission of any employee of the agency or subdivision while acting within","paragraph_id":"para_237"},{"text":"the scope of the employee’s office or employment . . . .’” Id. at 1112 (quoting","paragraph_id":"para_238"},{"text":"§ 768.28(1), Fla. Stat.). Significantly, we explained that “[t]he waiver of","paragraph_id":"para_239"},{"text":"sovereign immunity has not been extended to include the claim upon","paragraph_id":"para_240"},{"text":"which CCA relies here – economic damages framed in counts for","paragraph_id":"para_241"},{"text":"declaratory relief, promissory estoppel, tortious interference with contract,","paragraph_id":"para_242"},{"text":"and tortious interference with advantageous business relationship.” Id. at","paragraph_id":"para_243"},{"text":"1113; see also City of Fort Lauderdale v. Tropical Paradise Resorts, LLC,","paragraph_id":"para_244"},{"text":"372 So. 3d 663, 667 (Fla. 4th DCA 2023) (holding that City was entitled to","paragraph_id":"para_245"},{"text":"sovereign immunity for claims seeking “economic damages for defense of","paragraph_id":"para_246"},{"text":"litigation” and not for “injury or loss of property, personal injury, or death”","paragraph_id":"para_247"},{"text":"under section 768.28(1)).","paragraph_id":"para_248"},{"text":"Consistent with Pembroke Pines II, we hold that the damages the","paragraph_id":"para_249"},{"text":"plaintiffs claim from the use of their personal and health information","paragraph_id":"para_250"},{"text":"involve economic damages falling outside of the section 768.28(1) limited","paragraph_id":"para_251"},{"text":"waiver of sovereign immunity, because there was no actual damage to","paragraph_id":"para_252"},{"text":"tangible property. The damage to privacy rights here is akin to the","paragraph_id":"para_253"},{"text":"damages in Pembroke Pines II arising from interference with a contractual","paragraph_id":"para_254"},{"text":"or business relationship.","paragraph_id":"para_255"},{"text":"Affirmed.","paragraph_id":"para_256"},{"text":"SHEPHERD, J., concurs.","paragraph_id":"para_257"},{"text":"FORST, J., concurs specially with opinion.","paragraph_id":"para_258"},{"text":"FORST, J., concurring specially.","paragraph_id":"para_259"},{"text":"8","paragraph_id":"para_260"},{"text":"I concur with the affirmance of the trial court’s dismissal of appellants’","paragraph_id":"para_261"},{"text":"complaint on the basis of appellee’s assertion of sovereign immunity. My","paragraph_id":"para_262"},{"text":"only disagreement with the majority opinion is its holding that “[t]his case","paragraph_id":"para_263"},{"text":"is controlled by our decision in City of Pembroke Pines v. 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