Blake v. CITY OF PORT SAINT LUCIE

The issue in this appeal is whether section 768.095, Florida Statutes (2009), abrogates the absolute immunity which the common law provides to public officials who make statements within the scope of their duties. See Bates v. St. Lucie Cnty. Sheriff's Office, 31 So.3d 210, 213 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010) (“In Florida, [p]ublic officials who make statements within the scope of their duties are absolutely immune from suit for defamation.”) (citations and internal quotations omitted). We hold that section 768.095 does not abrogate such absolute immunity. Therefore, we affirm the circuit court’s order…