DAVIE,
Fla., July 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Former
Broward County Mayor Dr.
Barbara Sharief won another landmark
victory and is one step closer to ultimate justice at trial for the
alleged slander that she received by Lauren Book and her campaign. The Court ruled
last night that Dr. Sharief had presented sufficient evidence to
proceed to trial where she will be seeking over one million dollars in damages against Book and
her campaign team for making false and untrue accusations that
Sharief committed Medicaid fraud, among other
falsehoods.
Judge Shari Africk Olefson stated
as follows:
"That sufficient unrebutted evidence is reflected in the
record, including but not limited to for a reasonable jury or trier
of fact to conclude that Defendant (LAUREN
BOOK) made and published to third parties, false information
which was intended to harm Plaintiff in the context of an election
campaign, and did harm Plaintiff."
The Court once again rejected Senator Book's relentless efforts
to have the defamation lawsuit thrown out of court. This latest
ruling was after the Court reviewed the under-oath depositions of
Book and her campaign manager. The case will now head to a
jury.
Expressing her stance, Dr. Sharief emphasized, "I am
extremely proud that I have stood up for myself and every person
who cares about truth and honesty in public discourse. No citizen
should be victimized by the type of lies and politics of personal
destruction and bullying exhibited Lauren Book and her campaign when they
disseminated knowingly false information that harmed my family and
my reputation."
Dr. Sharief's attorney Michael
Pizzi said about the Judge's decision to move the case
forward to trial. "We look forward to heading to trial and
obtaining an ultimate victory in Court that will send a powerful
message that the truth matters in politics and that hard-working
self-made public servants like Dr. Barbara
Sharief cannot be the subject of defamatory statements.
"
For interview requests or more information please contact:
954-593-8826, amy@winontheground.com
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SOURCE Sharief For Florida