Judge allows news giants to join Carlos Guillermo Smith lawsuit over COVID-19 data

A coalition of media companies has been granted permission to join Democratic Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith’s lawsuit against the state Department of Health and outgoing Surgeon General Scott Rivkees for the agency’s refusal to release previously public COVID-19 data.

Judge John Cooper of the 2nd Judicial Circuit overruled objections by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration Monday afternoon to allow eight news companies and the charitable First Amendment Foundation to intervene as plaintiffs in the suit.