Lawnwood Med. Ctr., Inc. v. Seeger, No. 1D06-2016 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. June 21, 2007)

A trial court, in ruling on a motion for summary judgment, held that a special law, the "St. Lucie County Hospital Governance Law," was invalid because it significantly infringed upon the Florida constitution's freedom of contract provisions. A for-profit corporation, operating a medical center, challenged the ruling, and the District Court of Appeal of Florida affirmed and held that the law was unconstitutional since it dramatically altered many of the rights and obligations specified in the medical staff bylaws. The court noted that the special law was not required to protect public health, ensure quality of care, or accomplish some other legitimate public purpose. Also, the court found that the special law was in violation of the Florida constitution because it granted a privilege to a private corporation by significantly diminishing or eliminating many of the medical center's contractual obligations to its medical staff.