Judge Permanently Bans Fla. Business Law Dealing With Cuba/Syria
MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) - United States District Judge Michael Moore has permanently struck down a Florida law that banned companies from bidding on government contracts if they also do business with Cuba or Syria.
The ruling was a formality as state officials had previously said they would not be enforcing the law.
Judge Moore had previously ruled against the state saying the law impinges on the federal government's supremacy in setting foreign policy. The ruling was later upheld by a federal appeals court.
The law was successfully challenged by Coral Gables-based Odebrecht USA, part of a Brazilian construction conglomerate that also has a unit doing work at the Cuban port of Mariel
Odebrecht said the law could have cost it billions of dollars in potential contracts in Florida.
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