By Julio A. Fuentes
In a fiery appearance on Monday night, Governor Ron DeSantis unleashed a blistering critique of Florida’s trial lawyer lobby and accused a sitting lawmaker—Rep. Hillary Cassel—of using her office to enrich herself.
Gov. DeSantis, energized and unscripted, painted a dark picture of what he described as a coordinated effort to rewrite Florida law for the benefit of liberal plaintiffs’ attorneys, warning state GOP leaders that legislation making its way through the Capitol could drive up insurance premiums and destabilize the state’s economy.
“To contort the laws of the state of Florida to funnel as much money to liberal trial lawyers as humanly possible across all avenues—they are trying to enrich liberal plaintiffs attorneys at your expense. At the expense of our medical system. At the expense of our economy,” DeSantis told the crowd.
“And I’m just trying to figure out who is asking for this to be done. This is not what you voted for.”
The governor then turned his attention squarely to Rep. Hillary Cassel, a former Democrat who switched parties and now serves as a Republican in the Florida House. Cassel, who is also a practicing trial lawyer, is backing legislation that, according to DeSantis, would materially benefit her private practice.
“They even have a representative who’s a Democrat, and she switched to be a Republican. Cassel, she is a trial lawyer. She’s running a bill that, by the own bill analysis that the legislature did, said it will raise your insurance premiums. Plaintiffs, lawyers will benefit. She will benefit.”
More than a policy scuffle
DeSantis’s sharp remarks go beyond policy disagreement—they accuse a fellow Republican of sponsoring legislation from which she stands to directly profit. While the governor didn’t cite a specific bill number, the legislation in question has reportedly been flagged by nonpartisan staff as a driver of higher insurance premiums—an explosive charge in a state already plagued by a fragile insurance market.
“How are you allowed to write laws that you will benefit in your private practice?” DeSantis asked. “That is wrong, and that has no place in a Republican future.”
The crowd of party leaders reportedly responded with applause, signaling the governor’s words hit a nerve.
A Line Drawn in the Sand
DeSantis’ speech to leading Republican Party members at the Governor’s Mansion offered the governor a chance to galvanize the party’s base, and issued a warning to lawmakers in Tallahassee: those who carry water for the trial bar, even if they wear the Republican label, will be held accountable.
The remarks come amid growing concern from business groups and conservative legal advocates that trial lawyers are attempting to undo the tort reforms passed under DeSantis’s leadership in 2022 and 2023. Those reforms were hailed as a turning point in Florida’s decades-long battle with abusive litigation practices, but lobbyists for plaintiffs’ firms have mounted an aggressive campaign to reverse key provisions.
Rep. Cassel in the Crosshairs
Rep. Cassel’s political evolution—from Democrat to Republican—has not shielded her from scrutiny. Her support of trial lawyer-friendly legislation has become a flashpoint, especially given her ongoing role as a private attorney. Critics argue that any lawmaker who stands to profit from bills they are pushing has no business sponsoring them in the first place.
For DeSantis, this isn’t just about one lawmaker—it’s about drawing a bright line between public service and private gain.
What Comes Next?
Whether Rep. Cassel chooses to respond remains to be seen. Her silence—or defiance—will likely influence how Republican leadership approaches internal ethics scrutiny, particularly in a supermajority environment where party discipline is typically tight.
Meanwhile, conservative watchdogs and legislative insiders will be watching closely to see if the governor’s very public condemnation translates into policy amendments, stalled legislation, or even an ethics complaint.
A Message to the Party
DeSantis’s comments signal a new phase in Florida’s tort reform wars—one that is now as much about ethics and party identity as it is about insurance premiums and legal fees. For a governor known for his combative style and policy conviction, Monday’s remarks were vintage DeSantis: confrontational, strategic, and politically loaded.
The message to fellow Republicans was unmistakable—if you’re carrying water for the trial bar, expect to be called out, by name, and in public.
Julio A. Fuentes is President and CEO of the Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (FSHCC), which he founded in 2000 in response to the tremendous growth of Florida’s Hispanic population. Today, the chamber has grown to 38 chapters and manages a database of over 80,000 minority-owned businesses.
