Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ lawyers are urging an appeals court to sanction a Northwest Florida attorney known as the “Grim Reaper.”

Santa Rosa Beach attorney Daniel Uhlfelder earned his nickname early in the pandemic by dressing as the Grim Reaper and walking the beaches of Florida while criticizing the state’s handling of COVID-19. Most notably, Uhlfelder filed a lawsuit trying to force DeSantis to close beaches to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Following an unsuccessful ruling, Uhlfelder filed what DeSantis’ lawyers called a frivolous appeal. Now attorneys are considering motions on the possibility of sanctions.

“The many hours spent by this court and the attorneys of the Executive Office of the Governor on this appeal could have been spent on innumerable other pressing matters related to the health, welfare, and safety of Floridians,” DeSantis’ lawyers wrote. “Appellant (Uhlfelder) knew or should have known that filing this appeal was frivolous. Appellant and his counsel should be sanctioned accordingly.” 

But Uhlfelder and his attorneys dispute that the appeal was frivolous or filed in bad faith, referencing Leon County Circuit Judge Kevin Carroll’s comments in his ruling that Uhlfelder “has an understandable concern that he has raised here, and I believe he has pursued this matter in good faith and is seeking what he believes to be an appropriate response to the COVID crisis.” 

Carroll ultimately rejected the lawsuit, saying, in part, that “second-guessing” DeSantis’ actions about beach closures and stay-at-home orders would violate separation-of-powers restrictions established by the Constitution. 

According to news reports, if the appeals court decides to impose sanctions they could include requiring Uhlfelder and his lawyers to pay legal fees.

—Source: Orlandoweekly.com