Our Mission Statement
The Legal Office of the Miami-Dade and Monroe County Health Departments, as the legal expertise of a Florida governmental agency, is dedicated to providing our clients with quality legal guidance and representation, in an efficient manner, consistent with the State of Florida's commitment to excellence.
The Miami-Dade and Monroe County Health Departments have pooled their resources to establish a joint legal office headquartered in Miami. Comprised of two attorneys and an experienced legal secretary, the Legal Office of the Miami-Dade and Monroe County Health Departments champions the public health interests of more than two million residents and serves an agency with more than 800 employees.
Counsel must be familiar with such varied issues as the quarantine of birds with Psittacosis to regulating laser beam shows. The Chief Legal Counsel is familiar with medical, dental and nursing malpractice law. Health department attorneys serve as health law educators and must be prepared to lecture on such diverse subjects as AIDS and the law, environmental law, and risk management techniques. Counsel prosecute on-sight sewage disposal system cases in Dade and Monroe Counties cases, which are critical for protection of the Biscayne aquifer, the region's source of potable water.
Health department counsel also seek injunctions to close business establishments which create sanitary nuisances (adult book stores and peep shows), as well as prosecute other facilities that endanger the health, safety and welfare of their clients or residents. Counsel draft and review contracts for the Health units. Counsel oversee administrative appeals concerning improper utilization of WIC coupons.
Health department attorneys obtain quarantine orders for dogs (leashimansis) and court orders for disposal of raccoons (rabies). Counsel participates in drafting department rules and regulations, and proposed legislation. Counsel obtains probate orders to commit persons infected with tuberculosis to A.G. Holly Hospital in Lantana, Florida.
The Legal Office also is responsible for traditional areas of practice, such as civil litigation, client counseling, and appellate practice, as well as administrative practice including disciplinary actions, and medical records confidentiality (HIPPA) and public records issues.
If you are in need of legal assistance concerning public health issues, feel free to contact our office at (786) 845-0300.
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