Around the state

Classmate's fatal beating to cost teen nine years

BRADENTON -- A judge sentenced a teen to more than nine years in prison Friday for fatally beating a high school classmate.

John Acosta, 19, was convicted of manslaughter in February in the death of James Brier, 16, in a fight after school on Oct. 18, 2001.

Following a daylong hearing, Circuit Judge Marc Gilner sentenced Acosta to nine years and three months in prison and three years' probation and ordered him to take anger management classes.

Acosta, fighting back tears, apologized to Brier's parents before sentencing.

He was allowed to remain free on $100,000 bail during the 30 days allowed for appeal.

Medical experts testified that Brier died from a burst artery at the base of his skull, caused by such a violent blow from Acosta that Brier's head snapped backward and sliced the artery.

Malpractice issue taking Bush, Jennings on road

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush and Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings will go on the road next week to meet with health care workers and rally support for limits on damages in medical malpractice lawsuits.

On Monday, Bush plans to visit Miami and Jacksonville while Jennings appears in Orlando, Brandon and Pensacola, a spokeswoman for Bush said Friday.

Alia Faraj said Bush and Jennings would hold round-table discussions at hospitals.

Bush supports a plan passed by the Florida House that would limit noneconomic -- punitive -- damages awards to $250,000 in lawsuits. Economic damages, such as lost wages and medical costs, wouldn't be capped.

A Senate committee has rejected caps, and Senate President Jim King, R-Jacksonville, said this week he didn't think such a measure would pass that body.

Backers of caps say they're needed to curb rising premiums for malpractice insurance, which doctors say threaten their practices. Opponents say caps would only punish malpractice victims and wouldn't guarantee lower insurance costs.

Testimony on tattoo leads to mistrial in murder case

BARTOW -- Testimony about the defendant's tattoos prompted a judge to declare a mistrial in a Polk County death penalty case.

Circuit Judge Dick Prince ended the trial Thursday after sheriff's Detective Malcolm Kneale told the jury that teardrops tattooed on the cheek of Tavares Wright were prison symbols signifying killings.

Prince halted the trial after nearly three weeks, agreeing with Wright's attorney that the testimony could prejudice the jury.

Wright is charged with first-degree murder in the execution-style slayings of two cousins, James Felker, 18, and David Lee Green, 21, in a Polk City orange grove after a carjacking in April 2000.

Kneale testified that Wright added two teardrop tattoos to the four already on his cheek while awaiting trial in jail.

Wright's trial will be reset. His alleged accomplice, Samuel Pitts, 23, is scheduled for trial in July.

Ex-legislator suspended from practicing law

FORT LAUDERDALE -- The Florida Supreme Court suspended former state Rep. Steven Effman from practicing law for 91 days after he admitted he had sex with three of his divorce clients.

One of the clients said Effman billed her for the time they were having sex.

Effman, 52, a Democrat from Sunrise, served in the state House from 1996 to 2000. He previously was mayor of Sunrise.

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