The case was decided on the very narrow issue of whether the FCC prohibitions against falsifying news stories are considered laws, rules or regulations within the meaning of the Florida whistleblower statute. The court found such prohibitions to be FCC policies and not within the technical definition found in the Florida whistleblower statute. I can't say for certain, but my impression is that Fox either didn't contest the lying allegations on appeal because they were factual allegations not properly at issue on appeal or they did address them but the court did not feel the need to address them. Instead Fox concentrated on arguing that, as a matter of law, the FCC rules were not laws, rules or regulations as defined by the Florida state statute. In that regard the court stated "While WTVT has raised a number of challenges to the judgment obtained by Akre, we need not address each challenge because we find as a threshold matter that Akre failed to state a claim under the whistle-blower's statute."


Link:

[www.2dca.org]