Florida Statute 542.17 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title XXXIII
REGULATION OF TRADE, COMMERCE, INVESTMENTS, AND SOLICITATIONS

Chapter 542
COMBINATIONS RESTRICTING TRADE OR COMMERCE

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¹542.17 Definitions.—Unless a different meaning is clearly indicated by the context, for the purposes of this part, the terms defined in this section have the following meanings ascribed to them:

(1) “Commodity” means any goods, merchandise, wares, produce, chose in action, land, article of commerce, or other tangible or intangible property, real, personal, or mixed, for use, consumption, production, enjoyment, or resale.

(2) “Service” means any kind of activity performed in whole or in part for economic benefit.

(3) “Person” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, limited partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association, professional association, or other legal, commercial, or governmental entity, including the State of Florida, its departments, agencies, political subdivisions, and units of government.

(4) “Trade or commerce” means any economic activity of any type whatsoever involving any commodity or service whatsoever.

(5) “Document” means any stored or retained data or information in whatever form.

(6) “Attorney General” includes not only the Attorney General of Florida but also any designee of the Attorney General or any assistant attorney general or special assistant attorney general.

(7) “State attorney” includes not only the state attorneys of Florida but also any designee of a state attorney or any assistant state attorney or special assistant state attorney.

(8) “Local government” means a municipality, county, school district, or any other general-function or special-function governmental unit established by the laws of the state.

History.—s. 1, ch. 80-28; s. 1, ch. 85-261; s. 5, ch. 2025-213.

¹Note.—Amended by s. 5, ch. 2025-213, effective July 1, 2025, per s. 22, ch. 2025-213. Chapter 2025-213 became law without the Governor’s signature on July 3, 2025, per s. 8(a), Art. III of the State Constitution. In Re Advisory Opinion to the Governor Request of June 29, 1979, 374 So. 2d 959 (Fla. 1979), specifies the constitutional effective date in s. 9, Art. III of the State Constitution in this situation. The constitutional effective date is August 15, 2025, for ch. 2025-213.

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Amendments to 542.17

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 542.17

Total Results: 3

Sabates v. International Med. Centers, Inc.

450 So. 2d 514

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 3, 1984 | Docket: 382155

Cited 16 times | Published

"trade or commerce" in the Florida Antitrust Act, § 542.17(4), Fla. Stat. (1981), that is, "any economic

The Florida Bar v. Schramek

616 So. 2d 979, 1993 WL 113509

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Apr 15, 1993 | Docket: 1385412

Cited 11 times | Published

and all other groups or combinations. Florida Statute 542.17, further defines "person" to mean any individual

Hackett v. Metropolitan General Hosp.

422 So. 2d 986

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 24, 1982 | Docket: 1739995

Cited 10 times | Published

competition." § 542.16, Fla. Stat. (1981). Section 542.17, Florida Statutes (1981), defines "trade or

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