Florida Statute 542.32 - 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

View Entire Chapter

¹542.32 Rule of construction and coverage.—It is the intent of the Legislature that, in construing this part, due consideration and great weight be given to the interpretations of the federal courts relating to comparable federal antitrust statutes. In particular, the failure to include in this part the substantive provisions of s. 3 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. s. 14, shall not be deemed in any way to limit the scope of s. 542.18 or s. 542.19.

History.—s. 1, ch. 80-28; s. 18, ch. 2025-213.

¹Note.—Amended by s. 18, 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.

F.S. 542.32 on Google Scholar

F.S. 542.32 on CourtListener

Amendments to 542.32

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 542.32

Total Results: 24

Frank Palazzo v. Gulf Oil Corporation, a Pennsylvania Corporation

764 F.2d 1381, 1985 U.S. App. LEXIS 30795

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Jul 5, 1985 | Docket: 1079012

Cited 264 times | Published

interpretation of the state antitrust laws. F.S. § 542.32 (1984). Even before this express provision was

Ad-Vantage Telephone Directory Consultants, Inc., Cross v. Gte Directories Corporation, Cross-Appellee

849 F.2d 1336, 1987 WL 12

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Sep 4, 1987 | Docket: 814922

Cited 43 times | Published

Florida Anti-Trust Act further provides, in section 542.32, that: In construing this chapter, due

MacK v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

673 So. 2d 100, 1996 WL 225715

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 7, 1996 | Docket: 2491378

Cited 34 times | Published

relating to comparable federal antitrust statutes." § 542.32, Fla. Stat. (1993).... The United States Supreme

St. Petersburg Yacht Charters v. Morgan Yacht

457 So. 2d 1028

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 4, 1984 | Docket: 426398

Cited 20 times | Published

any part of trade or commerce in this state. Section 542.32, Florida Statutes (1981), provides: Rule of

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

weight" in construing this state's antitrust law. § 542.32, Fla. Stat. (1981). See § 542.16, Fla. Stat. (1981)

Southern Card & Novelty, Inc. v. Lawson Mardon Label, Inc.

138 F.3d 869, 1998 U.S. App. LEXIS 6825, 1998 WL 158490

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Apr 7, 1998 | Docket: 422607

Cited 14 times | Published

claim as well. See Fla. Stat. Ann. § 542.32 (West 1997); see also Parts Depot Co.

Sunbeam Television Corp. v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc.

694 F. Supp. 889, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9965, 1988 WL 93669

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Aug 25, 1988 | Docket: 1742502

Cited 11 times | Published

antitrust analysis). [5] See Fla. Stat Ann. section 542.32 (1988) (in construing Florida's antitrust chapter

American Credit Card Tel. Co. v. NAT. PAY TEL. CORP.

504 So. 2d 486

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 20, 1987 | Docket: 453361

Cited 10 times | Published

WENTWORTH and NIMMONS, JJ., concur. NOTES [1] By section 542.32, the legislature has directed that in construing

Weight-Rite Golf Corp. v. United States Golf Ass'n

766 F. Supp. 1104, 1991 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9028, 1991 WL 97025

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Mar 12, 1991 | Docket: 1221176

Cited 9 times | Published

complaint. C. Florida Antitrust Act (Count III) Section 542.32, Fla.Stat. (1989) provides that "in construing

Southern Card v Lawson Mardon Label

138 F.3d 869

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Apr 7, 1998 | Docket: 422604

Cited 7 times | Published

controls that claim as well. See Fla. Stat. Ann. § 542.32 (West 1997); see also Parts Depot Co. v. Florida

All Care Nursing Service, Inc. v. High Tech Staffing Services, Inc.

135 F.3d 740, 1998 U.S. App. LEXIS 2637, 1998 WL 64997

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Feb 18, 1998 | Docket: 422453

Cited 6 times | Published

under the same rules and case law. Fla. Stat. § 542.32 ("It is the intent of the Legislature that, in

Gulfstream Park Racing Ass'n, Inc. v. Tampa Bay Downs, Inc.

294 F. Supp. 2d 1291, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20225, 2003 WL 22888995

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Nov 7, 2003 | Docket: 2436682

Cited 3 times | Published

Florida Statutes Section 542.18. See Fla. Stat. § 542.32; also Levine v. Cent. Fla. Med. Affiliates, Inc

Gulfstream Park Racing Ass'n, Inc. v. Tampa Bay Downs, Inc.

294 F. Supp. 2d 1291, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20225, 2003 WL 22888995

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Nov 7, 2003 | Docket: 2436682

Cited 3 times | Published

Florida Statutes Section 542.18. See Fla. Stat. § 542.32; also Levine v. Cent. Fla. Med. Affiliates, Inc

Metzler v. Bear Automotive Service Equipment Co.

19 F. Supp. 2d 1345, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14672, 1998 WL 640420

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Sep 4, 1998 | Docket: 2526238

Cited 3 times | Published

accordance with, the federal statutes. Fla. Stat. Section 542.32. For this reason, defendants are entitled to

Hager v. Venice Hospital, Inc.

944 F. Supp. 1530, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16682, 1996 WL 650933

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Oct 30, 1996 | Docket: 970429

Cited 3 times | Published

comparable federal antitrust statutes." Fla.Stat. § 542.32 (1995). See All Care Nursing Serv., Inc. v. Bethesda

Parts Depot Co. v. Florida Auto Supply

669 So. 2d 321

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 13, 1996 | Docket: 1526191

Cited 3 times | Published

antitrust statutes in construing this statute. § 542.32, Fla.Stat. (1989). Therefore, we look to federal

Levine v. Central Florida Medical Affiliates, Inc.

72 F.3d 1538, 1996 WL 5609

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Jan 23, 1996 | Docket: 1218912

Cited 2 times | Published

comparable federal antitrust statutes.” Fla.Stat.Ann. § 542.32 (West 1988); see also All Care Nursing

Reitz v. Canon U.S.A., Inc.

695 F. Supp. 552, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10662, 1988 WL 99110

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Feb 29, 1988 | Docket: 2175176

Cited 2 times | Published

comparable federal antitrust statutes. Fla.Stat. § 542.32. Defendants, relying on federal court cases interpreting

MYD Marine Distributor, Inc. v. International Paint Ltd.

76 So. 3d 42, 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 19927, 2011 WL 6183519

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 14, 2011 | Docket: 60304536

Published

to comparable federal antitrust statutes.” See § 542.32, Fla. Stat. (2005). Therefore, we “look to federal

Okeelanta Power Ltd. Partnership v. Florida Power & Light Co.

766 So. 2d 264, 2000 WL 173091

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 16, 2000 | Docket: 1329513

Published

relating to comparable federal antitrust statutes." § 542.32, Fla. Stat. (1997). [6] The parties disagree

All Care Nursing Svs. v. Bethesda

135 F.3d 740

Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit | Filed: Feb 18, 1998 | Docket: 74518

Published

under the same rules and case law. Fla. Stat. § 542.32 (“It is the intent of the Legislature that, in

DeMoya v. Mosely

525 So. 2d 1012, 1988 Fla. App. LEXIS 2231, 1988 WL 54218

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 31, 1988 | Docket: 64635024

Published

Florida, Inc., 497 F.Supp. 513 (M.D. Fla.1980); Section 542.32, Florida Statutes (1980 Supp.).

Price v. City of Fort Pierce

625 F. Supp. 979

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Jan 23, 1986 | Docket: 66167144

Published

under the Florida Antitrust Act. Florida Statute § 542.32 provides that "[i]t is the intent of the Legislature

CONSOLIDATED GAS CO. OF FLORIDA v. City Gas Co.

623 F. Supp. 1357, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24063

District Court, S.D. Florida | Filed: Oct 4, 1985 | Docket: 1050558

Published

relating to comparable anti-trust statutes." F.S. Section 542.32. Plaintiff urges that due to this rule of construction

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.