The Florida Senate

865.02  Falsely shipping fruit or oranges as Florida-grown.

865.04  False packing of provisions.

865.05  Selling trees, plants, or vines under false name.

865.065  Disparagement of perishable agricultural food products; cause of action; limitation.

865.07  Adulterated syrup.

865.08  Purchase of cotton or leaf tobacco.

865.09  Fictitious name registration.

865.10  Linen suppliers.

865.02  Falsely shipping fruit or oranges as Florida-grown.--Whoever ships foreign-grown fruit or oranges, representing by mark or otherwise that said fruit is the product of the state, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 2, ch. 3454, 1883; RS 2708; GS 3699; RGS 5647; CGL 7851; s. 1115, ch. 71-136.

865.04  False packing of provisions.--Whoever fraudulently puts into any barrel, bale of cotton, cask or other package of sugar, rice, or pork, or any other article of provisions any dirt, rubbish, or other thing, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.083.

History.--s. 54, Feb. 10, 1832; RS 2710; GS 3703; RGS 5655; CGL 7856; s. 1116, ch. 71-136.

865.05  Selling trees, plants, or vines under false name.--All trees, plants, seeds, and vines sold, offered for sale, or exposed for sale in this state shall be properly named as to variety and kind, and any person knowingly selling, trading, exchanging, or offering or exposing for sale any trees, seeds, plants, or vines falsely named as to variety and kind, with the purpose to deceive or defraud the purchaser, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.083.

History.--s. 1, ch. 5233, 1903; GS 3704; RGS 5656; CGL 7857; s. 1117, ch. 71-136.

865.065  Disparagement of perishable agricultural food products; cause of action; limitation.--

(1)  The Legislature finds, determines, and declares that the production of agricultural food products constitutes an important and significant portion of the state economy and that it is imperative to protect the vitality of the agricultural economy for the citizens of this state by providing a cause of action for agricultural producers to recover damages for the disparagement of any perishable agricultural product.

(2)  For purposes of this section, the term:

(a)  "Disparagement" means the willful or malicious dissemination to the public in any manner of any false information that a perishable agricultural food product is not safe for human consumption. False information is that information which is not based on reliable, scientific facts and reliable, scientific data which the disseminator knows or should have known to be false.

(b)  "Perishable agricultural food product" means any agricultural or aquacultural food product or commodity grown or produced within the State of Florida which is sold or distributed in a form that will perish or decay within a reasonable period of time.

(c)  "Producer" means the person who actually grows or produces perishable agricultural food products.

(3)  Any producer or any association representing producers of perishable agricultural food products which suffers damages as a result of another person's disparagement of any such perishable agricultural food product may bring an action for damages and for any other relief a court of competent jurisdiction deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, compensatory and punitive damages.

(4)  The statute of limitations for disparagement of perishable agricultural food products is 2 years from the date the disparagement occurs.

History.--s. 1, ch. 94-131; s. 4, ch. 95-168.

865.07  Adulterated syrup.--

(1)  Any person, or agent thereof, who shall sell, offer for sale, or advertise for sale in this state any adulterated or mixed syrups whatever, except at the time of such sale or offer for sale the percentage of such adulteration or mixture and the name and post office address of the manufacturer is clearly stamped or labeled on the barrel, can, case, bottle, or other receptacle containing such syrup or mixture, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2)  The term "adulterated mixture" or "admixture," as used herein is understood to apply to all mixtures of two or more ingredients differing in their nature and quality, such as sugarcane syrup, sorghum syrup, maple syrup, molasses, or glucose.

History.--ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 5231, 1903; GS 3706; RGS 5657; CGL 7860; s. 1119, ch. 71-136.

865.08  Purchase of cotton or leaf tobacco.--Whoever trades, traffics for, or buys, except from the producer or the producer's authorized agent, any cotton or leaf tobacco, unless the same be baled or boxed in the usual manner, or unless upon some exhibition of evidence in writing that the producer has parted with her or his interest therein, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--s. 11, ch. 1466, 1866; RS 2711; GS 3707; RGS 5658; CGL 7861; s. 1120, ch. 71-136; s. 1396, ch. 97-102.

865.09  Fictitious name registration.--

(1)  SHORT TITLE.--This section may be cited as the "Fictitious Name Act."

(2)  DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section:

(a)  "Fictitious name" means any name under which a person transacts business in this state, other than the person's legal name.

(b)  "Business" means any enterprise or venture in which a person sells, buys, exchanges, barters, deals, or represents the dealing in any thing or article of value, or renders services for compensation.

(c)  "Division" means the Division of Corporations of the Department of State.

(3)  REGISTRATION.--A person may not engage in business under a fictitious name unless the person first registers the name with the division by filing a sworn statement listing:

(a)  The name to be registered.

(b)  The mailing address of the business.

(c)  The name and address of each owner and, if a corporation, its federal employer's identification number and Florida incorporation or registration number.

(d)  Certification by the applicant that the intention to register such fictitious name has been advertised at least once in a newspaper as defined in chapter 50 in the county where the principal place of business of the applicant will be located.

(e)  Any other information the division may deem necessary to adequately inform other governmental agencies and the public as to the persons so conducting business.

Such statement shall be accompanied by the applicable processing fees and any other taxes or penalties owed to the state.

(4)  CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP.--If the ownership of a business registered under this section changes, the owner of record with the division shall file a cancellation and reregistration that meets the requirements set forth in subsection (3) within 30 days after the occurrence of such change.

(5)  TERM.--A fictitious name registered under this section shall be valid for a period of 5 years and expires on December 31 of the 5th year.

(6)  RENEWAL.--

(a)  Renewal of a fictitious name registration shall occur on or after July 1 and on or before December 31 of the expiration year. Upon timely filing of a renewal statement, the effectiveness of the name registration is continued for 5 years as provided in subsection (5).

(b)  The division shall mail to the last reported mailing address of each name registration on its records, at least 3 months prior to its expiration date, a statement of renewal.

(c)  If the owner of the name registration fails to file a renewal and pay the appropriate processing fees prior to December 31 of the year of expiration, the name registration expires. The division shall remove any expired or canceled name registration from its records and may purge such registrations. Failure to receive the statement of renewal required by paragraph (b) shall not constitute grounds for appeal of a registration's expiration or removal from the division's records.

(7)  EXEMPTIONS.--A business formed by an attorney licensed to practice law in this state, or by a person licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation or the Department of Health, for the purpose of practicing his or her licensed profession need not be registered under this section, notwithstanding that it transacts business ancillary to the practice of such profession.

(8)  EFFECT OF REGISTRATION.--Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, registration under this section is for public notice only, and gives rise to no presumption of the registrant's rights to own or use the name registered, nor does it affect trademark, service mark, trade name, or corporate name rights previously acquired by others in the same or a similar name. Registration under this section does not reserve a fictitious name against future use.

(9)  PENALTIES.--

(a)  If a business fails to comply with this section, the business, its members, and those interested in doing such business may not maintain any action, suit, or proceeding in any court of this state until this section is complied with. An action, suit, or proceeding may not be maintained in any court of this state by any successor or assignee of such business on any right, claim, or demand arising out of the transaction of business by such business in this state until this section has been complied with.

(b)  The failure of a business to comply with this section does not impair the validity of any contract, deed, mortgage, security interest, lien, or act of such business and does not prevent such business from defending any action, suit, or proceeding in any court of this state. However, a party aggrieved by a noncomplying business may be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and court costs necessitated by the noncomplying business.

(c)  Any person who fails to comply with this section commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(10)  POWERS OF DEPARTMENT.--The Department of State is granted the power reasonably necessary to enable it to administer this section efficiently, to perform the duties herein imposed upon it, and to adopt reasonable rules necessary to carry out its duties and functions under this section.

(11)  FORMS.--Registration, cancellation, and renewal shall be made on forms prescribed by the Department of State.

(12)  PROCESSING FEES.--The Department of State shall charge and collect nonrefundable processing fees as follows:

(a)  For registration of a fictitious name, $50.

(b)  For cancellation and reregistration of a fictitious name, $50.

(c)  For renewal of a fictitious name, $50.

(d)  For furnishing a certified copy of a fictitious name document, $30.

(e)  For furnishing a certificate of status, $10.

(13)  DEPOSIT OF FUNDS.--All funds required to be paid to the Department of State pursuant to this section shall be collected and deposited into the Corporations Trust Fund.

(14)  PROHIBITION.--A fictitious name registered as provided in this section may not contain the words "Corporation" or "Incorporated," or the abbreviations "Corp." or "Inc.," unless the person or business for which the name is registered is incorporated or has obtained a certificate of authority to transact business in this state pursuant to chapter 607 or chapter 617. However, a business incorporated or authorized under chapter 607 or chapter 617 is not required to register the corporate name pursuant to this section unless the name that the corporation intends to conduct business under differs from the corporation's name as stated in its articles of incorporation.

History.--ss. 1-5, ch. 20953, 1941; s. 1, ch. 26760, 1951; s. 1, ch. 67-209; s. 35, ch. 70-134; s. 1121, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 85-64; s. 1, ch. 90-267; s. 2, ch. 94-87; s. 253, ch. 94-218; s. 90, ch. 95-211; s. 1397, ch. 97-102; s. 240, ch. 98-166.

865.10  Linen suppliers.--

(1)  REGISTRATION OF NAME.--A person engaged in the business of supplying or furnishing for hire or compensation on a rental or lease basis clean laundered bed linen or table linen, garments, aprons, or towels who uses her or his name and the word "registered" on such articles or supplies may register such articles or supplies by filing in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county where her or his principal place of business is situated, and also with the Department of State, a description of the name so used by her or him, and paying a fee of $25 to each office for each filing, and shall publish such description once in each of 3 successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the description has been filed.

(2)  UNAUTHORIZED USE OR DISPOSITION OF REGISTERED LINENS, ETC.--No person shall without the written consent of the owner willfully take, detain, use, sell, traffic in or otherwise dispose of, or use for any purpose other than that for which such article was intended any registered bed linen or table linen, garment, apron, or towel; provided, however, that the use of such article or articles at the place where the same are placed or delivered by the owner or owners under an agreement, lease, or license from such owner shall not be unlawful; and provided, further, that nothing herein contained shall make it unlawful for any caterer, hotel, restaurant, cafe, or other public hostelry to permit and allow the use of such bed linen or table linen, garment, apron, or towel by any guest, boarder, or regularly hired employee thereof during the period of any lease, renting, or hiring agreement of said supplies with the owner thereof.

(3)  PENALTY.--Anyone found guilty of violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History.--ss. 1, 2, ch. 67-196; ss. 10, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 1122, ch. 71-136; s. 1398, ch. 97-102.