TUESDAY, August 29, 2000
State of Florida v. Charles Bradford

No.96,910

Broward County


Bradford, a license chiropractor, was charged in 1997 with unlawfully soliciting patients for the purpose of making insurance claims. He argued that the statute under which he was charged violates his free-speech rights. The trial judge rejected this argument, and Bradford pled guilty to a lesser offense, reserving his right to appeal. On appeal, the Fourth District Court affirmed but concluded that an intent to defraud was a necessary part of the offense. Bradford now argues that his conviction must be reversed either because the statute is unconstitutional or because he had no intent to defraud insurers. The State argues that the Fourth District erred in reading an intent-to-defraud element into the statute.