WLRN Public Media reporter Joshua Ceballos has published a new story, “Putting Florida on blast: Miami-Dade property owners sue state over mining law” (published February 4, 2026).

The article explains that four Miami-Dade County property owners filed suit in late January against James Uthmeier and Blaise Ingoglia, challenging a Florida statute that routes certain blast-mining damage claims to the Division of Administrative Hearings—instead of allowing homeowners to sue in court.

The piece includes two quotes from Steven Herzberg emphasizing the central message of the lawsuit: it is not an attempt to stop mining, but to ensure property owners have the same ability as anyone else to pursue alleged property damage claims in court and before a jury. The story also notes concerns raised locally in the Town of Miami Lakes area, including mining activity near White Rock Quarry.

WLRN also identifies Raul Gastesi and Lorenzo Cobiella of Gastesi Lopez Mestre & Cobiella as counsel for the plaintiffs and notes the lawsuit argues the law conflicts with protections in the Florida Constitution.

Why this matters for homeowners

When a law restricts where and how a claim can be heard, it can change the practical ability of families to pursue accountability when their property is damaged. This case focuses on constitutional protections cited in the article—particularly access to courts and the right to a jury trial—and asks the court to decide whether the current statutory framework goes too far.