Florida Virtual School and several of its attorneys have been ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in sanctions after a federal judge found that FLVS pursued unsupported nationwide damages claims against Stride, Inc. in a long-running trademark infringement and false advertising dispute.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Judge Gregory Presnell determined that FLVS acted in “bad faith” by pressing what the court characterized as an abusive lawsuit, including a demand for $6 billion in damages despite a lack of evidence showing financial harm or nationwide injury.
The July 14, 2026 order awarded Stride $1,311,959.10 in attorneys’ fees and costs, including $910,919.26 in fees and $401,039.84 in costs. The sanctions followed the court’s April 2026 ruling granting Stride’s Rule 11 motion and finding that FLVS and its counsel had continued pursuing nationwide damages after discovery closed without evidentiary support. The court held FLVS and multiple current and former in-house and outside attorneys jointly and severally liable, while also capping certain attorneys’ individual exposure based on their involvement and ability to pay.
The sanctions award marks the latest victory for Stride in the dispute, following Stride’s complete trial victory in 2023 and the Eleventh Circuit’s January 2026 decision affirming the district court’s rulings across the board. The court’s order reinforces that litigants and their counsel must have a factual basis for the claims they pursue, particularly where claims seek extraordinary damages.
Stride’s lead counsel, Steve Hollman, said the ruling recognizes the extraordinary nature of the misconduct and compensates Stride for fees and costs it was forced to incur defending against claims that lacked evidentiary support.
Stride continues to seek an “exceptional case” determination under the Lanham Act and an additional award of attorneys’ fees.
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