8/28 – Late last week a defamation lawsuit brought against Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey in Okeechobee County, FL was dismissed. Sheriff Ivey created an online show called “Wheel of Fugitives”, and on four occasions featured the plaintiff, David Austin Gay, who claimed that he was not a fugitive at the time of filming any of those instances. After three Brevard County judges recused themselves for ties to the sheriff, the case was moved to the 17th Judicial Circuit Court where Judge Laurie Buchanan threw out the case, citing a prior Florida appellate court ruling that asserts that public officials have “absolute immunity” over comments made in the course of their official duties.