Florida Designers Win Lawsuit to Stay Licensed

Please read this important Federal court decision allowing Florida interior designers to keep their license and continue to protect the health, welfare and safety of their clients.  This has national consequences for all practicing designers and ID students.  We applaud the decision.

Circuit Court Upholds Florida’s Interior Design Licensure

ASID Declares Locke vs. Shore Decision a Victory for Florida Businesses and Interior Design Community

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 4, 2011)
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and its members support the United States Court of Appeals Eleventh Circuit on its decision this week to uphold the State of Florida’s interior design statute.

The Court unanimously affirmed last year’s District Court decision that Florida’s licensing requirement for interior designers practicing in commercial settings is constitutional. The statute does not prevent any designer from performing the work they currently do but expands the scope of work for those who meet additional requirements. Interior designers practicing in residential settings in Florida may do so without a license.

“We are very pleased that the Court upheld the state’s interior design statute,” said Director of Government and Public Affairs at ASID, Don Davis. “This decision ensures Floridians will continue to benefit from the high quality of services the interior design community provides.”

In a well reasoned opinion, the Court rejected, among other things, the Appellants’ contention that the Florida legislature’s safety concern does not provide a rational basis for the license requirement.

Believing in Florida’s right to maintain and enforce legislation that serves to protect the public safety and consumers, ASID filed an Amicus Curiae Brief with the Court in support of the proposition that Florida had a rational basis for regulating commercial interior designers. The National Council for Interior Design Qualification, which administers the national qualifying examination recognized by the state, also submitted an Amicus Curiae Brief in support of the state’s position.