Judge in Brevard dismisses temporary injunction against political advisor that forced him from his home
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A judge has dismissed a temporary injunction filed against longtime political operative Robert Burns by the wife of a Brevard County sheriff's deputy, saying claims of stalking were not established.
The injunction was filed by Edye Nunez, a deputy's wife, against Burns, the founder and editor of the Space Coast Rocket news outlet, on Oct. 28. The injunction had forced Burns out of his home, which sits next to Nunez's home in Viera.
The Nunezes complained that Burns was harassing them, however, only Edye Nunez filed the complaint.
“This was a clear case of abuse of process. As evidenced by the easily obtained dismissal today, this temporary injunction should have never been granted that displaced me and my children from our home,” Burns told FLORIDA TODAY.
Neither Nunez, the petitioner, nor her attorney, Gregory Forhan, the general counsel for the Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, could be reached directly this week.
It was not immediately clear why the PBA attorney, who typically would represent police officers facing legal matters, used PBA letterhead in court documents and represented the deputy's wife in the case. Forhan, who Tuesday spoke through a PBA secretary, said he was not interested in answering direct questions about the case but said he personally represented the Nunezes.
Nunez said in paperwork filed with the injunction that on more than one occasion, Burns verbally assaulted her in front of her home. She also listed an incident in which she said Burns signed for a ‘half pepperoni, half cheese,’ pizza accidentally sent to his door, prompting him to post a notice about the mix-up on Facebook. No criminal charges were filed in the case.
Burns said the Nunezs had harassed him, aiming cameras at his home.
Burns, involved in a public round of recriminations from state and local politicians, said the injunction was used as a political tool to have him temporarily displaced.
"We've received the same threats. I've been personally attacked. What more needs to happen to let people know something is not right. This is happening because I opened my mouth because I dared ask questions about the Sheriff's Office," Burns said, whose news outlet frequently reported on scandals involving area pols.
Burns said he has received numerous death threats, been named in lawsuits, named in social media posts claiming he was at the center of criminal activity, and pulled over for traffic stops.
More: Wife of Brevard deputy files injunction against political operative Robert Burns
Nunez said Burns was "threatening and intimidating," the initial injunction paperwork showed.
She mentioned Brevard County School Board member Jennifer Jenkins.
Burns — and Jenkins — have said they've been photographed outside Burn's home and received threats in recent weeks because Jenkins supported a mask mandate at Brevard County's public schools.
Jenkins has attempted to file for a protection order, but has been denied the injunction.
Burns, who told Palm Bay police he was beaten by two unknown men while visiting Turkey Creek last week, said he has talked with agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement over his ongoing claims that area politicians were fostering harassment against him.
Palm Bay police are investigating the incident, which Burns said led to him being kept in a hospital overnight.
J.D. Gallop is a Criminal Justice/Breaking News Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: An injunction filed against a political advisor has been dropped.
