The Florida Law Weekly

FLW Current Issue - Civil Law Subject Matter Index
Civil Law
© 2025 Judicial & Administrative Research Associates, Inc.

Volume 50, Issue 30
August 1, 2025

APPEALS

Certiorari--Dependent children--Parents--Legal parents--Presumption of legitimacy--Applicability--Same-sex marriages--Timeliness of petition 2DCA 1631a

Child custody--Time-sharing--Supervised visitation--Best interests of child 3DCA 1624a

Contracts--Forum selection clause--Enforceability--Non-signatory to contract--Preservation of issue--Issue raised for first time in motion for rehearing 6DCA 1634a

Criminal--see, CRIMINAL LAW--Appeals

Dependent children--Parents--Legal parents--Presumption of legitimacy--Applicability--Same-sex marriages--Certiorari--Timeliness of petition 2DCA 1631a

Dismissal of complaint--Non-final order--Order granting motion to dismiss without actually dismissing action 1DCA 1585a

Estates--Wills--Challenge--Standing--Order determining that appellant was not an interested person 6DCA 1633b

Non-final orders--Order granting motion to dismiss 1DCA 1585a

Transcript--Absence--Affirmance of lower court ruling 4DCA 1613a; 3DCA 1621b; 3DCA 1624b

Wills--Challenge--Standing--Order determining that appellant was not an interested person 6DCA 1633b

ATTORNEYS

Malpractice--Abandonment of claim--Dismissal of appeal of fee judgment rendered against plaintiff as a result of alleged malpractice 4DCA 1591g

Malpractice--Abandonment of claim--Settlement of underlying action where alleged malpractice occurred 4DCA 1591g

ATTORNEY'S FEES

Jurisdiction--Reservation--Omission from final judgment 4DCA 1600a

BONDS

Bail--Forfeiture--Discharge--Entitlement 1DCA 1587a

Bail--Forfeiture--Discharge--Timeliness of motion 1DCA 1587a

CHILD CUSTODY

Appeals--Time-sharing--Supervised visitation--Best interests of child 3DCA 1624a

Time-sharing--Supervised visitation--Best interests of child--Appeals 3DCA 1624a

Time-sharing--Supervised visitation--Best interests of child--Evidence--Expert--Rejection of opinion 3DCA 1624a

CHILD SUPPORT

Guidelines--Worksheet--Failure to attach 2DCA 1630a

Guidelines--Worksheet--Incorporation by reference 2DCA 1630a

Income--Calculation--Use of single specified tax return for all relevant years--Stipulation--Findings 2DCA 1630a

Retroactive--Order--Correction--References to retroactive support as an "arrearage" 2DCA 1630a

CIVIL PROCEDURE

Amendments--Complaint--Addition of claim for punitive damages--Reasonable basis for recovery of damages--Intentional misconduct or gross misconduct--Affirmative finding 4DCA 1613b

Amendments--Complaint--Denial 1DCA 1590a

Complaint--Amendment--Addition of claim for punitive damages--Reasonable basis for recovery of damages 4DCA 1613b

Complaint--Amendment--Denial 1DCA 1590a

Dismissal--Failure to cause of action--Opportunity to amend 1DCA 1590a

Pure bill of discovery--Jurisdiction--Non-residents 3DCA 1622b

Summary proceedings--Default--Failure to file answer--Motion to dismiss treated as answer 4DCA 1613a

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Access to courts--Torts--Nuisance--Immunity--Shooting ranges--Kluger test 1DCA 1587b

Due process--Criminal statutes--Possession of controlled substance--Defendant convicted for possessing substance not specifically listed in statute 4DCA 1605a

Privacy--Public disclosure of private facts--Routine credit reporting 4DCA 1615a

Separation of powers--Criminal statutes--Prohibited substances--Usurpation of power delegated to attorney general 4DCA 1605a

CONTRACTS

Evidence--Parol--Unambiguous contract 1DCA 1585b

Forum selection clause--Enforceability--Non-signatory to contract--Appeals--Preservation of issue--Issue raised for first time in motion for rehearing 6DCA 1634a

Loan agreement--Business loan--Collateral--Personal residence which business owner shared with spouse--Intent of parties--Findings 1DCA 1585b

Loan agreement--Business loan--Collateral--Personal residence which business owner shared with spouse--Intent of parties--Parol evidence 1DCA 1585b

COUNTIES

Jails--Detention of minors--Juveniles charged as adults--Detention at adult jail--Habeas corpus--Disputed claims regarding location and manner of detention--Referral to commissioner for evidentiary hearing 3DCA 1623a

DEPENDENT CHILDREN

Parents--Legal parents--Presumption of legitimacy--Applicability--Same-sex marriages--Appeals--Certiorari--Timeliness of petition 2DCA 1631a

DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE

Alimony--Durational--Considerations--Disparity in parties' incomes 4DCA 1600a

Alimony--Durational--Considerations--Voluntary unemployment 4DCA 1600a

Alimony--Durational--Need 4DCA 1600a

Attorney's fees--Jurisdiction--Reservation--Omission from final judgment 4DCA 1600a

Child custody--Best interests of child--Factors--Domestic violence history 4DCA 1600a

Child custody--Detriment to child--Presumption--Domestic violence conviction 4DCA 1600a

Child custody--Parenting plan--Verbatim adoption of parent's plan 4DCA 1600a

Child custody--Time-sharing--Conditions--Controlled substance testing--Cost--Sole responsibility 3DCA 1623c

Child custody--Time-sharing--Conditions--Controlled substance testing--Cost--Treatment as part of child support obligation 3DCA 1623c

Child custody--Time-sharing--Verbatim adoption of parent's plan 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Deductions--Contempt fee 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Deductions--Social investigation fee 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Marital debt--Vehicle lease 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Marital home--Valuation--Calculation--Mortgage balance--Date 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Marital home--Valuation--Date 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Marital/non-marital assets--Retirement account--Post-petition contributions 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Marital/non-marital assets--Retirement account--Post-petition passive accruals 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Marital/non-marital assets--Vehicle--Post-petition purchase 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Retirement accounts--401(k)--Depleted account 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Retirement accounts--Marital/non-marital asset--Post-petition contributions 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Retirement accounts--Marital/non-marital asset--Post-petition passive accruals 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Retirement accounts--Valuation--Date 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Valuation of assets--Marital home--Date 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Valuation of assets--Marital home--Mortgage balance--Date 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Valuation of assets--Retirement accounts--Date 4DCA 1600a

Equitable distribution--Vehicle--Marital/non-marital asset--Post-petition purchase 4DCA 1600a

Jurisdiction--Attorney's fees--Reservation--Omission from final judgment 4DCA 1600a

Marital debt--Equitable distribution--Vehicle lease 4DCA 1600a

Marital home--Equitable distribution--Valuation--Calculation--Mortgage balance--Date 4DCA 1600a

Marital home--Equitable distribution--Valuation--Date 4DCA 1600a

Marital/non-marital assets--Retirement account--Post-petition contributions 4DCA 1600a

Marital/non-marital assets--Retirement account--Post-petition passive accruals 4DCA 1600a

Marital/non-marital assets--Vehicle--Post-petition purchase 4DCA 1600a

Retirement accounts--Equitable distribution--401(k)--Depleted account 4DCA 1600a

Retirement accounts--Equitable distribution--Post-petition contributions 4DCA 1600a

Retirement accounts--Equitable distribution--Post-petition passive accruals 4DCA 1600a

Retirement accounts--Valuation--Date 4DCA 1600a

DOMESTIC OR REPEAT VIOLENCE

Injunction--Protection of child--Best interests of child--Appeals--Transcript--Absence--Affirmance of lower court ruling 3DCA 1624b

ESTATES

Wills--Challenge--Standing--Appeals--Order determining that appellant was not an interested person 6DCA 1633b

Wills--Challenge--Standing--Interested person--Stranger to estate seeking to establish adverse possession of estate's real property 6DCA 1633b

INJUNCTIONS

Domestic violence--Protection of child--Best interests of child--Appeals--Transcript--Absence--Affirmance of lower court ruling 3DCA 1624b

INSURANCE

Homeowners--Post-loss obligations--Notice of loss--Untimeliness 4DCA 1595a

Homeowners--Post-loss obligations--Notice of loss--Untimeliness--Prejudice to insurer--Waiver of defense--Denial of coverage based on exclusion in policy 4DCA 1595a

Homeowners--Windstorm loss--Coverage--Post-loss obligations--Notice of loss--Untimeliness 4DCA 1595a

Homeowners--Windstorm loss--Coverage--Post-loss obligations--Notice of loss--Untimeliness--Prejudice to insurer--Waiver of defense--Denial of coverage based on exclusion in policy 4DCA 1595a

Post-loss obligations--Notice of loss--Untimeliness 4DCA 1595a

Post-loss obligations--Notice of loss--Untimeliness--Prejudice to insurer--Waiver of defense--Denial of coverage based on exclusion in policy 4DCA 1595a

Post-loss obligations--Windstorm loss--Notice of loss--Untimeliness 4DCA 1595a

Post-loss obligations--Windstorm loss--Notice of loss--Untimeliness--Prejudice to insurer--Waiver of defense--Denial of coverage based on exclusion in policy 4DCA 1595a

Windstorm loss--Coverage--Post-loss obligations--Notice of loss--Untimeliness 4DCA 1595a

Windstorm loss--Coverage--Post-loss obligations--Notice of loss--Untimeliness--Prejudice to insurer--Waiver of defense--Denial of coverage based on exclusion in policy 4DCA 1595a

JURISDICTION

Contracts--Forum selection clause--Enforceability--Non-signatory to contract--Appeals--Preservation of issue--Issue raised for first time in motion for rehearing 6DCA 1634a

Non-residents--Conflicting affidavits--Evidentiary hearing 4DCA 1608a

Non-residents--Pure bill of discovery 3DCA 1622b

Pure bill of discovery--Non-resident 3DCA 1622b

JUVENILES

Detention--Juveniles charged as adults--Detention at adult jail--Habeas corpus--Disputed claims regarding location and manner of detention--Referral to commissioner for evidentiary hearing 3DCA 1623a

Habeas corpus--Juveniles charged as adults--Detention at adult jail--Disputed claims regarding location and manner of detention--Referral to commissioner for evidentiary hearing 3DCA 1623a

MANDAMUS

Schools--Compensation and salary schedules--Adoption by school board--Standing--Teachers--Statute not expressly conferring private cause of action 3DCA 1616a

MORTGAGES

Foreclosure--Rehearing--Standing--Intervenor who purchased property after filing of lis pendens 4DCA 1599a

Foreclosure--Sale--Objection--Motion for rehearing pending--Motion filed by intervenor rather than a party to action 4DCA 1599a

NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS

Notes--Promissory--Enforceability--Multiple payees--Enforcement action brought by single payee 3DCA 1618a

Notes--Promissory--Enforceability--Multiple payees--Enforcement action brought by single payee--Remaining payee's interest in debt converted into equity in other ventures 3DCA 1618a

PATERNITY

Child support--Guidelines--Worksheet--Failure to attach 2DCA 1630a

Child support--Guidelines--Worksheet--Incorporation by reference 2DCA 1630a

Child support--Income--Calculation--Use of single specified tax return for all relevant years--Stipulation--Findings 2DCA 1630a

Child support--Retroactive--Order--Correction--References to retroactive support as an "arrearage" 2DCA 1630a

PUBLIC OFFICIALS

Court clerks--Torts--Negligence--Misspelling entries in public records index--Sovereign immunity--Special duty of care 2DCA 1579a

Torts--Negligence--Court clerks--Misspelling entries in public records index--Sovereign immunity--Special duty of care 2DCA 1579a

REAL PROPERTY

Unlawful detainer--Final judgment of possession--Jurisdiction--Pendency of motion to dismiss for failure to state cause of action--Summary proceedings 4DCA 1613a

SCHOOLS

Compensation and salary schedules--Adoption by school board--Mandamus--Standing--Teachers--Statute not expressly conferring private cause of action 3DCA 1616a

Teachers--Compensation and salary schedules--Adoption by school board--Mandamus--Standing--Statute not expressly conferring private cause of action 3DCA 1616a

Wrongful death--Choking death of special needs student--Sovereign immunity--Waiver--Conditions precedent--Notice of claim--Appropriate agency--Notice of claim only given to Department of Financial Services 1DCA 1581a

Wrongful death--Choking death of special needs student--Sovereign immunity--Waiver--Conditions precedent--Notice of claim--Email and telephone communications between plaintiff's counsel and counsel for school district 1DCA 1581a

TORTS

Attorneys--Malpractice--Abandonment of claim--Dismissal of appeal of fee judgment rendered against plaintiff as a result of alleged malpractice 4DCA 1591g

Attorneys--Malpractice--Abandonment of claim--Settlement of underlying action where alleged malpractice occurred 4DCA 1591g

Complaint--Amendment--Addition of claim for punitive damages--Reasonable basis for recovery of damages--Intentional misconduct or gross misconduct--Affirmative finding--Absence 4DCA 1613b

Damages--Punitive--Amendment of complaint to add claim for punitive damages--Reasonable basis for recovery of damages--Intentional misconduct or gross misconduct--Affirmative finding--Absence 4DCA 1613b

Immunity--Nuisance--Shooting ranges--Constitutionality of statute--Access to courts--Kluger test 1DCA 1587b

Invasion of privacy--Public disclosure of private facts--Routine credit reporting--Student loan servicer 4DCA 1615a

Legal malpractice--Abandonment of claim--Dismissal of appeal of fee judgment rendered against plaintiff as a result of alleged malpractice 4DCA 1591g

Legal malpractice--Abandonment of claim--Settlement of underlying action where alleged malpractice occurred 4DCA 1591g

Negligence--Public officials--Court clerks--Misspelling entries in public records index--Sovereign immunity--Special duty of care 2DCA 1579a

Nuisance--Immunity--Shooting ranges--Constitutionality of statute--Access to courts--Kluger test 1DCA 1587b

Premises liability--Knowledge of dangerous condition--Necessity to prove--Condition created by defendant's agent or employee 1DCA 1583a

Product liability--Tobacco--Dismissal--Failure to state cause of action--Opportunity to amend 1DCA 1590a

Public officials--Court clerks--Negligence--Misspelling entries in public records index--Sovereign immunity--Special duty of care 2DCA 1579a

Punitive damages--Amendment of complaint to add claim for punitive damages--Reasonable basis for recovery of damages--Intentional misconduct or gross misconduct--Affirmative finding--Absence 4DCA 1613b

Schools--Choking death of special needs student--Sovereign immunity--Waiver--Conditions precedent--Notice of claim--Appropriate agency--Notice of claim only given to Department of Financial Services 1DCA 1581a

Schools--Choking death of special needs student--Sovereign immunity--Waiver--Conditions precedent--Notice of claim--Email and telephone communications between plaintiff's counsel and counsel for school district 1DCA 1581a

Shooting ranges--Nuisance--Immunity--Constitutionality of statute--Access to courts--Kluger test 1DCA 1587b

Sovereign immunity--Public officials--Court clerks--Negligence--Misspelling entries in public records index--Special duty of care 2DCA 1579a

Sovereign immunity--Schools--Choking death of special needs student--Waiver of immunity--Conditions precedent--Notice of claim--Appropriate agency--Notice of claim only given to Department of Financial Services 1DCA 1581a

Sovereign immunity--Schools--Choking death of special needs student--Waiver of immunity--Conditions precedent--Notice of claim--Email and telephone communications between plaintiff's counsel and counsel for school district 1DCA 1581a

UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE

Negotiable instruments--Notes--Promissory--Enforceability--Multiple payees--Enforcement action brought by single payee 3DCA 1618a

Negotiable instruments--Notes--Promissory--Enforceability--Multiple payees--Enforcement action brought by single payee--Remaining payee's interest in debt converted into equity in other ventures 3DCA 1618a

VENUE

Forum selection clause--Enforceability--Non-signatory to contract--Appeals--Preservation of issue--Issue raised for first time in motion for rehearing 6DCA 1634a

WILLS

Challenge--Standing--Appeals--Order determining that appellant was not an interested person 6DCA 1633b

Challenge--Standing--Interested person--Stranger to estate seeking to establish adverse possession of estate's real property 6DCA 1633b

WRONGFUL DEATH