sunEthics
Covering legal ethics, judicial ethics, bar admissions in Florida, Tennessee, and nationally. See our Subject Index to past postings.
The Florida Supreme Court issues its opinion addressing the need to increase or decrease the number of judgeships for fiscal year 2024-2025 . . . (see more) [Added 12/2/23]
A trial court’s orders denying pro hac vice admission are reversed because they did not adequately specify the reasonable and legally permissible basis for denial . . . (see more) [Added 11/27/23]
A trial court erred by enforcing a settlement against a party at a non-evidentiary hearing, as well as by leaving the party unrepresented by allowing her lawyer to withdraw at that hearing . . . (see more) [Added 11/21/23]
A jury verdict is affirmed because remarks during closing argument may have been misleading but “were not so highly prejudicial and inflammatory as to deny” an insurance company defendant’s right to a fair trial . . . (see more) [Added 11/15/23]
An award of fees based on a rejected proposal for settlement is reversed based on non-compliance with F.S. 768.79 and Fla.R.Civ.P. 1.442 because the proposal did not address all damages awardable in the action, including counterclaims . . . (see more) [Added 11/10/23]
The Fifth DCA grants a petition for writ of prohibition and disqualifies a trial judge . . . (see more) [Added 11/7/23]
The Third DCA affirms trial court orders imposing fees as sanctions for 2 instances of discovery misconduct . . . (see more) [Added 11/3/23]
A trial court is directed to hold a hearing on a mother’s motion for emergency appointment of an attorney ad litem for her minor son . . . (see more) [Added 10/31/23]
A public adjuster’s contract with homeowners is void as against public policy because it violated Florida law . . . (see more) [Added 9/29/23]
Florida International posts the state's top first-time taker pass rate for the July 2023 general bar examination . . . (see more) [Added 9/18/23]
The Supreme Court grants the Bar’s motion to dismiss its petition to create a “Registered Online Service Provider” program . . . (see more) [Added 8/31/23]
The Supreme Court acts on Bar recommendations designed to improve professionalism in the legal profession, including amending CLE requirements . . . (see more) [Added 7/10/23]
The Supreme Court amends lawyer advertising rules regarding disclaimers, presumptively valid content, direct mail communications, and qualifying providers . . . (see more) [Added 6/25/23]
The Supreme Court rules that the offer of judgment statute, F.S. 768.79, is not a prevailing party statute . . . (see more) [Added 6/20/23]
The Supreme Court grants the Florida Bar’s petition to amend the confidentiality rule in two respects, including adding a provision addressing responses to negative online reviews . . . (see more) [Added 3/16/23]
Responding to a petition from the Bar, the Supreme Court amends bar rules various subjects including lawyer advertising, dealing with clients with diminished capacity, inventory attorneys, and confidentiality in the disciplinary system . . . (see more) [Added 3/4/22]
The Supreme Court amends Rule 4-5.5 to conform to the UPL advisory opinion permitting lawyers licensed in other states to work remotely from Florida for extended time periods on matters not involving Florida . . . (see more) [Added 2/18/22]
Rejecting a lesser sanction, the Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for 2 years for making unfounded accusations of racial bias and failing to properly handle a misdelivered fax . . . (see more) [Added 12/10/21]
The Board of Governors votes to reject recommendations made by the Special Committee to Improve Delivery of Legal Services concerning non-lawyer ownership of law firms, fee sharing, and changes to advertising rules . . . (see more) [Added 11/8/21]
The Supreme Court rejects a referee’s recommendation for reinstatement of a suspended lawyer and asks the Bar to study whether civil mediation should be prohibited in Bar case . . . (see more) [Added 10/27/21]
The Supreme Court approves a unique rule creating a special disciplinary process for complaints against lawyers that were instigated by a judge’s complaint or comment . . . (see more) [Added 10/25/21]
The Supreme Court clarifies the scope of Worley and declines to apply it to permit discovery regarding the financial relationship between a defendant’s nonparty insurer and a defense expert witness . . . (see more) [Added 10/19/21]
A narrow Supreme Court majority rules that a company connecting drivers who get traffic tickets with lawyers who will defend the tickets engaged in the unauthorized practice of law . . . (see more) [Added 10/15/21]
A unanimous Florida Supreme Court rules that an insurer has standing to bring a legal malpractice action against counsel it hired to represent its insured, based on the policy’s subrogation provision . . . (see more) [Added 6/4/21]
The Supreme Court approves an advisory opinion concluding that it is not the unlicensed practice of law for a lawyer licensed in other states but not in Florida to work remotely from his home in Florida on federal intellectual property matters . . . (see more) [Added 5/21/21]
The Supreme Court approves rule changes regarding appointments to Bar ethics and advertising committees, and expands electronic signatures to more aspects of Bar functions . . . (see more) [Added 5/14/21]
The Supreme Court amends and renames the Rules of Judicial Administration, addressing judicial disqualification, creating disqualification through adding counsel, and appearance of “stand-in counsel” . . . (see more) [Added 1/27/21]
The Supreme Court rules that a unilateral attorney’s fee provision in a credit card contract is made reciprocal when the debtor prevails in an account stated action to collect unpaid debt . . . (see more) [Added 1/18/21]
The Supreme Court remands a disciplinary case for further proceedings after clarifying that an “advice of counsel” defense may be available in limited circumstances . . . (see more) [Added 6/26/20]
NEW in Florida Legal Ethics . . .