sunEthics
Covering legal ethics, judicial ethics, bar admissions in Florida, Tennessee, and nationally. See our Subject Index to past postings.
The Fourth DCA holds that fees are not available under F.S. 768.79 in cases where the choice of substantive law is determined under the lex loci contractus doctrine . . . (see more) [Added 8/26/25]
A court abused its discretion in denying a former wife’s request for fees even though she did not plead the legal basis for her request . . . (see more) [Added 8/22/25]
A trial court erred in not awarding section 57.105 fees to a medical examiner who successfully defended against a meritless petition for writ of mandamus . . . (see more) [Added 8/20/25]
The Fourth DCA points out that the standards for use of generative AI (artificial intelligence) in court filings apply equally to pro se litigants and lawyers . . . (see more) [Added 8/15/25]
A trial court’s award of prevailing party fees in a FDUTPA action is affirmed . . . (see more) [Added 8/13/25]
The Sixth DCA grants relief for a claim of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel . . . (see more) [Added 8/11/25]
A JCC’s review of a stipulation for E/C-paid fees extends only to the amount of, not entitlement to, the fees . . . (see more) [Added 8/7/25]
A court’s sua sponte order finding a family law litigant to be an abusive litigant and barring him from representing himself is reversed for failure to provide him with notice or an opportunity to be heard . . . (see more) [Added 8/4/25]
F.S. 61.16 provides an exception to the general rule that expert testimony is needed to establish the reasonableness of court-awarded fees . . . (see more) [Added 7/28/25]
A sentence is reversed because the defendant’s counsel was not present at the sentencing hearing . . . (see more) [Added 7/24/25]
The Supreme Court fines, reprimands, and suspends a judge for 10 days for 3 separate incidents in which she violated the Code of Judicial Conduct . . . (see more) [Added 7/21/25]
Fees were properly awarded to a lawyer who represented a guardian who was appointed despite her disqualification as a convicted felon . . . (see more) [Added 7/17/25]
Two lawyers are suspended for 30 days for violations relating to their comments about a judge and the judiciary after a decision against their client in a racial discrimination case . . . (see more) [Added 7/7/25]
It was an abuse of discretion to deny a law firm’s motion to withdraw from a civil case . . . (see more) [Added 6/25/25]
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for 90 days instead of the recommended 10 days for conduct related to her departure from a law firm, but declines to find a violation of Rule 4-5.8 . . . (see more) [Added 6/23/25]
The Professional Ethics Committee publishes a proposed advisory opinion on lawyers’ ethical participation in listservs and online discussion groups . . . (see more) [Added 6/16/25]
After a probate case had been dismissed, the personal representative’s former lawyer had standing to reopen the case to pursue his charging lien . . . (see more) [Added 6/12/25]
The Supreme Court amends rules governing interim suspension of a lawyer charged with a felony that “reflects adversely on the lawyer’s fitness to practice law” . . . (see more) [Added 6/9/25]
The Supreme Court amends rules regarding ad filing fees and creates a filing exemption for ads by legal aid organizations . . . (see more) [Added 5/27/25]
The Supreme Court rejects the referee’s recommendation of a reprimand and instead suspends a lawyer for 2 years for criminally assaulting his wife . . . (see more) [Added 5/16/25]
The Supreme Court amends Rule 6-10.3 to allow lawyers to obtain CLE credit for performing pro bono service . . . (see more) [Added 11/1/24]
The Supreme Court approves changes to rules regarding lawyers’ use of generative artificial intelligence, advertisements with celebrity clients or former clients, “zealous” representation, and lawyers indefinitely suspended for more than 91 days . . . (see more) [Added 9/2/24]
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 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]
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