sunEthics
Covering legal ethics, judicial ethics, bar admissions in Florida, Tennessee, and nationally. See our Subject Index to past postings.
The First DCA denies a certiorari petition and upholds a trial court’s order compelling disclosure of a portion of an insurer’s claims files in a first-party breach of contract action . . . (see more) [Added 12/6/23]
The 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]
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