NEW YEAR, NEW COURTS-FLORIDA’S COUNTY COURTS TO COMMENCE HANDLING MATTERS WITH HIGHER VALUE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2020
Effective January 1, 2020, Florida’s county courts shall have jurisdiction of matters in controversy that do not exceed the sum of $30,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney fees, and except those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit courts. The jurisdictional amount will increase to $50,000 effective January 1, 2023. This change is expected […]
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Online Legal Services
At some point, most business owners will need professional legal services. Over the last few years, numerous online legal sites have emerged that provide individuals and business owners the option to act as their own lawyer. The sites offer relatively simple, straight-forward and customized questionnaires that take individuals through a series of questions, dropdowns and […]
CORPORATE DISSOLUTION IN FLORIDA
Under Florida law, the dissolution of a corporation can occur for many reasons. A corporation can be dissolved by the actions of incorporators; A corporation can be dissolved by the board of directors and/or shareholders; and A corporation can be administratively dissolved, which is an action commenced by the department of the Florida Secretary of […]
Why do you Need an Advance Directive?
When we mention this term to people, the first question that they ask, is what are Advance Directives? The term advance directives refers to treatment preferences and the designation of a surrogate decision-maker in the event that a person should become unable to make medical decisions on her or his own behalf. Advance directives are […]
IN CASE YOU WEREN’T AWARE-CHANGES TO RULES INVOLVING SERVICE WITHIN THE FLORIDA COURT PROCEDURAL RULES
Effective January 1, 2019, Florida Court procedural rules relating to service via email have been amended to remove the five (5) extra days allowed for service by regular U.S. mail. On October 25, 2018, the Florida Supreme Court approved time calculation amendments related to email service recommended by the committees for the Rules of Judicial […]
Three Documents Every College Student Needs to Sign
Graduating from high school is an exciting time in your child’s life. If you are anything like I was, you are probably busy with last-minute shopping, packing and worrying about roommates. However, as parents, we need to be aware that this also means that there will be a legal change in his or her status […]
HIRING EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES-GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY AND GOOD FOR BUSINESS
In July 2010, President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order setting a five year goal of hiring 100,000 people with disabilities into the federal government. The Obama administration exceeded its goal by hiring 109,575 part and full time employees with disabilities between fiscal years 2011 and 2015. In January 2017, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity […]
PROXIMATE CAUSE-Why Liability for Negligence May Still Exist Even When You Are Not the Primary Cause of the Injury
The Supreme Court of Florida, in the matter of Ruiz v. Tenet Hialeah HealthSystems, Inc. quashed the decision of the Third District Court of Appeal affirming the entry of a directed verdict in favor of Respondent Arturo Lorenzo, M.D., holding that the Third District erred in its decision when it equated the proximate cause of […]
Do You Have a Crisis Management Plan?
Crisis management has been defined as the process by which an organization deals with a disruptive and unexpected event that threatens to harm the company or its stakeholders. Before a crisis happens, business owners should think about how the situation will impact employees, customers and the company’s value. A crisis can happen at any time, […]
Why Playing Hard Ball With Your Residential Real Estate Transaction May Backfire
Whether you are a first-time home buyer or a seasoned veteran, a recent ruling from the Third District Court of Appeal will make you think twice about your negotiation tactics and obligations when entering into an “As Is Residential Contract for Sale and Purchase”. In June 2018, the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the […]
The Value of Attending Automobile University
Many years ago when I was a young lawyer starting to represent businesses, I started looking for ways to learn more things that I could offer to my clients. Of course, I could read more articles about legal topics. I could also attend seminars and listen to continuing legal education tapes or CDs. However, I […]
Our Lawyers’ Well-Being Is Our Business And Good For Business
Shortly after I started at this firm, I was informed that all the lawyers would be participating, as a group, in a six month program with a life coach/executive business coach. Although I had heard the term “life coach” on trendy t.v. shows, I really did not know what a “life coach” did or how […]
