Florida Civil Procedure -- Made by Others Flashcards
What are the 4 types of cases the Florida Supreme Court is required to hear appeals from? (Mandatory Appellate Review)
- District court decisions declaring a state statute or provision unconstitutional, 2. Judgments on bonds and certificates, 3. Review of statewide agency actions relating to rate or services of utilities, and 4. Death penalty decisions
What discretionary appellate cases may the Florida Supreme Court review?
- Other district court of appeals decisions, 2. Trial court orders certified to be of great public importance, and 3. Questions of law certified by a federal court
What are the different types of courts in Florida?
- Supreme Court of Florida 2.District Court of Appeals 3. Circuit Courts 4. County Courts
In what type of cases do Circuit Courts and County Courts have concurrent jurisdiction?
(This card may be incorrect.)
- Equity cases and landlord cases up to $15,000 2. Cases involving the right to possess real property in excess of $15,000 (e.g. quite title cases)
Without the long-arm statute, personal jurisdiction is generally established over:
- Florida residents who are domiciled in the state 2. Physical presence or consents to make a general appearance 3. Corporations who are incorporated or have their principal place of business in Florida 4. Those who engage in continuous and systematic activities in Florida
What is the two-prong test to determine whether a non-resident is subject to jurisdiction in Florida?
- Long arm statute: minimum contacts (such as breaching a contract, committing a tort, conducting business, etc)
- Due process: cannot offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice
Timing deadlines for settlement offers to P vs. D
- Offers to D must be served at least 90 days after service of process 2. Offers to P must be served at least 90 days after action commenced
Requirements of the contents of settlement offers
- Must be in writing 2. Must identify applicable Florida law 3.Must include names of parties, 4. claims being resolved, 5. any relevant conditions, 6. total amount and non-monetary terms, 7. amount of punitive damages (if any) 8. attorney’s fees, and 9. certificate of service.
How many days notice must an acceptance to a settlement offer be made?
30 days
What party is liable for the legal costs and attorney’s fees from a settlement offer?
If D makes good faith offer but P rejects, then D is entitled to reasonable costs if judgment is no liability (wins) or at least 25% less than the offer. If P makes good faith offer but D rejects, then P is entitled to reasonable costs if judgement is at least 25% greater than the offer
What is a deposition?
A deposition is a discovery device by which a party may require another person–either a party or a non-party to answer questions under oath.
What is a compulsory counterclaim?
A compulsory counterclaim is a claim against an opposing party that arises out of the same transaction or occurrence that does not require additional parties outside the court’s jurisdiction.
A claim that would otherwise be considered a compulsory claim, is not if: (2 instances)
- If, at the time the claim is made, it is already in litigation elsewhere 2. the opposing party is in rem and the D is not asserting any other counterclaim
Mandatory Jdx of FLSC (4 types of cases)
FLSC has mandatory appellate jdx over: 1. capital cases - final judgments of trial courts imposing the death penalty 2. constitutional questions - decisions of district courts of appeal declaring invalid a state statute or provision of the state constitution 3. bond validations - final judgments entered in the proceedings for the validation of binds or certificates of indebtedness, AND 4. public utility cases - actions of statewide agencies relating to rates or services of utility providing electric, gas, or telephone services.
FLSC has discretion to review decisions of district courts of appeal that:
- declare a statute invalid 2. construe a provision of the state or federal constitution 3. affect a class of constitutional or state officers 4. conflict with the decision of another DCOA or of the FLSC on the same question of law 5. pass upon a question certified by the DC to be of great public importance, OR 6. are certified by the DCOA to be in direct conflict with a decision of another DCOA
FLSC has discretion to review order of trial courts certified by the DCOA to require immediate resolution by FLSC and to:
- be of great public importance OR 2. have a great effect on the proper administration of justice through the state
FLSC ALSO has discretion to review:
questions of law certified by SCOTUS or a US COA that are determinative of the cause for for which there is NO controlling precedent by FLSC
FLSC has original jdx over:
- writs of prohibition to other courts, directing them to cease an act 2. writs of mandamus 3. writs of habeas corpus 4. writs of quo warranto to state officers and state agencies 5. all writs necessary to complete exercise of its jdx
How many districts in FL?
The Florida court system is comprised of the Supreme Court, 5 district courts of appeal, 20 circuit courts and 67 county courts.
District Courts of Appeal may hear:
- all matters that are not directly appealable to FLSC or to a circuit court 2. administrative decisions 3. writs 4. county court orders (that are FINAL)
Circuit Courts
20 circuits General jdx, can hear all kinds of cases
$15k threshold
Needed to get into CIRCUIT court. Below, stay in county court Need MORE than $15k. So $15k and a penny.
Can you aggregate claims to meet the $15k requirement?
NOT IF THEY ARE UNRELATED
When can you combine claims to confer jdx in the circuit court?
- if all the claims are RELATED - coming out of the same transaction or occurrence 2. if at least ONE of the actions is over $15, can add other claims 3. A counterclaim over $15k allows a case to go to circuit court
Can the parties waive SMJ?
Never
When can you challenge SMJ?
Any time. Just like federal.
When can the state exercise PJ over the ∆?
TEST: 1. if jdx is authorized by Florida law AND 2. the Florida law is constitutional
Jdx authorized by Florida law:
- residence or business location 2. long-arm jdx
Residence of Business location (for PJ) ∆s will be subject to FL jdx by reason of:
- residence in FL 2. Consent 3. Corporate incorporate or registration in FL
Long-Arm jdx (PJ)
PJ over a NONRESIDENT, if the ∆ has the contacts with the state described in the statute. Includes Specific jdx and General jdx
Specific Jdx (PJ - long-arm)
Exists when the ∆ establishes contacts with the state AND the lawsuit arises from those contacts Here, can only have PJ arising from those specific contacts
General jdx (PJ - long-arm)
Arises when the ∆ engages in continuous and systematic business in FL. Has to be HUGE amounts of business, and is pretty rare. Here, ANY claim, regardless of whether it arose from the ∆’s business in the state.
To establish jdx, a party need only plead:
that the ∆ committed the actions set forth in the statute
Service of process begins with:
the issuance of a summons by the Clerk
Subpoenas are for non-parties True of false?
TRUE.
Who can make service?
- A sheriff 2. Someone appointed by the court, so long as the person is over 18 (18 and one second old, doesn’t have to be 19), who is not otherwise interested in the lawsuit.
Can a π personally serve the ∆?
NOPE. Person has to be UNINTERESTED
Methods of service
Personal service Substituted Service Constructive service (service by publication) Service by mail
Personal service
Deliver service to the person. The person can be anywhere
Substituted service
Where you can’t find the person, so you leave service at: 1. their place of residence or employment, 2. leave it with someone there who is at LEAST 15 yrs old, AND 3. you tell them what you’re giving them. You have to try to actually serve the party
Constructive service (service by publication)
Can be used when ∆ can’t be found. Have to make sworn statement that you made a diligent search and inquiry.
Service by mail
A party may be served by mail upon their CONSENT. In their interest to do so - bc will get 60 days to respond to the complaint, instead of 20
Timing of service
Must be made within 120 days of filing the complaint. Court can extend time upon good cause shown
Service on Incompetents
When an incompetent is a ∆ in a case, service must be made on their legal guardian, if they have a legal guardian.
In FL, may a party make a “special appearance” to challenge PJ? (an appearance made for a specific purpose, also called a limited appearance)
NOOOO. If you try to make a special appearance to challenge the court’s PJ over you instead of filing a responsive pleading, congratulations, you have just waived PJ.
When can you transfer venue?
ONLY if venue is initially proper. And if: 1. a party cannot receive a fair trial in the current court 2. for the convenience of the parties or witnesses 3. OR in the interests of justice objection based on forum non conveniens is the same criteria.
Can you consent to venue?
YES. Venue may be agreed upon or waived by K
Where is venue proper - actions against FOREIGN corporations
Should be sued where the corporation has an agent or other representative
Where is venue proper - actions against DOMESTIC corporations
Where the corporation has, or usually keep, an office (or store)
Where is venue proper if there are multiple causes of action?
Venue is proper in any county where any cause of action arose
Where is venue proper if there are multiple ∆s?
Venue is proper in a county where ANY ∆ resides
Where is venue proper - actions against ∆s who are Florida residents
- where the ∆ resides 2. where the cause of action accrued 3. OR where the property is located (if a suit about property)
Venue
refers to the physical location of a lawsuit WITHIN Florida
Where is venue proper for ∆’s who are NOT residents of FL?
- where the cause of action accrued 2. where SERVICE is made 3. where the property is located (if property is involved)
For actions involving property, venue proper where?
ONLY IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE PROPERTY SITS.
Exceptions to the “short and plain statement” rule Special pleadings
- fraud or mistake 2. conditions precedent (the DENIAL must be made specifically, but may be alleged generally) 3. incapacity 4. special damages (like pain and suffering) 5. supporting document (must attach the doc) Also - statements as to the time and place of an action
A complaint must include:
- a short plain statement of the grounds for jdx (PJ and SMJ) 2. short plain statement of the ultimate facts, showing the pleader is entitled to relief 3. demand for judgment and relief sought
An answer must:
either admit, deny, or respond without knowledge to the allegations of the pleading to which it responds
If you state in an answer that you’re without knowledge:
it’s an implied denial
If you fail to deny or allege insufficient knowledge in your answer:
it’s an admission. Except to damages
Defenses alleged in an answer
Have to include affirmative defenses in the answer, otherwise they are waived. Must be stated plainly and concisely, and must meet the substance of the allegations and denials.
Timing of the answer
Have to file answer within 20 days of receiving service of process. UNLESS - served by mail, then you get 60 days.
Compulsory counterclaim
one that arises out of the same T/O as one of the π’s claims. It MUST be brought, or else you forfeit it
Permissive counterclaim
one that does NOT arise out of the same T/O as one of the π’s claims. Do NOT have to bring it to avoid forfeiture
In Florida, all cross-claims are:
PERMISSIVE
Reply
A π’s response to what the ∆ has filed.
Are replies required?
NO - not unless the answer or third-party answer contains an affirmative defense that the π seeks to avoid.
Timing of a reply
20 days of the ∆’s filing
The filing of a motion to dismiss suspends the time to file an answer until the resolution of the motion. T or F?
TRUE
Standard of review for a motion to dismiss:
Must be denied UNLESS it appears beyond doubt that the π can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief
Upon mtn to dismiss for failure to state a cause of action, the court MUST:
Construe the complaint in the light most favorable to the π and assume everything the π says is true
If mtn to dismiss is granted, the court will usually allow the π to:
amend the complaint, either by filing a new and different complaint, or by simply tacking on a modified claim
Defenses waived if not raised in the Answer, or Pre-answer motion:
PJ Improper venue bad service of process bad process
Bad process
when the process itself is insufficient (the rules are bad, violate Due Process)
Discretionary defenses, that you don’t lose if you fail to plead them at the outset
Failure to state a cause of action Failure to join an indispensable party AND An objection of failure to state a legal defense
Mtn for Judgment on the Pleadings
It’s made after the pleadings and all the mtns related to the pleadings are CLOSED, but within such time not to delay the trial. Claims that based solely on the pleadings, the party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law But like a mtn to dismiss for failure to state a claim