Court Information
The Florida State Courts Web site has extensive information on court closings (listed by county) and emergency operations procedures, including extensions on filing deadlines, emergency contacts and detailed announcements from certain counties. Please go to www.flcourts.org for more information on a specific court.
(Here are two backup sites in case the main courts site is down: http://www.firn.edu/supct/ or http://www.appellatecourtclerks.org/flcourts/ )
Government Assistance/Information
For information on federal government assistance for victims of hurricanes please call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). For links to hurricane resources and announcement from various state agencies go to MyFlorida.com . The Florida Division of Emergency Management Web site has information about housing assistance, unemployment assistance, and food coupons. If you have an insurance question or problem relating hurricane damage, please call the Department of Financial Services HURRICANE HOTLINE at 1-800-22 STORM (1-800-227-8676).
Resources/Information for Florida Residents
Resources/Information for Florida Residents
- Organizations may help affected lawyers by providing vacant office space without charge and/or provide administrative support, such as use of a copier, fax, or telephone line, please send e-mail to jrphelps@flabar.org or call LOMAS toll free at 1-866-730-2020.
Donations
In Louisiana, more than half of the state's lawyers (8,000+) have been drastically affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The Louisiana State Bar Association/Louisiana Bar Foundation (LSBA/LBF) Disaster Relief Fund is: providing small grants to deserving lawyers to help them resume the practice of law; working with the New Orleans Bar Association to provide lawyers with access to phones, computers and other office equipment; and is supporting the Louisiana Legal Assistance 800 Call Center Fund. Information on all efforts may be found at www.LSBA.org .
Contributions to the LSBA/LBF Disaster Relief Fund can be designated for legal community assistance or pro bono assistance. Mail to Louisiana Bar Foundation, 601 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130-3404.
The Mississippi Bar Foundation is collecting donations to help lawyers re-establish their practices. The Bar is also gathering office equipment and looking for available office space. Please make checks out to "The Mississippi Bar Foundation." To donate or contact The Mississippi Bar:
Larry Houchins
Executive Director
The Mississippi Bar
643 North State Street
P.O. Box 2168
Jackson, MS 39225-2168
(601) 960-9575
Fax: (601) 355-8635
Email: houchins@msbar.org
- Florida Attorney's Charitable Trust (ACT)
Florida Attorney's Charitable Trust (ACT) is a 501(c)(3) disaster relief fund that offers Florida's attorneys an avenue for making donations to victims of disasters, including members of The Florida Bar. ACT seeks to provide aid and assistance when a disaster has caused the disruption of legal processes and court systems or which result in reduced citizen access to the legal system and the pursuit of justice. ACT may also support other charitable organizations that assist in providing aid and other assistance to persons on a charitable basis. Please mail donations to Florida Attorney's Charitable Trust, 651 East Jefferson St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-3200.
Lawyer Conduct
The Florida Supreme Court ordered that Florida will permit lawyers from areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to provide limited legal services in Florida to their displaced clients. Lawyers interested in temporary or permanent practice in Florida should read these Questions & Answers. Florida Bar members will also find important information in this document.
Florida Bar members are strongly cautioned against engaging in solicitation of hurricane victims. Solicitation, whether by the lawyer personally or by someone else on his or her behalf, is prohibited. Click here for Rule 4-7.4. Solicitation includes any direct contact face-to-face, by telephone, by fax or telegraph. It includes passing out business cards or other law firm information. Lawyers cannot mail solicitations within 30 days of the disaster. Any direct mail solicitations must comply and be filed with The Florida Bar for review. Fees from solicitation, as any form of advertising that does not comply with the rules, are subject to forfeiture in cases involving solicitation or other violation of the advertising rules.
Lawyers with questions concerning whether their own future conduct violates bar rules may call the Ethics Hotline toll free at 1-800-235-8619. Volunteer lawyers who are offering their services to accident victims at no charge do not violate the anti-solicitation rule.
Anyone with information that a lawyer is engaging in solicitation should report the lawyer to The Florida Bar. Questions or complaints about a lawyer's conduct can be reported to The Florida Bar toll free at 1-800-342-8060, extension 5839, or by contacting the nearest branch office.
Additional Hurricane Relief Information
- See the American Bar Association Web site for national hurricane relief efforts.
- Florida Lawyers Assistance is offering services to any Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, or Florida lawyers who may need counseling in dealing with the aftermath of the hurricanes. Please call the Clinical Director, Dr. Scott Weinstein at 800-282-8981.
- The Florida Bar Foundation's Legal Assistance Disaster Manual is available for the state's legal aid programs. The manual was developed with the assistance of the American Bar Association and The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division.
- The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles is issuing identification cards to evacuees at no cost. See their Web site at www.hsmv.state.fl.us for more information.
- For information on federal government assistance for victims of hurricanes please call FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).