Appellate Practice
Adoption By the Numbers: Two Years Later, How Should the Florida Courts Navigate the “Not-So-New” Florida Summary Judgment Rule?
On December 31, 2020, the Florida Supreme Court amended Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.510, which regulates summary judgment motions.[1]...
Feng Shui Your Appeal: Create the Energy to Succeed
Feng shui literally means “wind” and “water” in Chinese.[1] It is the ancient practice of arranging space to promote a...
A Not-So-Little Problem with Precedent: Intra-district Conflict in Florida District Courts of Appeal
There is a difference in opinion when it comes to intra-district precedent in Florida. Most lawyers believe — and some...
The Evolution of Rule 9.130 and Appellate Review of Sovereign Immunity
Mel Brooks famously said in History of the World Part I, “it’s good to be the king.”[1] Undoubtedly, one of...
Navigating With a New Map: Impact of Changes to the District Courts of Appeal Territorial Boundaries
On January 1, 2023, Florida’s district court map is changing: A new Sixth District Court of Appeal has been created....
Storytelling, The Sound of Music, and Special Teams: Revisiting Some Basic Legal Writing Techniques with Fresh Eyes
I recently returned to teaching legal writing to first-year law students. Having spent the preceding years as an appellate attorney...
Certiorari Review of Orders Denying Discovery in Civil Cases, Part II
This is Part II of my column on certiorari review of orders denying discovery in civil cases. In Part I,...
Certiorari Review of Orders Denying Discovery in Civil Cases, Part I
The district courts of appeal state that, as a general rule, they rarely have common-law certiorari jurisdiction over orders that...
Remembering RBG: A Look Back at the Life and Legacy of a Legend, a Year After Her Passing
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court and a pioneer of...
How Not to Lose the Winning Witness: Ethical Considerations in Working with Employee and Former Employee Witnesses
Every good trial lawyer knows that the right witness can make or break your case. While having the right expert...
