Florida Bar News – A.G. MOODY: ‘Public Safety is the Cornerstone of a Prosperous Economy’

     A.G. Ashley Moody Florida’s top law enforcement officer told the state’s leading business and political leaders that public safety is key to Florida’s economic success. Attorney General Ashley Moody was one of a handful of political, industry, and academic leaders who headlined the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s “Future of Florida Forum” on October…

Florida Bar News – Rules Committee Looks At Remote, In-Person Juvenile Hearings

In what could be a microcosm for the debate over how to balance in-person and remote court proceedings in a post-COVID world, the Juvenile Court Rules Committee has made recommendations on remote hearings for dependency and delinquency proceedings. At its October 14 meeting, the committee reviewed proposals for remote access in juvenile proceedings being prepared…

Florida Bar News – Beware of Referral Services Not Registered with the Bar

Recent complaints about unregistered lawyer referral services have Florida Bar investigators concerned that attorneys are unfamiliar with the Bar’s “qualifying provider” rule. Under Florida Bar Rule 4-7.22, attorneys who fail to confirm a qualifying provider’s status with the Bar, or perform other due diligence, could be held responsible for its false or misleading claims, warns…

Florida Bar News – Bilbrey to Lead LegalFuel: The Practice Resource Center of the Florida Bar

      Christine Bilbrey Christine Bilbrey, the Bar’s senior practice management advisor and “The Florida Bar’s LegalFuel Podcast” host, has been named director of LegalFuel: the Practice Resource Center of The Florida Bar. “We are all fortunate Christine has accepted this leadership position within the Programs Division,” said Programs Division Director Terry Hill. “I am…

Florida Bar News – Successfully Defending a Family Law Dissolution Agreement May Not Yield Attorney’s Fees

Parties in family law cases who successfully defend dissolution-related agreements are not entitled to attorney fees if those contracts allow fees only for enforcing the contract, according to the Supreme Court. The court on October 7 ruled that F.S. §57.105(7) does not apply to such agreements. That statute converts unilateral fee awards into reciprocal awards.…

Florida Bar News – Elder Law Section Sets Sights on ‘GRANNY SNATCHING,’ Undue Influence

Prosaically, it’s known as the Uniform Guardianship Jurisdiction Act. Less formally, it’s knows as the effort to stop “granny snatching.” “We don’t like granny snatching,” said Elder Law Section Treasurer Shannon Miller, who also serves on the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers’ Guardian Improvement Task Force.   That’s why the section will be pursuing a…