24 January

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Quick Note: Appeal of Jury Instructions with Wrong Burden of Proof

I recently talked about the burden of proof when it comes to an all-risk property insurance policy. This article is important for insureds that have a property insurance claim and are dealing with certain insurance coverage issues with their property insurer. The case at-issue discussed in the article dealt with an appeal of the jury instructions that were read to the jury. Specifically, the issue was whether the trial court applied the right burden of proof in the jury instructions. This issue is reviewed under a de novo standard of appellate review. See Jones v. Federated National Ins. Co., 43...

09 January

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Do Yourself a Favor: Have a Court Reporter at Important Hearings

Posted by David Adelstein

in Appeal, Trial Perspectives

Make sure to have a court reporter at any substantive hearing, particularly a hearing that could result in an appeal. Here is why. In a slip and fall action, Lago v. Costco Wholesale Corp., 42 Fla. L. Weekly D2599a (Fla. 3d DCA 2017), the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the defendant. The trial court’s summary judgment order provided NO elaboration or reasoning as to the basis of granting the summary judgment. It was probably a simple order that stated that the defendant’s motion for summary judgment was granted. This does not provide a whole lot of comfort to...

17 December

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Quick Note: Order Denying Attorney’s Fees Reviewed De Novo

Posted by David Adelstein

in Appeal

An order denying a motion for attorney's fees is generally reviewed under a de novo standard of appellate review. In a recent case I wrote about dealing with a coverage dispute between an insured and a property insurer, both the insured and insurer moved for attorney's fees after the jury's verdict. In this case, the insured moved for attorney's fees pursuant to statute -- Florida Statute s. 627.428. The trial court denied the insured's motion. The insurer moved for attorney's fees pursuant to a proposal for settlement / offer of judgment it served under Florida Statute s. 768.79. The trial...

14 November

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Is the “Bad” Appellate Case Binding or Persuasive?

Posted by David Adelstein

in Appeal, Trial Perspectives

There are times I hear that because the “bad” appellate case is in another appellate district compared to the appellate district where my case is located, that “bad” case is not binding. This sentiment is not necessarily true, particularly if there are no interdistrict conflicting opinions relating to the “bad” appellate case (and, more appropriately, the legal issue that “bad” case deals with). This was explained by the Florida Supreme Court in Pardo v. State, 596 So.2d 665, 666-67 (Fla.1992): This Court has stated that “[t]he decisions of the district courts of appeal represent the law of Florida unless and until they...

04 November

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Striking / Excusing a Prospective Juror for Bias during Voir Dire

Posted by David Adelstein

in Appeal, Burden of Proof, Standard of Review, Trial Perspectives

An attorney’s opportunity to question prospective jurors (the jury venire) is an important part of the trial process. This is known as voir dire. Attorneys want to ask tailored questions to determine those persons in the venire that should be stricken for cause, those for which they should exercise a peremptory challenge, and those, quite frankly, they want to sit on the jury panel. There is strategy involved including wanting to develop a rapport with jurors. These are the potential folks that will render a verdict in the case and analyze the factual evidence based on the law (jury instructions)....

23 September

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Abandonment of Post-Trial Motions through Notice of Appeal? Not Anymore…

Posted by David Adelstein

in Appeal

In an earlier posting, I discussed the difference between a motion for rehearing and motion for reconsideration. From that posting, you know that a motion for rehearing is a post-trial motion and, in particular, a motion that applies post-judgment. A properly filed motion for rehearing will toll the time to file an appeal. There are times where a party after a judgment is entered will file a motion for rehearing. Then, before that motion is ruled on, will file a notice of appeal. Why? The party is not appealing the order on the motion for rehearing because such an order has not...

03 September

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Motion for Rehearing or Reconsideration: What is the Difference?

Posted by David Adelstein

in Appeal

Motions titled rehearing and reconsideration are routinely used interchangeably, as if there is no difference between the name “rehearing” and the name “reconsideration. There is a difference though. A motion for a rehearing is distinct from a motion for reconsideration and this distinction is key. Not understanding the difference between a motion for rehearing and motion for reconsideration can result in an untimely appeal. Motions for rehearing apply to final judgments. They are filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.530 because they “only apply to final judgments and ‘those orders that partake of the character of a final judgment,...

30 July

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Not All Non-Final Orders are Immediately Appealable

Posted by David Adelstein

in Appeal

Many non-final orders are NOT immediately appealable. The immediate right to appeal non-final orders are enumerated in Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.130. (And, prior postings have discussed the burden in moving for a writ of certiorari based on a non-final order.) Fair or unfair. These are the rules that govern appellate proceedings. When you receive a non-final order that you believe impacts rights and decisions moving forward, make sure to review Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.130 regarding those immediately appealable non-final orders. In a recent insurance coverage dispute (discussed here), the trial court declared that the insurer had a...

15 July

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