Case Title: In Re: Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC17-1136

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2017-11-22T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC17-1136 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CIVIL CASES—REPORT 
NO. 17-04. 
 
[November 22, 2017] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases 
(Committee) has submitted proposed changes to the standard jury instructions and 
asks that the Court authorize the amended standard instructions for publication and 
use.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const. 
 
The Committee proposes amendments to instructions 403.17 (Burden of 
Proof on Main Claim); 408.2 (Summary of Claims or Contentions); 409.10 
(Burden of Proof on Main Claim); 415.4 (Retaliation; Adverse Employment 
Action); 415.5 (Protected Activity); 415.10 (Issues on Plaintiff’s Claim); 415.12 
(Unlawful Retaliation Damages); and Model Verdict Form 4.  The Committee’s 
proposals were published in The Florida Bar News and no comments were 
 
 
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received that addressed the Committee’s proposals, which are technical in nature, 
straightforward, and non-controversial. 
 
Having considered the Committee’s report, we authorize the amended 
instructions and model verdict form, as set forth in the appendix to this opinion, for 
publication and use.  New language is indicated by underlining, and deleted 
language is indicated by struck-through type.  In authorizing the publication and 
use of these instructions and verdict form, we express no opinion on their 
correctness and remind all interested parties that this authorization forecloses 
neither requesting additional or alternative instructions nor contesting the legal 
correctness of the instructions.  We further caution all interested parties that any 
comments associated with the instructions reflect only the opinion of the 
Committee and are not necessarily indicative of the views of this Court as to their 
correctness or applicability.  The instructions as set forth in the appendix shall 
become effective when this opinion becomes final. 
 
It is so ordered. 
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON, 
and LAWSON, JJ., concur. 
 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION AND, 
IF FILED, DETERMINED. 
 
Original Proceeding – Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in 
Civil Cases 
 
Rebecca Mercier Vargas, Chair, Supreme Court Committee on Standard Jury  
 
 
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Instructions in Civil Cases, West Palm Beach, Florida; and Laura K. Whitmore, 
Vice Chair and Subcommittee Chair, Filing Subcommittee of the Supreme Court 
Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases, Tampa, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
403.17  BURDEN OF PROOF ON MAIN CLAIM 
If the greater weight of the evidence does not support [one or more of] 
(claimant’s) claim[s], your verdict should be for (defendant(s)) [on [that] [those] 
claim(s)]. 
[However, if the greater weight of the evidence supports [one or more 
of] (claimant’s) claim[s], then your verdict should be for (claimant) and against 
(defendant) [on [that] [those] claim(s)].] 
[However, if the greater weight of the evidence supports (claimant’s) 
claim against one or [both] [more] of the defendants, then you should decide 
and write on the verdict form the percentage of the total fault of [both] [all] 
defendants that was caused by each of them.]. 
NOTE ON USE FOR 403.17 
Use the first paragraph in all cases. If there is an affirmative defense to the 
claim, do not use either of the bracketed paragraphs; instead turn to instruction 
403.18. If there is no affirmative defense, use the first or second bracketed 
paragraph depending on whether there is one defendant or more than one. 
 
 
408.2  SUMMARY OF CLAIMS OR CONTENTIONS 
The claims [and defenses] in this case are as follows. (Claimant) claims 
that (defendant) intentionally interfered with (claimant’s) [contract] [or] 
[business relations] with (name) which caused harm to (claimant).  
(Defendant) denies that claim [and also claims that (describe any 
affirmative defenses).]. 
The parties must prove all claims [and defenses] by the greater weight 
of the evidence. I will now define some of the terms you will use in deciding 
this case. 
 
 
 
 
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409.10  BURDEN OF PROOF ON MAIN CLAIM 
If the greater weight of the evidence does not support [one or more of] 
(claimant’s) claim[s], your verdict should be for (defendant) [on [that] [those] 
claim[s]]. 
[However, if the greater weight of the evidence supports [one or more 
of] (claimant’s) claim[s], then your verdict should be for (claimant) and against 
(defendant) [on [that] [those] claim[s]].]  
NOTE ON USE FOR 409.10 
Use the second paragraph if there are no defense issues. If there are defense 
issues, omit the second paragraph and go to instruction 409.11. 
 
 
415.4  RETALIATION; ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTION 
Retaliation means [discharging] [or] [demoting] [or] [suspending] [or] 
[taking certain adverse employment action against] an employee because the 
employee engaged in [a] protected activit[y] [ies].] 
[An adverse employment action is retaliation if it affects the terms and 
conditions of employment and would discourage a reasonable employee in 
[(claimant’s)] position from engaging in [a] [protected activit[y] [ies].]