Case Title: In Re: Amendments To The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC10-148

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2010-09-08T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC10-148 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA RULES OF CIVIL 
PROCEDURE. 
 
[September 8, 2010] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
This matter is before the Court for consideration of proposed amendments to 
the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. 
Const. 
The Florida Bar Civil Procedure Rules Committee (committee) has filed its 
regular-cycle report of proposed amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil 
Procedure.  The committee proposes the adoption of new Florida Rule of Civil 
Procedure 1.071 (Constitutional Challenge to State Statute or County or Municipal 
Charter, Ordinance, or Franchise; Notice by Party), new form 1.975 (Notice of 
Compliance When Constitutional Challenge is Brought), and new rule 1.285 
(Inadvertent Disclosure of Privileged Materials), as well as amendments to rule 
1.080 (Service of Pleadings and Papers); rule 1.100(c)(1) (Pleadings and Motions; 
 
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Caption) and form 1.901 (Caption); rule 1.310 (Depositions Upon Oral 
Examination); rule 1.340 (Interrogatories to Parties); rule 1.351 (Production of 
Documents and Things Without Deposition); rule 1.360 (Examination of Persons); 
rule 1.410 (Subpoena); rule 1.420 (Dismissal of Actions); rule 1.442 (Proposals for 
Settlement); rule 1.470 (Exception Unnecessary; Jury Instructions); rule 1.480 
(Motion for a Directed Verdict); rule 1.510 (Summary Judgment); rule 1.525 
(Motions for Costs and Attorneys’ Fees); and form 1.923 (Eviction 
Summons/Residential).  The committee also recommends deletion of forms 1.985 
(Standard Jury Instructions) and 1.986 (Verdicts). 
Prior to submission to the Court, the proposals were published for comment 
in The Florida Bar News.  Several comments were received by the committee, and 
in response to those comments, minor revisions were made to some of the 
proposals.  After submission to the Court, all of the committee's proposed 
amendments were published once again for comment.  Two comments were 
received, and the committee filed responses to those comments.   
Upon consideration of the committee's proposals, the comments filed by 
interested parties and the committee’s responses thereto, we adopt the amendments 
as proposed by the committee, with several modifications as more fully explained 
below.   
 
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First, the committee proposes amending subdivision (b) of rule 1.080 
(Service of Pleadings and Papers) to treat service by hand delivery after 5:00 p.m. 
the same as service by mail.  This proposal was prompted by the Third District 
Court of Appeal’s decision in Castillo v. Vlamick de Castillo, 771 So. 2d 609 (Fla. 
3d DCA 2000).  In that case, the district court noted that rule 1.080, as currently 
worded, can produce an unfair result because it treats a pleading as timely served if 
it was mailed at 11:59 p.m. on the last day for service but would not treat the 
pleading as timely served if it was hand delivered on the same day after 5:00 p.m.  
We agree with the committee that just as service by mail is complete upon mailing, 
service by hand delivery should be deemed complete on the day delivery is 
accomplished by one of the methods enumerated in rule 1.080(b).  However, we do 
not agree that service by hand delivery should be equated to service by mail, such 
that it triggers the additional time for responsive pleadings after service by mail 
provided under rule 1.090(e).  Accordingly, we adopt a modified version of the 
committee’s proposed amendment as follows: 
(b) 
Service; How Made. When service is required or permitted to 
be made upon a party represented by an attorney, service shall be 
made upon the attorney unless service upon the party is ordered by the 
court. Service on the attorney or party shall be made by delivering a 
copy or mailing it to the attorney or the party at the last known 
address or, if no address is known, by leaving it with the clerk of the 
court. Service by mail shall be complete upon mailing. Delivery of a 
copy within this rule shall be complete upon: (1) handing it to the 
attorney or to the party, (2) leaving it at the attorney’s or party’s office 
with a clerk or other person in charge thereof, (3) if there is no one in 
 
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charge, leaving it in a conspicuous place therein, (4) if the office is 
closed or the person to be served has no office, leaving it at the 
person’s usual place of abode with some person of his or her family 
above 15 years of age and informing such person of the contents, or 
(5) transmitting it by facsimile to the attorney’s or party’s office with 
a cover sheet containing the sender’s name, firm, address, telephone 
number, and facsimile number, and the number of pages transmitted. 
When service is made by facsimile, a copy shall also be served by any 
other method permitted by this rule. Facsimile service occurs when 
transmission is complete. Service by delivery after 5:00 p.m. shall be 
deemed to have been made on the next day that is not a Saturday, 
Sunday, or legal holidaycomplete on the date of the delivery. 
 
Second, in response to a request from the Florida Bar Attorney-Client 
Privilege Task Force, the committee proposed new rule 1.285, governing 
inadvertent disclosure of privileged materials.  Proposed subdivision (d) of this 
rule, setting out factors the court may consider in resolving a dispute as to whether 
a privilege asserted under the rule is valid, may address an issue of substantive law 
that is not appropriately addressed in a rule of procedure. Thus, while we express 
no opinion on the substance of the committee's proposal in this regard, we decline 
to adopt proposed subdivision (d) as part of new rule 1.285.   
The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure are hereby amended as set forth in the 
appendix to this opinion. New language is indicated by underscoring; deletions are 
indicated by struck-through type. The committee notes are offered for explanation 
only and are not adopted as an official part of the rules. The amendments shall 
become effective January 1, 2011, at 12:01 a.m. 
It is so ordered. 
 
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CANADY, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, LABARGA, and PERRY, 
JJ., concur. 
POLSTON, J., concurs in result. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
 
Original Proceeding – The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure Committee 
 
Donald Edward Christopher, Chair, Civil Procedure Rules Committee, Orlando, 
Florida, John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director and Ellen Sloyer, Bar Staff 
Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
Steven G. Schwartz and David J. Pascuzzi of Schwartz and Horwitz, PLC, Boca 
Raton, Florida; and Peter D. Webster, First District Court of Appeal, Tallahassee, 
Florida, 
 
 
Responding with comments 
 
 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
RULE 1.071. 
CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE TO STATE 
STATUTE OR COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CHARTER, ORDINANCE, OR 
FRANCHISE; NOTICE BY PARTY 
 
 
A party that files a pleading, written motion, or other paper drawing into 
question the constitutionality of a state statute or a county or municipal charter, 
ordinance, or franchise must promptly 
 
 
(a) 
file a notice of constitutional question stating the question and 
identifying the paper that raises it; and 
 
 
 (b) 
serve the notice and the pleading, written motion, or other paper 
drawing into question the constitutionality of a state statute or a county or 
municipal charter, ordinance, or franchise on the Attorney General or the state 
attorney of the judicial circuit in which the action is pending, by either certified or 
registered mail. 
 
Service of the notice and pleading, written motion, or other paper does not require 
joinder of the Attorney General or the state attorney as a party to the action. 
 
Committee Notes 
 
 
2010 Adoption. This rule clarifies that, with respect to challenges to a state 
statute or municipal charter, ordinance, or franchise, service of the notice does not 
require joinder of the Attorney General or the state attorney as a party to the action; 
however, consistent with section 86.091, Florida Statutes, the Florida Attorney 
General or applicable state attorney has the discretion to participate and be heard 
on matters affecting the constitutionality of a statute. See, e.g., Mayo v. National 
Truck Brokers, Inc., 220 So. 2d 11 (Fla. 1969); State ex rel. Shevin v. Kerwin, 279 
So. 2d 836 (Fla. 1973) (Attorney General may choose to participate in appeal even 
though he was not required to be a party at the trial court). The rule imposes a new 
requirement that the party challenging the statute, charter, ordinance, or franchise 
file verification with the court of compliance with section 86.091, Florida Statutes. 
See form 1.975. 
 
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RULE 1.080. 
SERVICE OF PLEADINGS AND PAPERS 
 
 
(a) 
[No change] 
 
 
(b) 
Service; How Made. When service is required or permitted to be 
made upon a party represented by an attorney, service shall be made upon the 
attorney unless service upon the party is ordered by the court. Service on the 
attorney or party shall be made by delivering a copy or mailing it to the attorney or 
the party at the last known address or, if no address is known, by leaving it with the 
clerk of the court. Service by mail shall be complete upon mailing. Delivery of a 
copy within this rule shall be complete upon: (1) handing it to the attorney or to the 
party, (2) leaving it at the attorney’s or party’s office with a clerk or other person in 
charge thereof, (3) if there is no one in charge, leaving it in a conspicuous place 
therein, (4) if the office is closed or the person to be served has no office, leaving it 
at the person’s usual place of abode with some person of his or her family above 
15 years of age and informing such person of the contents, or (5) transmitting it by 
facsimile to the attorney’s or party’s office with a cover sheet containing the 
sender’s name, firm, address, telephone number, and facsimile number, and the 
number of pages transmitted. When service is made by facsimile, a copy shall also 
be served by any other method permitted by this rule. Facsimile service occurs 
when transmission is complete. Service by delivery after 5:00 p.m. shall be deemed 
to have been made on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday 
complete on the date of the delivery. 
 
 
(c) 
[No change] 
 
 
(d) 
Filing. All original papers shall be filed with the court either before 
service or immediately thereafter, unless otherwise provided for by general law or 
other rules. If the original of any bond or other paper is not placed in the court file, 
a certified copy shall be so placed by the clerk. 
 
 
(e) – (h) [No change] 
 
 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
 
 
  
Court Commentary 
[No change] 
 
 
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RULE 1.100. 
PLEADINGS AND MOTIONS 
 
 
(a) – (b) [No change] 
 
 
 
(c) 
Caption. 
 
 
 
(1) 
Every pleading, motion, order, judgment, or other paper shall 
have a caption containing the name of the court, the file number, and except for in 
rem proceedings, including forfeiture proceedings, the name of the first party on 
each side with an appropriate indication of other parties, and a designation 
identifying the party filing it and its nature or the nature of the order, as the case 
may be. In any in rem proceeding, every pleading, motion, order, judgment, or 
other paper shall have a caption containing the name of the court, the file number, 
the style “In re” (followed by the name or general description of the property), and 
a designation of the person or entity filing it and its nature or the nature of the 
order, as the case may be. In an in rem forfeiture proceeding, the style shall be “In 
re forfeiture of” (followed by the name or general description of the property). All 
papers filed in the action shall be styled in such a manner as to indicate clearly the 
subject matter of the paper and the party requesting or obtaining relief. 
  
 
 
(2) – (3) [No change] 
 
 
(d) 
[No change] 
 
Committee Notes 
 
 
1971 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
1972 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
1992 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
2010 Amendment. Subdivision (c) is amended to address separately the 
caption for in rem proceedings, including in rem forfeiture proceedings. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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RULE 1.285. 
INADVERTENT DISCLOSURE OF PRIVILEGED 
MATERIALS 
 
 
(a) 
Assertion of Privilege as to Inadvertently Disclosed Materials. 
Any party, person, or entity, after inadvertent disclosure of any materials pursuant 
to these rules, may thereafter assert any privilege recognized by law as to those 
materials. This right exists without regard to whether the disclosure was made 
pursuant to formal demand or informal request.  In order to assert the privilege, the 
party, person, or entity shall, within 10 days of actually discovering the inadvertent 
disclosure, serve written notice of the assertion of privilege on the party to whom 
the materials were disclosed. The notice shall specify with particularity the 
materials as to which the privilege is asserted, the nature of the privilege asserted, 
and the date on which the inadvertent disclosure was actually discovered. 
 
 
(b) 
Duty of the Party Receiving Notice of an Assertion of Privilege. A 
party receiving notice of an assertion of privilege under subdivision (a) shall 
promptly return, sequester, or destroy the materials specified in the notice, as well 
as any copies of the material. The party receiving the notice shall also promptly 
notify any other party, person, or entity to whom it has disclosed the materials of 
the fact that the notice has been served and of the effect of this rule. That party 
shall also take reasonable steps to retrieve the materials disclosed. Nothing herein 
affects any obligation pursuant to R. Regulating Fla. Bar 4-4.4(b). 
 
 
(c) 
Right to Challenge Assertion of Privilege. Any party receiving a 
notice made under subdivision (a) has the right to challenge the assertion of 
privilege. The grounds for the challenge may include, but are not limited to, the 
following: 
 
 
 
(1) 
The materials in question are not privileged. 
 
 
(2) 
The disclosing party, person, or entity lacks standing to assert 
the privilege. 
 
 
(3) 
The disclosing party, person, or entity has failed to serve timely 
notice under this rule. 
 
 
(4) 
The circumstances surrounding the production or disclosure of 
the materials warrant a finding that the disclosing party, person, or entity has 
waived its assertion that the material is protected by a privilege. 
 
Any party seeking to challenge the assertion of privilege shall do so by serving 
notice of its challenge on the party, person, or entity asserting the privilege. Notice 
of the challenge shall be served within 20 days of service of the original notice 
 
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given by the disclosing party, person, or entity. The notice of the recipient’s 
challenge shall specify the grounds for the challenge. Failure to serve timely notice 
of challenge is a waiver of the right to challenge. 
 
 
(d) 
Effect of Determination that Privilege Applies. When an order is 
entered determining that materials are privileged or that the right to challenge the 
privilege has been waived, the court shall direct what shall be done with the 
materials and any copies so as to preserve all rights of appellate review. The 
recipient of the materials shall also give prompt notice of the court's determination 
to any other party, person, or entity to whom it had disclosed the materials. 
 
 
RULE 1.310. 
DEPOSITIONS UPON ORAL EXAMINATION 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a) 
[No change] 
 
 
(b) 
Notice; Method of Taking; Production at Deposition.  
 
 
 
 
(1) – (3) [No change] 
 
 
 
(4) 
Any deposition may be recorded by videotape without leave of 
the court or stipulation of the parties, provided the deposition is taken in 
accordance with this subdivision. 
 
 
 
 
(A) 
Notice. A party intending to videotape a deposition shall 
state in the notice that the deposition is to be videotaped and shall give the name 
and address of the operator. Any subpoena served on the person to be examined 
shall state the method or methods for recording the testimony. 
 
 
 
 
(B) – (E) [No change] 
 
 
 
(5) 
The notice to a party deponent may be accompanied by a 
request made in compliance with rule 1.350 for the production of documents and 
tangible things at the taking of the deposition. The procedure of rule 1.350 shall 
apply to the request. Rule 1.351 provides the exclusive procedure for obtaining 
documents or things by subpoena from nonparties without deposing the custodian 
or other person in possession of the documents. 
 
 
 
(6) – (8) [No change] 
 
 
 
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(c) – (h) [No change] 
 
Committee Notes 
 
 
1972 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
1976 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
1988 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
1992 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
1996 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
2010 Amendment. Subdivision (b)(5) is amended to clarify that the 
procedure set forth in rule 1.351 must be followed when requesting or receiving 
documents or things without testimony, from nonparties pursuant to a subpoena. 
The amendment is intended to prevent the use of rules 1.310 and 1.410 to request 
documents from nonparties pursuant to a subpoena without giving the opposing 
party the opportunity to object to the subpoena before it is served on the nonparty 
as required by rule 1.351. 
 
Court Commentary 
[No change] 
 
 
RULE 1.340. 
INTERROGATORIES TO PARTIES 
 
 
(a) 
Procedure for Use. Without leave of court, any party may serve upon 
any other party written interrogatories to be answered (1) by the party to whom the 
interrogatories are directed, or (2) if that party is a public or private corporation or 
partnership or association or governmental agency, by any officer or agent, who 
shall furnish the information available to that party. Interrogatories may be served 
on the plaintiff after commencement of the action and on any other party with or 
after service of the process and initial pleading upon that party. The interrogatories 
shall not exceed 30, including all subparts, unless the court permits a larger number 
on motion and notice and for good cause. If the supreme court has approved a form 
of interrogatories for the type of action, the initial interrogatories on a subject 
included therein shall be infrom the form approved by the court. A party may serve 
fewer than all of the approved interrogatories within a form. Other interrogatories 
 
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may be added to the approved forms without leave of court, so long as the total of 
approved and additional interrogatories does not exceed 30. Each interrogatory 
shall be answered separately and fully in writing under oath unless it is objected to, 
in which event the grounds for objection shall be stated and signed by the attorney 
making it. The party to whom the interrogatories are directed shall serve the 
answers and any objections within 30 days after the service of the interrogatories, 
except that a defendant may serve answers or objections within 45 days after 
service of the process and initial pleading upon that defendant. The court may 
allow a shorter or longer time. The party submitting the interrogatories may move 
for an order under rule 1.380(a) on any objection to or other failure to answer an 
interrogatory. 
 
 
(b) – (e) [No change] 
 
 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
 
Court Commentary 
[No change] 
 
 
RULE 1.351. 
PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS AND THINGS 
WITHOUT DEPOSITION 
 
 
(a) 
Request; Scope. A party may seek inspection and copying of any 
documents or things within the scope of rule 1.350(a) from a person who is not a 
party by issuance of a subpoena directing the production of the documents or 
things when the requesting party does not seek to depose the custodian or other 
person in possession of the documents or things. This rule provides the exclusive 
procedure for obtaining documents or things by subpoena from nonparties without 
deposing the custodian or other person in possession of the documents or things 
pursuant to rule 1.310. 
 
 
(b) 
[No change] 
 
 
(c) 
Subpoena. If no objection is made by a party under subdivision (b), 
an attorney of record in the action may issue a subpoena or the party desiring 
production shall deliver to the clerk for issuance a subpoena together with a 
certificate of counsel or pro se party that no timely objection has been received 
 
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from any party, and the clerk shall issue the subpoena and deliver it to the party 
desiring production. Service within the state of Florida of a nonparty subpoena 
shall be deemed sufficient if it complies with rule 1.410(d) or if (1) service is 
accomplished by mail or hand delivery by a commercial delivery service, and (2) 
written confirmation of delivery, with the date of service and the name and 
signature of the person accepting the subpoena, is obtained and filed by the party 
seeking production. The subpoena shall be identical to the copy attached to the 
notice and shall specify that no testimony may be taken and shall require only pro-
duction of the documents or things specified in it. The subpoena may give the 
recipient an option to deliver or mail legible copies of the documents or things to 
the party serving the subpoena. The person upon whom the subpoena is served 
may condition the preparation of copies on the payment in advance of the 
reasonable costs of preparing the copies. The subpoena shall require production 
only in the county of the residence of the custodian or other person in possession of 
the documents or things or in the county where the documents or things are located 
or where the custodian or person in possession usually conducts business. If the 
person upon whom the subpoena is served objects at any time before the 
production of the documents or things, the documents or things shall not be 
produced under this rule, and relief may be obtained pursuant to rule 1.310. 
 
 
(d) – (f) [No change] 
 
Committee Notes 
 
 
1980 Adoption.  [No change] 
 
 
1996 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
2007 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
2010 Amendment. Subdivision (a) is amended to clarify that the procedure 
set forth in rule 1.351, not rule 1.310, shall be followed when requesting or 
receiving documents or things, without testimony, from nonparties pursuant to a 
subpoena. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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RULE 1.360. 
EXAMINATION OF PERSONS 
 
 
(a) 
Request; Scope. 
 
 
 
(1) 
Any party may request any other party to submit to, or to 
produce a person in that other party’s custody or legal control for, examination by 
a qualified expert when the condition which is the subject of the requested 
examination is in controversy. 
 
 
 
 
(A) When the physical condition of a party or other person 
under subdivision (a)(1) is in controversy, the request may be served on the 
plaintiff without leave of court after commencement of the action, and on any other 
person with or after service of the process and initial pleading on that party. The 
request shall specify a reasonable time, place, manner, conditions, and scope of the 
examination and the person or persons by whom the examination is to be made. 
The party to whom the request is directed shall serve a response within 30 days 
after service of the request, except that a defendant need not serve a response until 
45 days after service of the process and initial pleading on that defendant. The 
court may allow a shorter or longer time. The response shall state that the 
examination will be permitted as requested unless the request is objected to, in 
which event the reasons for the objection shall be stated. If the examination is to be 
recorded or observed by others, the request or response shall also include the 
number of people attending, their role, and the method or methods of recording. 
 
 
 
 
(B) – (C) [No change] 
 
 
 
(2) – (3) [No change] 
 
 
 
(b) – (c) [No change] 
 
 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
 
RULE 1.410. 
SUBPOENA 
 
 
(a) – (c) [No change] 
 
 
 
 
 
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(d) 
Service. A subpoena may be served by any person authorized by law 
to serve process or by any other person who is not a party and who is not less than 
18 years of age. Service of a subpoena upon a person named therein shall be made 
as provided by law. Proof of such service shall be made by affidavit of the person 
making service except as applicable under rule 1.351(c) for the production of 
documents and things by a nonparty without deposition, if not served by an officer 
authorized by law to do so. 
 
 
(e) 
Subpoena for Taking Depositions.  
 
 
 
(1) 
 Filing a notice to take a deposition as provided in rule 1.310(b) 
or 1.320(a) with a certificate of service on it showing service on all parties to the 
action constitutes an authorization for the issuance of subpoenas for the persons 
named or described in the notice by the clerk of the court in which the action is 
pending or by an attorney of record in the action. The subpoena shall state the 
method for recording the testimony. The subpoena may command the person to 
whom it is directed to produce designated books, papers, documents, or tangible 
things that constitute or contain evidence relating to any of the matters within the 
scope of the examination permitted by rule 1.280(b), but in that event the subpoena 
will be subject to the provisions of rule 1.280(c) and subdivision (c) of this rule. 
Within 10 days after its service, or on or before the time specified in the subpoena 
for compliance if the time is less than 10 days after service, the person to whom the 
subpoena is directed may serve written objection to inspection or copying of any of 
the designated materials. If objection is made, the party serving the subpoena shall 
not be entitled to inspect and copy the materials except pursuant to an order of the 
court from which the subpoena was issued. If objection has been made, the party 
serving the subpoena may move for an order at any time before or during the 
taking of the deposition upon notice to the deponent. 
 
 
 
(2)  [No change] 
  
 
 
(f) – (h) [No change] 
 
 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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RULE 1.420. 
DISMISSAL OF ACTIONS 
 
 
(a) 
Voluntary Dismissal. 
 
 
 
(1) 
By Parties. Except in actions in which property has been seized 
or is in the custody of the court, an action, a claim, or any part of an action or claim 
may be dismissed by plaintiff without order of court (A) before trial by serving, or 
during trial by stating on the record, a notice of dismissal at any time before a 
hearing on motion for summary judgment, or if none is served or if the motion is 
denied, before retirement of the jury in a case tried before a jury or before 
submission of a nonjury case to the court for decision, or (B) by filing a stipulation 
of dismissal signed by all current parties who have appeared into the action. Unless 
otherwise stated in the notice or stipulation, the dismissal is without prejudice, 
except that a notice of dismissal operates as an adjudication on the merits when 
served by a plaintiff who has once dismissed in any court an action based on or 
including the same claim. 
 
 
 
(2)  [No change] 
 
 
(b) – (c) [No change] 
 
 
(d) 
Costs. Costs in any action dismissed under this rule shall be assessed 
and judgment for costs entered in that action, once the action is concluded as to the 
party seeking taxation of costs. When one or more other claims remain pending 
following dismissal of any claim under this rule, taxable costs attributable solely to 
the dismissed claim may be assessed and judgment for costs in that claim entered 
in the action, but only when all claims are resolved at the trial court level as to the 
party seeking taxation of costs. If a party who has once dismissed a claim in any 
court of this state commences an action based upon or including the same claim 
against the same adverse party, the court shall make such order for the payment of 
costs of the claim previously dismissed as it may deem proper and shall stay the 
proceedings in the action until the party seeking affirmative relief has complied 
with the order. 
 
 
(e) – (f) [No change] 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
 
 
 
 
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Court Commentary 
[No change] 
 
 
RULE 1.442. 
PROPOSALS FOR SETTLEMENT 
 
 
(a) – (b) [No change] 
 
 
 
(c) 
Form and Content of Proposal for Settlement. 
 
 
 
(1) – (3) [No change] 
 
 
 
(4) 
Notwithstanding subdivision (c)(3), when a party is alleged to 
be solely vicariously, constructively, derivatively, or technically liable, whether by 
operation of law or by contract, a joint proposal made by or served on such a party 
need not state the apportionment or contribution as to that party. Acceptance by 
any party shall be without prejudice to rights of contribution or indemnity. 
 
 
(d) – (j) [No change] 
 
 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
RULE 1.470. 
EXCEPTIONS UNNECESSARY; JURY INSTRUCTIONS 
 
(a) 
[No change] 
 
(b) 
Instructions to Jury.  The Florida Standard Jury Instructions 
appearing on the court’s website at www.floridasupremecourt.org/ 
jury_instructions/instructions.shtml shall be used by the trial judges of this state in 
instructing the jury in civil actions to the extent that the Standard Jury Instructions 
are applicable, unless the trial judge determines that an applicable Standard Jury 
Instruction is erroneous or inadequate. If the trial judge modifies a Standard Jury 
Instruction or gives such other instruction as the judge determines necessary to 
accurately and sufficiently instruct the jury, upon timely objection to the 
instruction, the trial judge shall state on the record or in a separate order the legal 
basis for varying from the Standard Jury Instruction. Similarly, in all circumstances 
in which the notes accompanying the Florida Standard Jury Instructions contain a 
recommendation that a certain type of instruction not be given, the trial judge shall 
follow the recommendation unless the judge determines 
 
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 that the giving of such an instruction is necessary to accurately and sufficiently 
instruct the jury, in which event the judge shall give such instruction as the judge 
deems appropriate and necessary. If the trial judge does not follow such a 
recommendation of the Florida Standard Jury Instructions, upon timely objection 
to the instruction, the trial judge shall state on the record or in a separate order the 
legal basis of the determination that such instruction is necessary. Not later than at 
the close of the evidence, the parties shall file written requests that the court 
instruct the jury on the law set forth in such requests. The court shall then require 
counsel to appear before it to settle the instructions to be given. At such 
conference, all objections shall be made and ruled upon and the court shall inform 
counsel of such instructions as it will give. No party may assign as error the giving 
of any instruction unless that party objects thereto at such time, or the failure to 
give any instruction unless that party requested the same. The court shall orally 
instruct the jury before or after the arguments of counsel and may provide 
appropriate instructions during the trial. If the instructions are given prior to final 
argument, the presiding judge shall give the jury final procedural instructions after 
final arguments are concluded and prior to deliberations. The court shall provide 
each juror with a written set of the instructions for his or her use in deliberations. 
The court shall file a copy of such instructions. 
 
(c) 
[No change] 
 
 
Committee Notes 
 
1988 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
2010 Amendment. Portions of form 1.985 were modified and moved to 
subdivision (b) of rule 1.470 to require the court to use published standard 
instructions where applicable and necessary, to permit the judge to vary from the 
published standard jury instructions and notes only when necessary to accurately 
and sufficiently instruct the jury, and to require the parties to object to preserve 
error in variance from published standard jury instructions and notes. 
 
 
RULE 1.480. 
MOTION FOR A DIRECTED VERDICT  
 
 
(a) 
[No change] 
 
 
 
- 19 - 
 
(b) 
Reservation of Decision on Motion. When a motion for a directed 
verdict made at the close of all of the evidence is denied or for any reason is not 
granted, the court is deemed to have submitted the action to the jury subject to a 
later determination of the legal questions raised by the motion. Within 10 days 
after the return of a verdict, a party who has timely moved for a directed verdict 
may serve a motion to set aside the verdict and any judgment entered thereon and 
to enter judgment in accordance with the motion for a directed verdict. If a verdict 
was not returned, a party who has timely moved for a directed verdict may serve a 
motion for judgment in accordance with the motion for a directed verdict within 10 
days after discharge of the jury. 
 
 
(c) 
[No change] 
 
Committee Notes 
 
 
1996 Amendment.  [No change] 
 
 
2010 Amendment. Subdivision (b) is amended to conform to 2006 changes 
to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50(b) eliminating the requirement for renewing 
at the close of all the evidence a motion for directed verdict already made at the 
close of an adverse party’s evidence. 
 
 
RULE 1.510. 
SUMMARY JUDGMENT 
 
 
(a) – (b) [No change] 
 
 
 
(c) 
Motion and Proceedings Thereon. The motion shall state with 
particularity the grounds upon which it is based and the substantial matters of law 
to be argued and shall specifically identify any affidavits, answers to 
interrogatories, admissions, depositions, and other materials as would be 
admissible in evidence (“summary judgment evidence”) on which the movant 
relies. The movant shall serve the motion at least 20 days before the time fixed for 
the hearing, and shall also serve at that time copiesa copy of any summary 
judgment evidence on which the movant relies that has not already been filed with 
the court. The adverse party shall identify, by notice mailed to the movant’s 
attorney at least 5 days prior to the day of the hearing, or delivered no later than 
5:00 p.m. 2 business days prior to the day of the hearing, any summary judgment 
evidence on which the adverse party relies. To the extent suchthat summary 
judgment evidence has not already been filed with the court, the adverse party shall 
 
- 20 - 
serve copiesa copy on the movant by mailing themmail at least 5 days prior to the 
day of the hearing, or by delivering themdelivery to the movant’s attorney no later 
than 5:00 p.m. 2 business days prior to the day of hearing. The judgment sought 
shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, 
and admissions, affidavits, and other materials as would be admissible in and 
summary judgment evidence on file show that there is no genuine issue as to any 
material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. 
A summary judgment, interlocutory in character, may be rendered on the issue of 
liability alone although there is a genuine issue as to the amount of damages. 
 
 
(d) – (g) [No change] 
 
 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
 
RULE 1.525. 
MOTIONS FOR COSTS AND ATTORNEYS’ FEES 
 
 
Any party seeking a judgment taxing costs, attorneys’ fees, or both shall 
serve a motion no later than 30 days after filing of the judgment, including a 
judgment of dismissal, or the service of a notice of voluntary dismissal, which 
judgment or notice concludes the action as to that party. 
 
Committee Notes 
[No change] 
 
Court Commentary 
[No change] 
 
 
- 21 - 
FORM 1.901. CAPTION  
 
 
(a) 
General Form. 
 
(name of court) 
 
A. B.,  
 
 
 
) 
 
Plaintiff, 
 
 
) 
 
 
 
 
 
) 
 
-vs- 
 
 
 
) 
 
No. .................... 
 
 
 
 
 
) 
C. D.,  
 
 
 
) 
 
Defendant 
 
 
) 
 
(designation of pleading) 
 
 
(b) 
Petition. 
 
(name of court) 
 
In re the Petition 
 
 
) 
of A. B. for (type of  
 
) 
 
No. .................... 
relief)  
 
 
 
) 
 
PETITION FOR (type of relief) 
 
 
(c) 
In rem proceedings. 
 
(name of court) 
 
In re (name or general  
 
) 
description of property) 
 
) 
 
No. .................... 
 
(designation of pleading) 
 
 
(d) 
Forfeiture proceedings. 
 
(name of court) 
 
In re (name or general  
 
) 
description of property) 
 
) 
 
No. .................... 
 
(designation of pleading) 
 
Committee Notes 
 
 
- 22 - 
 
1980 Amendment. Subdivision (b) is added to show the form of caption for a 
petition. 
 
 
2010 Amendment. Subdivisions (c) and (d) are added to show the form of 
caption for in rem proceedings, including in rem forfeiture proceedings. 
 
 
- 23 - 
FORM 1.923. EVICTION SUMMONS/ RESIDENTIAL 
 
EVICTION SUMMONS/RESIDENTIAL 
 
TO: .................... 
 
Defendant(s) 
 
............................ 
............................ 
 
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY 
 
 
You are being sued by .................... to require you to move out of the place where you are 
living for the reasons given in the attached complaint. 
 
 
You are entitled to a trial to determine whether you can be required to move, but you 
MUST do ALL of the things listed below. You must do them within 5 days (not including 
Saturday, Sunday, or any legal holiday) after the date these papers were given to you or to a 
person who lives with you or were posted at your home. 
 
 
THE THINGS YOU MUST DO ARE AS FOLLOWS: 
 
 
(1) 
Write down the reason(s) why you think you should not be forced to move. The 
written reason(s) must be given to the clerk of the court at .................... County Courthouse 
................................... 
....................., Florida 
 
 
(2) 
Mail or give a copy of your written reason(s) to: 
............................................. 
Plaintiff/Plaintiff’s Attorney 
............................................. 
............................................. 
Address 
 
 
(3) 
 Pay to the clerk of the court the amount of rent that the attached complaint claims 
to be due and any rent that becomes due until the lawsuit is over. If you believe that the amount 
claimed in the complaint is incorrect, you should file with the clerk of the court a motion to have 
the court determine the amount to be paid. If you file a motion, you must attach to the motion 
any documents supporting your position and mail or give a copy of the motion to the 
plaintiff/plaintiff’s attorney. 
 
 
(4) 
 If you file a motion to have the court determine the amount of rent to be paid to 
the clerk of the court, you must immediately contact the office of the judge to whom the case is 
assigned to schedule a hearing to decide what amount should be paid to the clerk of the court 
while the lawsuit is pending. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
- 24 - 
 
IF YOU DO NOT DO ALL OF THE THINGS SPECIFIED ABOVE WITHIN 5 WORKING 
DAYS AFTER THE DATE THAT THESE PAPERS WERE GIVEN TO YOU OR TO A 
PERSON WHO LIVES WITH YOU OR WERE POSTED AT YOUR HOME, YOU MAY BE 
EVICTED WITHOUT A HEARING OR FURTHER NOTICE 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
(5) 
If the attached complaint also contains a claim for money damages (such as 
unpaid rent), you must respond to that claim separately. You must write down the reasons why 
you believe that you do not owe the money claimed. The written reasons must be given to the 
clerk of the court at the address specified in paragraph (1) above, and you must mail or give a 
copy of your written reasons to the plaintiff/plaintiff’s attorney at the address specified in 
paragraph (2) above. This must be done within 20 days after the date these papers were given to 
you or to a person who lives with you or were posted at your home. This obligation is separate 
from the requirement of answering the claim for eviction within 5 working days after these 
papers were given to you or to a person who lives with you or were posted at your home. 
 
THE STATE OF FLORIDA: 
To Each Sheriff of the State: You are commanded to serve this summons and a copy of the 
complaint in this lawsuit on the above-named defendant. 
 
DATED on ................ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clerk of the County Court 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By ________________________ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As Deputy Clerk 
 
NOTIFICACION DE DESALOJO/RESIDENCIAL 
 
A: ................... 
 
Demandado(s) 
........................ 
........................ 
 
SIRVASE LEER CON CUIDADO 
 
 
Usted esta siendo demandado por .................... para exigirle que desaloje el lugar donde 
reside por los motivos que se expresan en la demanda adjunta. 
 
 
Usted tiene derecho a ser sometido a juicio para determinar si se le puede exigir que se 
mude, pero ES NECESARIO que haga TODO lo que se le pide a continuacion en un plazo de 5 
dias (no incluidos los sabados, domingos, ni dias feriados) a partir de la fecha en que estos 
documentos se le entregaron a usted o a una persona que vive con usted, o se colocaron en su 
casa. 
 
 
- 25 - 
 
USTED DEBERA HACER LO SIGUIENTE: 
 
 
(1) 
Escribir el (los) motivo(s) por el (los) cual(es) cree que no se le debe obligar a 
mudarse. El (Los) motivo(s) debera(n) entregarse por escrito al secretario del tribunal en el 
.................... County Courthouse 
.................................. 
...................., Florida 
 
 
(2) 
Enviar por correo o darle su(s) motivo(s) por escrito a: 
 
............................................................... 
Demandante/Abogado del Demandante 
 
................................. 
................................. 
Direccion 
 
 
(3) 
Pagarle al secretario del tribunal el monto del alquiler que la demanda adjunta 
reclama como adeudado, asi como cualquier alquiler pagadero hasta que concluya el litigio. Si 
usted considera que el monto reclamado en la demanda es incorrecto, debera presentarle al 
secretario del tribunal una mocion para que el tribunal determine el monto que deba pagarse. Si 
usted presenta una mocion, debera adjuntarle a esta cualesquiera documentos que respalden su 
posicion, y enviar por correo o entregar una copia de la misma al demandante/abogado del 
demandante. 
 
 
(4) 
Si usted presenta una mocion para que el tribunal determine el monto del alquiler 
que deba pagarse al secretario del tribunal, debera comunicarse de inmediato con la oficina del 
juez al que se le haya asignado el caso para que programe una audiencia con el fin de determinar 
el monto que deba pagarse al secretario del tribunal mientras el litigio este pendiente. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
SI USTED NO LLEVA A CABO LAS ACCIONES QUE SE ESPECIFICAN 
ANTERIORMENTE EN UN PLAZO DE 5 DIAS LABORABLES A PARTIR DE LA FECHA 
EN QUE ESTOS DOCUMENTOS SE LE ENTREGARON A USTED O A UNA PERSONA 
QUE VIVE CON USTED, O SE COLOQUEN EN SU CASA, SE LE PODRA DESALOJAR 
SIN NECESIDAD DE CELEBRAR UNA AUDIENCIA NI CURSARSELE OTRO AVISO 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
(5) 
Si la demanda adjunta tambien incluye una reclamacion por danos y perjuicios 
pecunarios (tales como el incumplimiento de pago del alquiler), usted debera responder a dicha 
reclamacion por separado. Debera exponer por escrito los motivos por los cuales considera que 
usted no debe la suma reclamada, y entregarlos al secretario del tribunal en la direccion que se 
especifica en el parrafo (1) anterior, asi como enviar por correo o entregar una copia de los 
mismos al demandante/abogado del demandante en la direccion que se especifica en el parrafo 
(2) anterior. Esto debera llevarse a cabo en un plazo de 20 dias a partir de la fecha en que estos 
documentos se le entregaron a usted o a una persona que vive con usted, o se coloquen en su 
 
- 26 - 
casa. Esta obligacion es aparte del requisito de responder a la demanda de desalojo en un plazo 
de 5 dias a partir de la fecha en que estos documentos se le entregaron a usted o a una persona 
que vive con usted, o se coloquen en su casa. 
 
CITATION D’EVICTION/RESIDENTIELLE 
 
A: .................... 
 
Defendeur(s) 
......................... 
......................... 
 
LISEZ ATTENTIVEMENT 
 
 
Vous etes poursuivi par .................... pour exiger que vous evacuez les lieux de votre 
residence pour les raisons enumerees dans la plainte ci-dessous. 
 
 
Vous avez droit a un proces pour determiner si vous devez demenager, mais vous devez, 
au prealable, suivre les instructions enumerees ci-dessous, pendant les 5 jours (non compris le 
samedi, le dimanche, ou un jour ferie) a partir de la date ou ces documents ont ete donnes a vous 
ou a la personne vivant avec vous, ou ont ete affiches a votre residence. 
 
 
LISTE DES INSTRUCTIONS A SUIVRE: 
 
 
(1) 
Enumerer par ecrit les raisons pour lesquelles vous pensez ne pas avoir a 
demenager. Elles doivent etre remises au clerc du tribunal a .................... County Courthouse 
.................................. 
...................., Florida 
 
 
(2) 
Envoyer ou donner une copie au: 
 
................................................. 
Plaignant/Avocat du Plaignant 
............................. 
............................. 
Adresse 
 
 
(3) 
Payer au clerc du tribunal le montant des loyers dus comme etabli dans la plainte 
et le montant des loyers dus jusqu’a la fin du proces. Si vous pensez que le montant etabli dans la 
plainte est incorrect, vous devez presenter au clerc du tribunal une demande en justice pour 
determiner la somme a payer. Pour cela vous devez attacher a la demande tous les documents 
soutenant votre position et faire parvenir une copie de la demande au plaignant/avocat du 
plaignant. 
 
 
(4) 
Si vous faites une demande en justice pour determiner la somme a payer au clerc 
du tribunal, vous devrez immediatement prevenir le bureau de juge qui presidera au proces pour 
fixer la date de l’audience qui decidera quelle somme doit etre payee au clerc du tribunal pendant 
 
- 27 - 
que le proces est en cours. 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
SI VOUS NE SUIVEZ PAS CES INSTRUCTIONS A LA LETTRE DANS LES 5 JOURS QUE 
SUIVENT LA DATE OU CES DOCUMENTS ONT ETE REMIS A VOUS OU A LA 
PERSONNE HABITANT AVEC VOUS, OU ONT ETE AFFICHES A VOTRE RESIDENCE, 
VOUS POUVEZ ETRE EXPULSES SANS AUDIENCE OU SANS AVIS PREALABLE 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
(5) 
Si la plainte ci-dessus contient une demande pour dommages pecuniaires, tels des 
loyers arrieres, vous devez y repondre separement. Vous devez enumerer par ecrit les raisons 
pour lesquelles vous estimez ne pas devoir le montant demande. Ces raisons ecrites doivent etre 
donnees au clerc du tribunal a l’adresse specifiee dans le paragraphe (1) et une copie de ces 
raisons donnee ou envoyee au plaignant/avocat du plaignant a l’adresse specifiee dans le 
paragraphe (2). Cela doit etre fait dans les 20 jours suivant la date ou ces documents ont ete 
presentes a vous ou a la personne habitant avec vous, ou affiches a votre residence. Cette 
obligation ne fait pas partie des instructions a suivre en reponse au proces d’eviction dans les 5 
jours suivant la date ou ces documents ont ete presentes a vous ou a la personne habitant avec 
vous, ou affiches a votre residence. 
 
Committee Notes 
 
 
1988 Adoption. This form was added to inform those sought to be evicted of the 
procedure they must follow to resist eviction. 
 
 
1996 Amendment. This is a substantial revision of form 1.923 to comply with the 
requirements of section 83.60, Florida Statutes, as amended in 1993. 
 
- 28 - 
FORM 1.975. NOTICE OF COMPLIANCE WHEN CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE 
IS BROUGHT 
 
NOTICE OF COMPLIANCE WITH 
SECTION 86.091, FLORIDA STATUTES 
 
 
The undersigned hereby gives notice of compliance with Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.071, with 
respect to the constitutional challenge brought pursuant to .....(Florida statute, charter, ordinance, 
or franchise challenged)...... The undersigned complied by serving the .....(Attorney General for 
the state of Florida or State Attorney for the .......... Judicial Circuit)..... with a copy of the 
pleading or motion challenging ......(Florida statute, charter, ordinance, or franchise 
challenged)....., by .....(certified or registered mail)..... on .....(date)...... 
 
_____________________ 
Attorney for .................... 
Florida Bar No. ............... 
Address ........................... 
Telephone No. ................ 
 
Committee Notes 
 
 
2010 Adoption. This form is to be used to provide notice of a constitutional challenge as 
required by section 86.091, Florida Statutes. See rule 1.071. This form is to be used when the 
Attorney General or the State Attorney is not a named party to the action, but must be served 
solely in order to comply with the notice requirements set forth in section 86.091. 
 
- 29 - 
FORM 1.985. 
STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS 
 
 
The forms of Florida Standard Jury Instructions published by The Florida 
Bar pursuant to authority of the supreme court may be used by the trial judges of 
this state in charging the jury in civil actions to the extent that the forms are 
applicable, unless the trial judge determines that an applicable form of instruction 
is erroneous or inadequate. In that event the trial judge shall modify the form or 
give such other instruction as the judge determines necessary to accurately and suf-
ficiently instruct the jury in the circumstances of the action. In that event the trial 
judge shall state on the record or in a separate order the manner in which the judge 
finds the standard form erroneous or inadequate and the legal basis of that finding. 
Similarly, in all circumstances in which the notes accompanying the Florida 
Standard Jury Instructions contain a recommendation that a certain type of 
instruction not be given, the trial judge may follow the recommendation unless the 
judge determines that the giving of such an instruction is necessary to accurately 
and sufficiently instruct the jury, in which event the judge shall give such 
instruction as the judge deems appropriate and necessary. In that event the trial 
judge shall state on the record or on a separate order the legal basis of the 
determination that such instruction is necessary. 
 
 
 
- 30 - 
FORM 1.986. VERDICTS 
 
 
In all civil actions tried to a jury, the parties should refer to the model verdict forms 
contained in the Florida Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases, as applicable. 
 
 
(a) For Plaintiff: Damages. 
 
VERDICT 
 
 
WE, the jury, find for plaintiff and assess his/her damages at $.......... 
 
 
DATED on ................ 
 
________________________ 
as Foreperson 
 
 
 
(b) For Defendant: General Form. 
 
VERDICT 
 
 
WE, the jury, find for defendant. 
 
 
DATED on ................ 
 
________________________ 
as Foreperson