Title: Clarification Order

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013 
 
                                                          CASE NO(S).:  SC12-1566 
 
IN RE:  STANDARD JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN CIVIL CASES –  
REPORT NO. 12-01 
 
                                                            
 
The Motion for Clarification filed by the Supreme Court Committee on 
Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases is hereby granted. 
 
 
In “Note On Use For 501.4,” the citation to Slawson v. Fast Food 
Enterprises as adopted in the Court’s May 30, 2013, opinion in this case, is 
replaced with the following language:    
 
Slawson v. Fast Food Enterprises, 671 So. 2d 255, 260 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996). 
 
 
Model Instruction 2, with respect to instruction 501.1(b), as adopted in the 
Court’s May 30, 2013, opinion in this case, is replaced with the following 
language: 
 
[501.1(b)]  If your verdict is for Richard Rowe you will not consider the matter of 
damages.  But if the greater weight of the evidence supports Jane Doe’s claim, you 
should determine and write on the verdict form, in dollars, the total amount of loss, 
injury or damage which the greater weight of the evidence shows will fairly and 
adequately compensate her for her loss, injury, or damage, including any damages 
Jane Doe is reasonably certain to incur or experience in the future.  You shall 
consider the following elements: 
 
 
Any underlining of language previously in existence, in Model Instructions 
2, 3, and 4, was inadvertent and is removed. 
 
 
Model Instruction 4, with respect to instruction 501.1(b), as adopted in the 
Court’s May 30, 2013, opinion in this case, is replaced with the following 
language: 
 
[501.1(b)]  If your verdict is for Rachel Rowe on the claim of Betty Jones you will 
not consider the matter of Betty Jones’ damages.  Similarly, if your verdict is for 
Betty Jones on the claim of Rachel Rowe, you will not consider the matter of 
Rachel Rowe’s damages.  But if the greater weight of the evidence supports the  
 
 
Case No(s). SC12-1566 
Page 2 
 
 
claim of either Betty Jones or Rachel Rowe, or both of their claims, you should 
determine and write on the verdict form, in dollars, the total amount of loss, injury, 
or damages which the greater weight of the evidence shows will fairly and 
adequately compensate the claimant for such loss, injury, or damage, including 
any damages the claimant is reasonably certain to incur or experience in the 
future.  You shall consider the following elements:  
 
 
Under “Section 500—Damages,” as adopted in the Court’s May 30, 2013, 
opinion in this case, “501.9 Joint Liability of Joint Tortfeasors” is replaced with the 
following language: 
 
501.9 Liability of Multiple Tortfeasors 
 
 
The following language was removed from Model Instructions 1-6 in In re 
Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases—Report No. 12-02, 115 So. 3d 208 (Fla. 
2013), but was inadvertently included in Model Instructions 1-4 and 6 as adopted 
in the Court’s May 30, 2013, opinion in this case.  The following language is 
deleted: 
 
After you have decided what the facts are, you may find that some instructions do 
not apply.  In that case, follow the instructions that do apply and use them together 
with the facts to reach your verdict.      
 
 
A corrected opinion will follow. 
 
POLSTON, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, LABARGA, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur. 
 
A True Copy 
Test: 
 
 
__________________________ 
John A. Tomasino 
Clerk, Supreme Court 
 
Served: 
HON. JAMES MANLY BARTON, II, JUDGE 
 
JODI BETH JENNINGS 
JOSEPH HAGEDORN LANG, JR. 
 
 
REBECCA MERCIER-VARGAS