Title: In Re: Amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure; Amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure; New Florida Rules for Qualified and Court-Appointed Parenting Coordinators; New Florida Rules for Other Court-Appointed Alternative Dispute Resolution Neutrals

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
____________ 
 
No. SC11-1454 
____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA RULES OF CIVIL 
PROCEDURE; AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA FAMILY LAW 
RULES OF PROCEDURE; NEW FLORIDA RULES FOR QUALIFIED 
AND COURT-APPOINTED PARENTING COORDINATORS; NEW 
FLORIDA RULES FOR OTHER COURT-APPOINTED ALTERNATIVE 
DISPUTE RESOLUTION NEUTRALS. 
 
[December 6, 2012] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
The Supreme Court Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules and 
Policy (ADR Committee) has filed a petition proposing amendments to court 
rules.1  The ADR Committee was created in 2003 and charged with monitoring 
court rules governing alternative dispute resolution policies and procedures, and 
making recommendations as necessary to improve the use of mediation, 
arbitration, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution to supplement the 
judicial process.  See In re Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules and 
                                         
 
1.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.  The ADR 
Committee also submitted a companion report and draft administrative order 
addressing matters related to parenting coordination.  The report and draft 
administrative order were considered by the Court separately from this case as an 
administrative matter.      
 
 
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Policy, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC03-31 (July 8, 2003).  The proposed 
amendments are in response to a referral from the Court regarding parenting 
coordination and mediation issues addressed in the 2008-2010 report of the 
Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court. 
First, the ADR Committee recommends an amendment to Florida Family 
Law Rule of Procedure 12.740(f).  This rule currently provides that if counsel of 
record for any party is not present at mediation when an agreement is reached, such 
counsel shall have ten days from the service of the copy of the agreement to serve 
written objections on the mediator, unrepresented parties, and counsel.  Florida 
Rule of Juvenile Procedure 8.290, governing mediation in juvenile dependency 
matters, contains no similar provision for attorney review.  The ADR Committee 
recommends achieving consistency by deleting the provision from rule 12.740(f).2   
The Family Law Rules Committee (FLR Committee) opposes this 
amendment and contends that the ten-day review period is beneficial to parties 
who may choose to proceed to mediation without an attorney for financial reasons 
but still want the opportunity for attorney review.  The FLR Committee also 
                                         
 
2.  The Committee also notes that deleting this provision would make rule 
12.740(f) consistent with Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.730 addressing 
mediation agreements in civil cases.  Rule 1.730(b) provides that if an agreement is 
reached at mediation, it shall be reduced to writing and signed by the parties and 
their counsel, if any.  It also addresses the issue of reporting the agreement to the 
court.  It does not contain a provision similar to the ten-day review provision 
discussed here.   
 
 
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contends that the differences between family law cases and dependency cases 
justify the difference in the rules.  The FLR Committee points out that dependency 
cases involve children in crisis and the delay in the proceedings that may be caused 
by a ten-day review period could be detrimental to the child.  It also points out that 
indigent parties in dependency proceedings are entitled to court-appointed counsel, 
and thus, the financial considerations that cause parties in family law cases to 
proceed with mediation without an attorney may not be an issue in dependency 
cases.  
The ADR Committee maintains that it does not perceive a strong rationale 
for retaining the provision in the family law rule and points out that even without 
an express provision in the rule, parties would still be free to incorporate a 
provision for attorney review into their mediation agreement.  On balance, we 
agree with the reasoning of the ADR Committee and amend rule 12.740(f) as 
proposed.   
Second, the ADR Committee has proposed several amended and new rules 
and forms relating to parenting coordination.  Additionally, as part of what it refers 
to as its “ADR systems proposals,” the Committee has proposed a number of 
amended and new rules relating to court-appointed alternative dispute resolution 
neutrals other than parenting coordinators.  After review of the proposals and the 
 
 
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comments filed in this matter, we decline to adopt these proposals at this time and 
refer them back to the ADR Committee for further study and consideration.   
Accordingly, Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.740(f) is amended 
as reflected in the appendix to this opinion.  The deleted language is struck 
through.  The amended rule shall become effective January 1, 2013, at 12:01 a.m.     
It is so ordered.  
POLSTON, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, LABARGA, 
and PERRY, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE 
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
 
Original Proceedings – Civil Procedure Rules Committee Supreme Court 
Committee and Family Law Rules Committee 
 
 
Honorable Richard Allen Nielsen, Chair, Civil Procedure Rules Committee, 
Tampa, Florida; Honorable Kevin David Johnson, Past Chair, Civil Procedure 
Rules Committee, Tampa, Florida; Matthew Burns Capstraw, Chair, Family Law 
Rules Committee, Longwood, Florida; Ashley J. McCorvey Myers, Past Chair, 
Family Law Rules Committee, Jacksonville, Florida; John F. Harkness, Jr., 
Executive Director and Ellen H. Sloyer, Staff Liaison, The Florida Bar, 
Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
Honorable James T. McGrady, III, Chief Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Clearwater, 
Florida; B. Elaine New, Court Counsel, Sixth Judicial Circuit, St. Petersburg, 
Florida; Raymond Thomas McNeal, Ocala, Florida; and Honorable William David 
Palmer, Chair, Supreme Court Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, Fifth 
District Court of Appeal, Daytona Beach, Florida, 
 
 
Responding with comments 
 
 
   APPENDIX 
 
Rule 12.740.     Family Mediation 
 
(a) – (e) [No change] 
 
 
(f)  
Report on Mediation. 
 
(1)  
If agreement is reached as to any matter or issue, including 
legal or factual issues to be determined by the court, the agreement shall be 
reduced to writing, signed by the parties and their counsel, if any and if present, 
and submitted to the court unless the parties agree otherwise.  By stipulation of the 
parties, the agreement may be electronically or stenographically recorded and 
made under oath or affirmed.  In such event, an appropriately signed transcript may 
be filed with the court.  If counsel for any party is not present when the agreement 
is reached, the mediator shall cause to be mailed a copy of the agreement to 
counsel within 5 days.  Counsel shall have 10 days from service of a copy of the 
agreement to serve a written objection on the mediator, unrepresented parties, and 
counsel.  Absent a timely written objection, the agreement is presumed to be 
approved by counsel and shall be filed with the court by the mediator. 
 
(2)  
After the agreement is filed, the court shall take action as 
required by law.  When court approval is not necessary, the agreement shall 
become binding upon filing.  When court approval is necessary, the agreement 
shall become binding upon approval.  In either event, the agreement shall be made 
part of the final judgment or order in the case. 
 
(3)  
If the parties do not reach an agreement as to any matter as a 
result of mediation, the mediator shall report the lack of an agreement to the court 
without comment or recommendation.  With the consent of the parties, the 
mediator’s report may also identify any pending motions or outstanding legal 
issues, discovery process, or other action by any party which, if resolved or 
completed, would facilitate the possibility of a settlement. 
 
Commentary 
[No change]