Title: In Re: Amendments to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.470
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: SC13-2231
State: Florida
Issuer: Florida Supreme Court
Date: February 20, 2014

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
_____________ 
 
No. SC13-2231 
_____________ 
 
 
IN RE:  AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULE 
OF CIVIL PROCEDURE 1.470. 
 
[February 20, 2014] 
 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
Before the Court are out-of-cycle1
The Civil Procedure Rules Committee (Committee) proposed the 
amendments to rule 1.470 in response to the Court’s direction in In re Standard 
Jury Instructions—Contract and Business Cases, 116 So. 3d 284, 288 (Fla. 2013), 
that “[a]ll references to the Florida Standard Jury Instructions and Standard Jury 
 amendments to Florida Rule of Civil 
Procedure 1.470 (Exceptions Unnecessary; Jury Instructions).  The Board of 
Governors of The Florida Bar approved the proposed amendments by a vote of 
thirty-four to zero.  We have jurisdiction, see art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const., and amend 
the rule as proposed. 
                                         
 
1.  See Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.140(f).  
 
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Instructions as set forth in Rule 1.470(b), Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, shall 
also include these Standard Jury Instructions—Contract and Business Cases.”  The 
amendments correct the Court’s web address for the Standard Jury Instructions 
contained in subdivision (b) of the rule and add a new committee note to reference 
the new Standard Jury Instructions for Contract and Business Cases. 
Accordingly, we amend the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure as reflected in 
the appendix to this opinion.  New language is indicated by underscoring; deletions 
are indicated by struck-through type.  The committee note is offered for 
explanation only and is not adopted as an official part of the rules.  The 
amendments shall become effective immediately upon the release of this opinion. 
 
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 Proceeding – Florida Rules of Civil Procedure  
 
Thomas H. Bateman, III, Chair, Civil Procedure Rules Committee, Tallahassee, 
Florida; John F. Harkness, Jr., Executive Director and Ellen H. Sloyer, Staff 
Liaison, The Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida,  
 
for Petitioner 
 
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APPENDIX 
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 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]  
 
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Committee Notes 
 
1988 Amendment - 2010 Amendment. 
[No Change] 
 
 
2014 Amendment.  Florida Standard Jury Instructions include the Florida 
Standard Jury Instructions—Contract and Business Cases.