Category: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, 2024 Amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure Category: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, 2024 Amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure (show less)

The Florida Rules of Civil Procedure are about to get the most substantive overhaul in a generation. Are you truly ready and understand what these amendments will do and how they will impact your cases, including the ones you have pending right now? If you set foot in a courtroom, if you handle a file in litigation, even if you do not go to court but represent clients who sue or get sued, then you need to know the changes as everything you know from the beginning of the case until the final hearing or trial will be different. Do not be unprepared when these amendments take effect. The courts will be ready on January 1, 2025, and to make sure your answer to the judge is "I didn’t know," you need to attend this program and learn what are the amendments, how to litigate under the new rules, and how to make sure you get your clients the results they expect from you.

Introduction and Opening Remarks
Welcome to the Florida Rules CLE: a quick introduction of the program and our speakers.
Mike Hargett

Commencement of Case and Case Tracks
The days of simply filing a lawsuit are over. Now one must determine if their case is exempt from the case management requirements, what track their case should be one, when all deadlines must be met, and if these deadlines can be modified. Rich Caskey will discuss the exemptions to the new rules and the risks on relying upon an exemption. Learn the new requirements that all attorneys must follow when filing a lawsuit in Florida. Rule 1.200 and 1.201
Rich Caskey

Case Management, Deadlines and Conferences
The Florida Supreme Court has made it clear that cases will no longer linger on the docket. The rules for case management conferences and pre-trial conferences have been overhauled to facilitate the prompt resolution of all lawsuits. Learn these changes so you are not unprepared for the new conference requirements. Rule J. Adm. 2.250(a)(1)(B) and Rule 1.200, Rules 2.215, 2.546
Amanda Kison

Motion Practice and Hearings
Hearing time is limited in state court. Before using valuable court time on motions, you need to be sure that motion needs to be heard. Learn what is expected of you under these new rules before you file a motion that may get you sanctioned. Rule 1.202, Rule 2.550
Cady Huss

Discovery and Disclosures
You may not have realized it, but the Florida Supreme Court has slowly "federalized" parts of the rules of procedure. Nowhere is this more prevalent that the overhaul of the discovery process and your obligation as an attorney to provide initial discovery without even being asked for it and to supplement it without a court order. Rules 1.280
Susan Spurgeon

Proportional Discovery
What is proportional discovery? How will Florida courts apply a federal rule? Come get the fundamentals to Florida's new "limited" discovery. Rule 1.280
Manny Farach

Setting Trials and Continuances and Summary Judgment
Are the days of being able to continue a trial over? Learn how the Supreme Court has placed an added emphasis on ensuring the prompt resolution of cases and how to best utilize the summary judgment process to avoid trial. Rules 1.440, 1.460 and 1.510, Rule J. Admin. 2.550
Chris Smart

Ethical Concerns under the "New" Rules
Should you take that case? Can you take that case? The new rules place new ethical considerations and obligations on all attorneys. Understand your new obligations, how to meet them, and what are the common mistakes to avoid.
Shawn Brown

Questions and Answers, Panel Discussion
Our final program of the day brings together all of the rules changes and gives you a final chance to ask your questions.
All Speakers