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Summary Table of Contents

Chapter 1                    Taking the Case

Chapter 2                    Presuit Activities

Chapter 3                    Statutes of Limitation

Chapter 4                    Subject-Matter Jurisdiction

Chapter 5                    Venue and Forum Selection

Chapter 6                    Parties

Chapter 7                    Personal Jurisdiction

Chapter 8                    Summons and Service of Process

Chapter 9                    Pleadings

Chapter 10                  Default and Dismissal

Chapter 11                  Proposals for Settlement

Chapter 12                  Alternative Dispute Resolution and Settlement

Chapter 13                  Motion Practice

Chapter 14                  Motions Attacking Pleadings

Chapter 15                  Disqualification of Trial Judge

Chapter 16                  Discovery Scope and Plan

Chapter 17                  Discovery Disputes

Chapter 18                  Privileges

Chapter 19                  Requests for Admission

Chapter 20                  Interrogatories

Chapter 21                  Inspection of Documents and Things

Chapter 22                  Depositions

Chapter 23                  Physical and Mental Examinations

Chapter 24                  Pretrial Injunctions

Chapter 25                  Summary Judgment                                                                                                                                                                          

Expanded Table of Contents

Chapter 1        Taking the Case

I.          Initial Client Contact

II.         Case Assessment and Valuation

A.   Weigh Costs and Benefits

B.   Evaluate Client and Fee Sources

C.   Consider Ethical Factors

1.   Professional Rules Govern

2.   Conflict of Interest—Basic Rules

3.   Conflict of Interest—Prohibited Transactions

4.   Conflict of Interest—Employment by Organization

5.   Other Conflicts of Interest

6.   Withdrawal and Discharge

III.       After Assessment and Valuation

A.   Initial Steps

B.   Fee and Cost Arrangements

1.   Preliminary Considerations

2.   Factors in Selecting Fee Arrangement

3.   Hourly Billing and Retainers

4.   Contingent Fees

5.   Other Fee Arrangements

6.   Costs and Expenses

C.   Formalizing Attorney-Client Relationship

1.   Preliminary Considerations

2.   Fee Requirements Generally

3.   Personal Injury Action Contingent Fees

D.   Drafting Representation Agreement

1.   All Cases

2.   Hourly-Rate Billing Arrangements

3.   Other Fee Arrangements

IV.        Case Conference

A.   Attorney’s Perspective

B.   Information to Convey

V.         Taking Over From Prior Counsel

Chapter 2        Presuit Activities

I.          Investigation (Except Medical Malpractice)

A.   Preliminary Considerations

B.   Reasons to Conduct a Presuit Investigation

1.   Legal Requirements

2.   Practical Purposes

C.   Sources for Investigation

1.   Parties and Witnesses

2.   Experts and Other Sources

D.   Presuit Communications and Notices

1.   Communications With Parties

2.   Notice Requirements Generally

3.   Actions Against State, State Agencies, and Subdivisions

II.         Medical Malpractice Investigation

A.   In General

B.   Presuit Screening Discovery

C.   Arbitration

D.   Court Proceedings

III.       Litigation Planning

A.   Pre-Filing Resolution

1.   Negotiation

2.   Alternative Dispute Resolution

B.   Plaintiff’s Considerations

1.   Legal Issues, Parties, and Causes of Action

2.   Filing Considerations

3.   Where to File—State or Federal Court?

C.   Defendant’s Considerations

Chapter 3        Statutes of Limitation

I.          General Points

A.   Statutes of Limitation

B.   Statutes of Repose

C.   Modification of Limitation Period

D.   Suspension of Limitation Period

1.   Factors That Toll Statute

2.   Facts Not Tolling Statute

E.   Commencement and Computation of Period

F.   Asserting Limitation of Action

G.   Anticipating and Responding to Limitation Defense

II.         Limitation Periods

A.   Medical Malpractice

B.   Other Torts

C.   Contract Actions

D.   Actions Concerning Property

E.   Other Actions 

Chapter 4        Subject-Matter Jurisdiction

I.          General Points

A.   Overview

B.   Related Concepts

II.         Jurisdiction of Florida Courts

A.   Circuit Courts

B.   County Courts

C.   Other Tribunals

D.   Amount in Controversy

III.       Challenging Subject-Matter Jurisdiction

Chapter 5        Venue and Forum Selection

I.          Overview

II.         Determining Venue

A.   General and Special Venue Rules

B.   Defendant’s Residence

C.   Where Cause of Action Accrued

D.   Where Property Is Located

E.   Conflicting Venue Provisions

III.       Contesting Improper Venue

A.   General Points

B.   Procedure for Challenging Improper Venue

IV.        Change From Proper Venue

A.   General Points

B.   Grounds for Changing Venue

1.   No Fair Trial or No Qualified Jury

2.   Convenience or Justice

V.         Interstate Inconvenient-Forum Doctrine

VI.        Choosing Between Federal and State Court

A.   Plaintiff’s Initial Choice

1.   Subject-Matter Jurisdiction

2.   Strategic Considerations

B.   Removal to Federal Court

1.   Strategic Considerations

2.   Grounds for Removal

3.   Notice of Removal

4.   Timing—Removal Based on Initial Pleading

5.   Timing—Removal Based on Subsequent Developments

C.   Remand to State Court

1.   General Points

2.   Motion to Remand

3.   Hearing and Disposition

Chapter 6        Parties

I.          General Points

A.   Parties

B.   Capacity

C.   Standing

II.         Capacity of Particular Persons to Sue or Be Sued

A.   Minors

1.   Minor’s Appearance Through Representative

2.   Settlement of Minor’s Claims

B.   Incompetents

C.   Other Individuals

D.   Estates and Trusts

E.   Corporations

F.   Other Entities

III.       Substitution of Parties

IV.        Joining and Dropping Parties

A.   What Parties to Include

B.   Dropping Parties

C.   Necessary and Indispensable Parties

V.         Extra Parties

A.   Third-Party Practice

B.   Interpleader

C.   Intervention

D.   Class Actions

Chapter 7        Personal Jurisdiction

I.          General Points

II.         Federal Due-Process Limits

A.   Principles

B.   Minimum Contacts

1.   Purposeful Availment

2.   General and Specific Jurisdiction

C.   Fair Play and Substantial Justice

III.       Jurisdiction Based on Presence

A.   Individuals

B.   Corporations

C.   Insurers

D.   In Rem and Quasi in Rem Jurisdiction

IV.        Jurisdiction Based on Consent

A.   Contractual Consent

B.   Waiver by Appearance

V.         Long-Arm Jurisdiction Over Nonresidents

A.   Statutory Bases

B.   Jurisdiction Based on Acts of Others

C.   Activities Constituting Doing Business in Florida

D.   Contracts, Torts, and Property

1.   General Points

2.   Specific Florida Contracts

3.   Specific Contracts and Clauses

4.   Professional Services

5.   Specific Torts

E.   Stream-of-Commerce Doctrine

F.   Family-Law Cases

VI.        Pleading and Challenging Jurisdiction

Chapter 8        Summons and Service of Process

I.          General Points

II.         Time Limits for Service of Process

A.   120-Day Limit

B.   Dismissal for Untimely Service

III.       The Summons

IV.        Who Serves Process

V.         Service by Mail

VI.        Service on Individuals

A.   Personal Delivery

B.   Substituted Service

C.   Special Types of Individual Defendants (Florida Residents)

VII.                  Service on Entities

A.   Corporations

1.   Service on Registered Agent

2.   Service on Officer or Business Agent

B.   Other Business Entities

C.   Governmental Entities

VIII.     Substitute Service on Nonresidents and Concealed Persons

A.   Who Can Be Served

B.   Procedure

IX.        Service on Statutory Agents for Business Entities

X.         Service by Publication (Constructive Service)

A.   Who May Be Served by Publication

B.   Sworn Statement

C.   Notice of Action

XI.        Service Outside Florida

XII.      Proof of Service

Chapter 9        Pleadings

I.          All Pleadings

A.   General Points

B.   Format

C.   Attached or Incorporated Documents

D.   Verification

E.   Defective Pleadings

II.         Complaints—Overview

A.   General Rules

B.   Official Forms of Pleading

C.   Before Drafting

III.       Complaints—Drafting Guidelines

A.   General Points

B.   Caption and Introductory Statement

C.   Jurisdictional Statement

D.   Parties

E.   Causes of Action (Counts)

F.   Alternative Pleading

G.   Pleading Special Matters

IV.        Complaints—Demand for Judgment

A.   General Points

B.   Damages and Punitive Damages

C.   Costs, Attorneys’ Fees, Interest, and “Other Relief”

V.         Answers—Overview

A.   Considerations Before Answering

B.   Extending Time

1.   Time to Respond

2.   Stipulation Extending Time

3.   Court Order Extending Time

C.   Requirements in General

D.   Format

VI.        Answers—Allegation Responses

A.   Admissions

B.   Denials

C.   Specific Allegation Responses

VII.                  Answers—Affirmative Defenses

A.   General Points

B.   Amending Answer to Add Affirmative Defenses

C.   Specific Affirmative Defenses

1.   All Types of Actions

2.   Contract Actions

3.   Tort Actions

VIII.     Counterclaims and Cross Claims

A.   Counterclaims

1.   General Principles

2.   Compulsory Counterclaim

3.   Who May Counterclaim

4.   Special Rules as to Parties

B.   Cross Claims

C.   Procedure

IX.        Amended Pleadings

A.   General Rules

B.   Limitations on Amendment Right

C.   Amendment Without Leave of Court

D.   Amending With Leave of Court

1.   General Points

2.   Motion for Leave to Amend

E.   Other Amendment Scenarios

X.         Replies and Supplemental Pleadings

Chapter 10   Default and Dismissal

I.          Defaults and Default Judgments

A.   In General

B.   Default Entered by Clerk

C.   Default Entered by Court

1.   When Court May Enter Default

2.   Procedure

D.   Obtaining Default Judgment

1.   In General

2.   Unliquidated Damages

E.   Setting Aside Defaults and Vacating Default Judgments

1.   General Points

2.   Relief From Default Judgment

3.   Procedure

II.         Dismissals

A.   Voluntary Dismissals

1.   By Party

2.   By Court Order

B.   Involuntary Dismissals

C.   Common Dismissal Issues

D.   Dismissal for Failure to Prosecute

1.   Bases for Dismissal

2.   Good Cause

3.   Effect of Dismissal

4.   Procedure

Chapter 11      Proposals for Settlement

I.          Overview

II.         Making and Accepting an Offer

A.   Making the Offer

B.   Withdrawal, Acceptance, and Rejection

III.       Award of Sanctions

A.   Basis for Award

B.   Determining the Comparable Amount

C.   Recoverable Sanctions

D.   Procedure

IV.        Bad Faith Defense