Topic: Attorneys' Fees

HB 7037, which has sparked a fight between community association managers and a section of the Florida Bar, still needs Senate approval.

A battle between community association managers and a section of the Florida Bar is getting testy in the legislative session's final days.

The managers of homeowners associations are hoping bills pending in the Legislation will prevent their duties from being designated the unlicensed practice of law.

Employees will be trained in requirements of Florida official documents laws. It clarifies that a records request does not need to be in writing and the fee charged is limited to the cost of the lowest paid worker capable of fulfilling the request.

Measures to define community associaiton manager practices as protected from criminal penalties associated with the unlicensed practice of law moved through the House Civil Justice Subcommittee.

Managers of homeowners associations fear a pending decision from the Florida Supreme Court could cement a move by The Florida Bar to declare some of their activities the unlicensed practice of law. ... Related Research: May 15, 2013 Proposed Advisory Opinion - FAO #2012-2, Activities of Community Association Managers, and The Florida Bar - Formal Advisory Opinion Request Regarding Community Association Managers.

A $14 million "secret settlement" and fee division from "bad faith" claims are involved in dispute that had led to a Judicial Qualifications Commission investigation of the conduct of Judge Laura Marie Watson. ... Related Research: Judicial Qualifications Commission Notice of Formal Charges of Judge Laura Marie Watson of Florida's 17th Judicial Circuit.

A proposed committee bill would increase sovereign immunity caps on local governments to $3 million for individuals and $4.5 million per incident, but leave the current $300,000 cap intact for the state government. ... Related Research: Meeting materials and video.

HB 87 continues its progress in the House as Florida's court system asks a Senate panel for more funding to help clear the glut of foreclosures stuck in the system. ... Related Research: March 6, 2013 meeting materials from the House Justice Appropriations Committee and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee.

Here's what passed, what failed and what you need to know about issues affecting justice and courts. Attempts to privatize prisons failed, but the final state budget that was approved would close six prisons across the state but spare the rural Jefferson Correctional Institution.

The Brody family has traveled to Tallahassee in recent years to push for the bill's passage. They were in attendance at the Capitol last year on the final day of session when the House failed to take up the bill as the chamber warred with the Senate over budget conforming bills.

Sen. Joe Negron, the senator who will help craft the Senate's rewrite of the no-fault auto insurance law, says any proposal to limit attorneys' fees must be applied equally to both sides.

An insurance trade group doesn't recommend increasing the current $10,000 PIP benefit level because, they say, it would increase premiums.

Despite a similar piece of legislation actually getting voted down in a House committee, the provision is added to an unrelated budget conforming bill that deals with criminal justice funding issues. Trial attorney representative says legislators should reject "back door deal" and "restore integrity to the legislative process."