By Matthew Akiba If you have ever bought jewelry, invested in a silver or gold bar, or inherited a family heirloom, you may have noticed that the precious metal is often stamped with intricate hallmarks. These hallmarks may indicate the purity of the precious metal, convey the year the article was manufactured, identify the maker...Read More

By Manuel Farach February 24, 2024 Kovar Law Group, PLLC v. Jordan, Case No. 2D23-279 (Fla. 4th DCA 2024). A claimant seeking unjust enrichment ordinarily bears its own fees and an award for fees under Florida Statute section 448.08 applies only to employees (not independent contractors). Green Terrace E33, LLC v. Abruzzo, Case No. 4D2022-2495...Read More

by Manny Farach Week ending January 27, 2024 Shrewsbury v. Childers, Case No. 1D2023-0750 (Fla. 1st DCA 2024). A lessee under a 99-year land lease who contests whether he, as a lessee, sufficiently “owns” real property to be assessed ad valorem taxes must still contest the tax valuation within sixty days as set forth in...Read More

by Manuel Farach November 25, 2023 Offices at Grand Bay Plaza Condominium Association, Inc. v. Grove at Grand Bay Condominium Association, Inc., Case No. 3D22-1889 (Fla. 3d DCA 2023). Even if entry of a temporary injunction is proper under law, failure to require the posting of a bond is reversible error. 2023-11-22 Offices at Grand Bay...Read More

by Manuel Farach December 16, 2023 Sarasota Tennis Club Holdings, LLC v. Country Club of Sarasota Homeowners Association, Inc., Case No. 2D22-2358 (Fla. 2d DCA 2023). A party which has a right of first refusal to purchase real property does not have the right to unjustifiably interfere with the sales contract of the property on...Read More

By  Valerie C. David This article will discuss artificial intelligence, with a specific focus on ChatGPT and its role in the legal realm. AI is Everywhere! Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) is paralleled with the same evolutionary path as the splitting of the atom.[1]  Perhaps that is why many are hesitant to embrace it.  Indeed, the “darker...Read More

By David W. Henry This article aims to identify and cure a species of mediation malpractice.  The putative error or species of mediator malpractice (so to speak) is in allowing the parties to create a document that purports to resolve the dispute but which in truth is an unenforceable agreement to agree.  “Agreements to agree”...Read More

By: Deedee Bitran, Esq. Shutts and Bowen LLP Last month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) sued a Florida-based McDonald’s franchisee (Houcorp, Inc.) for allegedly failing to accommodate a deaf job applicant under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The Complaint alleges that a job applicant who is hard of hearing requested and was denied...Read More

By Christopher DeCort On April 27, 2023, the Florida Supreme Court issued an opinion in which it further amended Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.530 to require motions for rehearing to preserve for appeal challenges based upon a trial court’s “failure to make required findings of fact” (rather than “the sufficiency of trial court’s findings”). The...Read More

Dennis LeVine, Brock & Scott, PLLC Fraud by auto repair shops and towing companies cause lenders to lose their liens on vehicles and incur multi-million-dollar losses.   In 2019, the Florida Legislature significantly amended the vehicle repair shop lien statute to address rampant fraud in Florida by vehicle repair shops.  This effort began with a letter from...Read More