Judicial Attire: Black Is the New Black – Florida Supreme Court Emphasizes Solemnity of Judicial Office

In Re: Amendments to The Florida Rules of Judicial Administration - New Rule 2.340, Case No. SC15-497 (Fla. Sept. 10, 2015) Have you ever wondered why judges and justices wear robes, especially black robes? The tradition of wearing judicial robes dates back to the judges of the King’s Bench in 15th century England. Some courts...

Fourth DCA: Ruling Designating Keys Father Primary Residential Parent When Child Begins School Does Not Constitute Improper Prospective Relocation Order

Fourth DCA: Ruling Designating Keys Father Primary Residential Parent When Child Begins School Does Not Constitute Improper Prospective Relocation Order Krift v. Obenour, Case No. 4D13-1151 (Fla. 4th DCA, November 5, 2014) Bresky Law recently obtained a decision in our client’s favor in the Fourth DCA in a case regarding timesharing where the parties live greater...

Motions for Recusal: Effective Tool for Litigants Faced With Judges They Perceive as Biased

Motions for Recusal: Effective Tool for Litigants Faced With Judges They Perceive as Biased In addition to handling appeals, Bresky Law frequently provides litigation support to attorneys and sometimes to pro se litigants (individuals who represent themselves without an attorney appearing on their behalf). Our firm recently assisted a pro se litigant in successfully obtaining...

Fourth DCA: Florida Courts Lack Jurisdiction to Order Debtor to Turn Over Property Located Outside of Florida to Satisfy Judgment Debt

Fourth DCA: Florida Courts Lack Jurisdiction to Order Debtor to Turn Over Property Located Outside of Florida to Satisfy Judgment Debt Harry Sargeant III, Mustafa Abu-Naba’a, and International Oil Trading Co., LLC v. Mohammed Anwar Fari Al-Saleh, Case No. 4D13-1447 The Fourth District Court of Appeal (“Fourth DCA”) recently decided an important case regarding the power...

Fourth DCA: Contempt Unavailable to Force Payment of Mortgage on Marital Home by Spouse Who Received Home in Dissolution of Marriage Proceeding

Fourth DCA: Contempt Unavailable to Force Payment of Mortgage on Marital Home by Spouse Who Received Home in Dissolution of Marriage Proceeding A common problem we have seen spouses encounter following divorce involves responsibility for the mortgage on the marital home. Family courts often award one spouse the marital home in equitable distribution. However, the...

Bresky Law Obtains Reversal of Order That Landlord Return “Advance Rent” Following Proper Termination of Tenant’s Lease

Bresky Law Obtains Reversal of Order That Landlord Return “Advance Rent” Following Proper Termination of Tenant’s Lease Bresky Law recently obtained reversal of a final judgment following trial, which ordered a landlord of residential property to return a large sum of rent to a former tenant. The evidence showed that the tenants had made one...

Firm Obtains Reversal of Temporary Attorney’s Fees Award in Modification of Alimony Proceedings

Bresky Law Obtains Reversal of Temporary Attorney’s Fees Award in Modification of Alimony Proceedings Giorlando v. Giorlando, 4D12-1220 Bresky Law recently won reversal of a trial court’s award of temporary attorney’s fees and costs in a petition for modification of alimony. The parties’ marriage was previously dissolved and a marital settlement agreement (“MSA”) was incorporated in...

Possession Determinations Give Power To Bring Non-Final Appeals

“Possession Determinations Give Power To Bring Non-Final Appeals”: Fourth DCA Clarifies That Order Must Direct Immediate Possession To Qualify As Appealable Non-Final Order Florida Atlantic Stock Transfer, Inc., v. Smith, 4D11-2955 Florida Atlantic Stock Transfer (“FAST”), a stock transfer agent, appealed from an order in an interpleader action it filed in a dispute over the transfer...

Take Notice: Fourth DCA Reverses Summary Judgment of Foreclosure Where Homeowner Claimed Bank Failed to Provide Notice

Finnegan v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., 4D11-939 Deutsche Bank filed a mortgage foreclosure action alleging that Finnegan had failed to make payments on the promissory note. Deutsche Bank claimed that all conditions precedent to acceleration of the note, and the foreclosure action, had occurred. The mortgage document specified as a condition precedent that Deutsche...

Specificity Required: Fourth DCA Holds Modification of Custody Was Not a Condition Precedent to Modification of Alimony Under Marital Settlement Agreement

Cook v. Cook, 4D11-2561 The parties were married for nineteen years and had four children. They filed for dissolution of marriage, and their marriage was later dissolved by a final judgment that incorporated a marital settlement agreement (“MSA”). The MSA set a specific child support obligation for the former husband. The MSA also set a...