Florida’s Construction Defect Statute provides an opportunity to resolve construction defect claims prior to litigation. It was instituted to streamline construction defect claims and encourage early alternative dispute resolution. Pursuant to Chapter 558, a claimant...
Marks Gray P.A.
Prior Restraint – Tried but Never Affirmed
The Bill of Rights enshrines the rights to free speech and free press in our Constitution. Yet since the beginning of our republic, various compartments of our government have tried (and always failed) to impose prior restraint on those rights by invoking court power...
FAQs about Florida Probate
Co-authored by Sharon L. Palmer, ACP, FRP For most people, probating an estate is uncharted territory that brings up many questions and concerns. Here are a few of the frequently asked questions our office receives. What is “Probate”? The term “probate” is used to...
The Risk of Public Statements about Someone’s Behavior
With apologies to my academic friends: it is sometimes said that arguments in academia are especially vehement because the stakes are so low. However, from the perspective of Florida community college professor Isabel Del Pino-Allen, the stakes in her defamation...
Required Minimum Distributions Part 3 – Death of IRA Owner
Co–authored by Kristine M. Scott, Estate Planning Associate We have discussed the basics of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and how to use them to fund charitable giving. But what happens when a family member passes away owning an IRA? While dealing with the...
Does Florida’s Journalist Privilege Apply to Unsolicited Information? How Can It Not?
On December 1, 2014, Travel Weekly published a glowing article about former Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Colin Veitch, calling him a “visionary” and maybe “the most influential and creative cruise CEO of the past decade”. Veitch’s successor as CEO, Kevin Sheehan, took...
HB 459: Will Your Trade Secrets Become Public Records?
If you do business with the state of Florida, you may no longer be able to rely on a trade secrets exemption to hide related contracts or financial data from the public. Currently, certain public records can be kept private if they contain trade secrets. In 2016, the...
Probate Administration in Florida
Co-authored by Sharon L. Palmer, ACP, FRP Life can be a whirlwind after the death of a loved one, especially when one is unfamiliar with the legal system and what is required to get assets properly transferred to beneficiaries. We began our series to help you get...