Thursday, November 13, 2014

ADR Rules and Policy Proposes Amendments, New Rules

In a major development, The Supreme Court of Florida's Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules and Policy is proposing amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules, Family Law Rules, and brand-new Florida Rules for Court-Appointed Alternative Dispute Resolution Neutrals Regarding Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes for which No Other Supreme Court Rules or Standards for Professional Conduct Exist. According to The Florida Bar News, the Court is inviting all interested persons to comment on the proposed amendments, which appear online at-- http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/decisions/proposed.shtml. All comments must be filed on or before December 15, 2014, with a certificate of service verifying that a copy has been served on Committee Chair, Hon. William D. Palmer, Fifth District Court of Appeal, 300 South Beach Street, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 or palmerw@flcourts.org, and on staff to the Committee, Susan C. Marvin, Dispute Resolution Center, Florida Supreme Court Building, 500 South Duval Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 or marvins@flcourts.org, as well as a separate request for oral argument if commenters wish to participate in oral argument, which may be scheduled on this case. The Committee Chair has until January 5, 2015, to file a response to any comments filed with the Court. If filed by an attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar, the comment must be electronically filed in accordance with In re Electronic Filing in the Supreme Court of Florida via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC13-7 (Feb. 18, 2013). See more information here-- http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/decisions/proposed.shtml#altdispute