Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Louis DeMARCO, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
The appellant challenges the summary denial of his motion for postconviction relief pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. We issued an order to show cause to the state, to which it did not respond. We reverse in part the order summarily denying relief. We remand to allow the appellant to amend his motion to file a facially sufficient motion, as required by Spera v. State, 971 So.2d 754 (Fla.2007), as to his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel for failure to investigate and failure to call witnesses. As to his claim regarding his attorney's conflict of interest, we remand for an evidentiary hearing on that issue. See State v. Larzelere, 979 So.2d 195, 208 (Fla.2008); Burnside v. State, 656 So.2d 241, 243-44 (Fla. 5th DCA 1995) (“A situation in which the attorney's own interests diverge from those of the client presents the same core problem presented in the multiple representation cases: the attorney's fealty to the client is compromised.”) (quoting United States v. Fulton, 5 F.3d 605, 609 (2d Cir.1993)).
We also reverse on his claim of ineffective assistance in failing to preserve issues for appeal and remand for the court to attach portions of the record conclusively refuting this ground or for an evidentiary hearing. The record attached does not conclusively refute the allegations that failure to preserve various issues at trial constituted ineffective assistance of counsel. See Carratelli v. State, 961 So.2d 312 (Fla.2007); Diaz v. State, 980 So.2d 1275, 1278 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008) (in determining whether counsel is ineffective for failing to preserve issues for appeal, the proper standard is to determine “the effect of defense counsel's deficient performance on the original trial outcome,” not on appeal). As to the remaining allegations, we affirm.
WARNER, J.
STEVENSON and MAY, JJ., concur.
Thank you for your feedback!
As the largest network of trusted legal brands, we help firms build authority across the platforms consumers and AI systems rely on most. Our network helps attorneys strengthen visibility, credibility, and preference where legal decisions begin.
Docket No: No. 4D08-1647.
Decided: September 24, 2008
Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida,Fourth District.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)