Supreme Court of Florida - February 2002 Opinion Summaries

WASHINGTON v. FLORIDA

Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence
A trial court's failure to instruct the jury that the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant knew about the illicit nature of a...

STATE v. WILLIAMSON

Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence
Since guilty knowledge of the illicit nature of a drug in defendant's possession is an element of the crimes of possession of a controlled substance...

DIAZ v. DIAZ

Attorney's Fees
Where the there is only a general finding that an attorney acted in bad faith, but the record does not support a specific finding of acts of bad faith...

MOAKLEY v. SMALLWOOD

Attorney's Fees
Florida trial courts have the inherent authority to impose attorneys' fees against an attorney for bad faith conduct.

ROBERTS v.TEJADA

Civil Procedure
Litigants' counsel are not required research public records concerning the litigation history of potential jurors, and attorneys are not estopped from...

OLIVE v. MASS

Attorney's Fees, Criminal Law & Procedure, Ethics & Disciplinary Code
By accepting an appointment as a registry attorney in Florida for death penalty cases, the attorney is not foreclosed from seeking compensation if it...

STATE OF FLORIDA v. B.P.

Constitutional Law, Criminal Law & Procedure, Juvenile Law
Even absent a motion to withdraw a plea, failure to advise a juvenile of his right to counsel in accordance with Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure...

DEL CAMPO BACARDI, v. DE LINDZON

Civil Procedure
The trial court does not abuse its discretion if it dismisses an action on forum non conveniens grounds when dismissal requires the plaintiff to...

PURYEAR v. STATE OF FLORIDA

Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence
A third party's testimony regarding a declarant's out-of-court description is not a statement of identification, and therefore does not constitute a...