Administrative Order Viewer

In the County Courts of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit
in and for Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto Counties, Florida

Administrative Order No. 2021–17.1

In accordance with Article V, section 7, Florida Constitution, section 43.26, Florida Statutes, and pursuant to the authority vested in Rule 2.215, Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration, establishing a Standing Order and case management report for civil case management in county court that addresses the parties’ responsibilities in original actions is necessary for the efficient and proper administration of justice.

Now, therefore, it is ordered as follows

1. A Standing Order for county court civil case management, attached as “Attachment A”, and a County Civil Case Management Report, attached as “Attachment B”, shall be filed with all county civil complaints, except for eviction complaints or other summary proceedings filed under section 51.011, Florida Statutes.
2. The Clerks of Court in Sarasota, Manatee, and Desoto Counties are directed to require that any county civil complaint or petition filed, except for eviction complaints or other summary proceedings filed under section 51.011, Florida Statutes, have a copy of this Standing Order for County Civil Case Management and the County Civil Case Management Report attached thereto.
3. The Clerk of Court is directed to reject any new County Civil Complaint/Petition (not including evictions or other summary proceedings) that does not include this Standing Order and County Civil Case Management Report.
4. All Plaintiffs shall include in their initial filing of a case a copy of this Standing Order and County Civil Case Management Report and serve a copy of this Standing Order and Case Management Report upon all Defendants with the initial process. It is the responsibility of the Petitioner and/or Petitioner’s counsel to provide the Respondent with a copy of the Standing Order and County Civil Case Management Report by including it with the petition at the time of service.
5. Failure to comply with the terms of the standing order may result in appropriate sanctions against the offending party.
6. This Administrative Order is effective October 11, 2021 and shall remain in effect until amended by further administrative order of the Chief Judge.

Done and ordered in Sarasota County, Florida, this 27^th day of September, 2021.

Charles E. Roberts
Chief Judge

“Attachment A”

In the County Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit
in and for Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto Counties, Florida

Issued Pursuant to Administrative Order 2021–17.1

Standing Order for County Court Civil Case Management

(For General Track and Streamlined Cases)

The following Standing Order for County Civil Cases applies to all County Civil cases, except eviction and other summary proceedings filed under 51.011, Florida Statutes. The Twelfth Judicial Circuit’s County Civil Case Management Protocol directs the Clerks of Court in Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto Counties to require that any County Civil Complaint, except for eviction complaints or other summary proceedings filed under section 51.011, Florida Statutes, have a copy of this Standing Order for County Civil Case Management and the County Civil Case Management Report attached hereto.

1. The parties shall meet and confer within 30 days after the last party is served with initial process to discuss, and jointly complete, the Case Management Report. The parties must submit the completed Case Management Report to the Court within 5 days after the initial meet and confer.
2. The Court’s expectation is that the parties in most cases will agree to various deadlines in the Case Management Report and will not have to appear at an Initial Case Management Conference. If, however, there is disagreement on completing the Case Management Report, the parties must appear at an Initial Case Management Conference.
3. Based on the Case Management Report, the Court will enter a Case Management Order, a Trial Order, or both. The Case Management Order will tell the parties whether they are excused from attending an Initial Case Management, and it will set various deadlines that will govern the progression of the case. The parties must adhere to these deadlines unless changed by the Court upon a showing of good cause. Procrastination in completing discovery or the known unavailability of counsel not timely addressed will not constitute good cause for a change to these deadlines. The failure to abide by these deadlines may result in sanctions by the Court, including the award of attorney’s fees, the striking of pleadings, and/or a dismissal of the action.
4. This case has been designated either as a “streamlined” or a “general track” case. General track and jury cases should be disposed of within 18 months of filing, and streamlined and non-jury cases should be disposed of within 12 months of filing. See Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.250(a)(1)(B). Parties who seek an extended trial date beyond these time standards may be required to appear at an Initial Case Management Conference.
5. For small claims cases that proceed under one or more of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, pursuant to Fla. Sm. Cl. R. 7.020(c) if the deadline for the trial date specified in Fla. Sm. Cl. R. 7.090(d) no longer applies in the case, the Court shall attach this Standing Order and the Case Management Report to any Order invoking the Rules of Civil Procedure.
6. The parties, or their attorneys, shall meet and confer within 30 days after the last party is served with initial process, or order invoking Rules of Civil Procedure is entered, to meet, confer, and jointly complete the Case Management Report.
7. The parties or their counsel shall file the signed, completed Case Management Report within 5 days after the first meet and confer conference. Concurrently, the parties shall provide a copy of that Case Management Report to the assigned judge’s designated email, copying all parties. If there is no agreement, each party shall file their proposed Case Management Report and concurrently email the Court’s judicial assistant with it, copying all parties.
8. The attorneys shall comply with the Local Rules of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit and the Standards of Professionalism of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, each of which is posted on the Court’s website: www.jud12.flcourts.org.

Done and ordered in Sarasota County, Florida, on this 27^th day of September, 2021.

Charles E. Roberts
Chief Judge