Legal Topics

Torts — Negligence — Automobile accident — New trial — Verdict against manifest weight of evidence — Jury’s verdict in favor of defendant cannot be said to be against manifest weight of evidence where evidence on issue of fault was conflicting — Court will not speculate as to whether verdict demonstrated jury’s misunderstanding of the law governing evidence and/or liability where it is at least as likely that jurors understood law and concluded that plaintiff had not met his burden of proof — Evidence — Defendant’s statements about vehicle speed did not violate pretrial order prohibiting testimony, suggestion, or reference to speed of plaintiff’s vehicle by defendant or defense counsel — Moreover, new trial would not be warranted where testimony was not so prejudicial as to vitiate entire trial and was invited error — Amended motion for new trial denied
Oct 07th, 2025 in by admin

RODNEY ONEAL MACKEY, II, Plaintiff, v. MICHAEL PORTA, Defendant. Circuit Court, 2nd Judicial Circuit in and for Gadsden County. Case No. 2024 CA 000242. May 28, 2025. David Frank, Judge. Counsel: Tyler B. Everett, Morgan & Morgan, P.A., Tallahassee, for…


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Paternity — Child custody — Parental responsibility and parenting plan — Sole parental responsibility — Best interests of child — Abandonment by parent — Father abandoned child when child was a toddler by failing to establish or maintain substantial and positive relationship and failing to make any significant contribution to child’s care and maintenance — Family ordered to comply with parenting plan that does not include shared parental responsibility between mother and father — Reunification with father is not viable option, and there will be no time-sharing — It is in child’s best interests to remain with mother and not return to El Salvador where father resides
Oct 03rd, 2025 in by admin

YESICA ELIZABETH MERINO RIVAS, Petitioner/Mother, v. DIEGO EDGARDO AVALOS SANCHEZ, Respondent/Father. Circuit Court, 2nd Judicial Circuit in and for Gadsden County. Case No. 24-000860-DRA. Family Division. April 15, 2025. David M. Frank, Judge. Counsel: Erika Britt Nyborg-Burch, Public Interest Law…


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