Florida Case Commentaries

Affirmation of Death Penalty in First-Degree Murder: Ronald J. Straight v. State of Florida

Date: Jun 3, 1981

Affirmation of Death Penalty in First-Degree Murder: Ronald J. Straight v. State of Florida Introduction The case of Ronald J. Straight v. State of Florida (397 So. 2d 903) was adjudicated by the...

Affirmation of First-Degree Murder Conviction and Death Sentence in Palmes v. State of Florida

Date: May 21, 1981

Affirmation of First-Degree Murder Conviction and Death Sentence in Palmes v. State of Florida Introduction Palmes v. State of Florida is a pivotal case adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Florida on...

Establishing Reliability of Anonymous Tips in Stop and Frisk Procedures: Insights from State of Florida v. Webb

Date: May 15, 1981

Establishing Reliability of Anonymous Tips in Stop and Frisk Procedures: Insights from State of Florida v. Webb Introduction State of Florida v. Webb (398 So.2d 820, 1981) is a pivotal case...

Peek v. State of Florida: Upholding Capital Conviction Amidst Evidentiary and Sentencing Disputes

Date: Apr 28, 1981

Peek v. State of Florida: Upholding Capital Conviction Amidst Evidentiary and Sentencing Disputes Introduction Peek v. State of Florida, 1981, is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of Florida...

Limiting Incarceration as a Condition of Probation to One Year: LULA M. VILLERY v. The Florida Parole and Probation Commission

Date: Apr 24, 1981

Limiting Incarceration as a Condition of Probation to One Year: LULA M. VILLERY v. The Florida Parole and Probation Commission Introduction The case of Lula M. Villery v. The Florida Parole and...

Revised Standard Jury Instructions in Florida Criminal and Misdemeanor Cases: A Comprehensive Analysis

Date: Apr 17, 1981

Revised Standard Jury Instructions in Florida Criminal and Misdemeanor Cases: A Comprehensive Analysis Introduction On April 16, 1981, the Supreme Court of Florida rendered a pivotal judgment in "In...

Florida's Section 893.135 Upholds Mandatory Drug Trafficking Penalties

Date: Apr 14, 1981

Florida's Section 893.135 Upholds Mandatory Drug Trafficking Penalties Introduction The case of State of Florida, Appellant, v. Carlos M. Benitez and Esperanza Benitez, Appellees (395 So.2d 514)...

KNIGHT v. STATE of Florida: Establishing Standards for Effective Assistance of Appellate Counsel in Death Penalty Cases

Date: Feb 25, 1981

KNIGHT v. STATE of Florida: Establishing Standards for Effective Assistance of Appellate Counsel in Death Penalty Cases Introduction Thomas KNIGHT v. STATE of Florida, 394 So. 2d 997 (1981),...

Corporate Vicarious Liability for Punitive Damages Requires Employer Fault: Analysis of Mercury Motors Express, Inc. v. Smith

Date: Jan 23, 1981

Corporate Vicarious Liability for Punitive Damages Requires Employer Fault: Analysis of Mercury Motors Express, Inc. v. Smith Introduction MERCURY MOTORS EXPRESS, INC. v. PATRICIA LYNN SMITH is a...

Florida Supreme Court Reinforces Individual Standards in Habeas Corpus for Death Sentences

Date: Jan 16, 1981

Florida Supreme Court Reinforces Individual Standards in Habeas Corpus for Death Sentences Introduction In the landmark case of Joseph Green Brown et al. v. Louie L. Wainwright, the Supreme Court of...

Florida Supreme Court Upholds Fraudulent Misrepresentation Claims Without Pre-Investigation

Date: Dec 23, 1980

Florida Supreme Court Upholds Fraudulent Misrepresentation Claims Without Pre-Investigation Introduction In Merle E. Besett, Irene D. Besett, and C. Joe Czerwinski v. Robert K. Basnett and Barbara L....

Florida Supreme Court Affirms Judicial Discretion and Burden of Proof in Capital Bail Cases

Date: Nov 21, 1980

Florida Supreme Court Affirms Judicial Discretion and Burden of Proof in Capital Bail Cases Introduction The case of State of Florida v. Danny W. Arthur, adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Florida...

Finality vs. Fairness: Limited Application of Post-Conviction Relief in Capital Cases - JOHNNY PAUL WITT v. STATE OF FLORIDA

Date: Oct 14, 1980

Finality vs. Fairness: Limited Application of Post-Conviction Relief in Capital Cases JOHNNY PAUL WITT v. STATE OF FLORIDA, 387 So. 2d 922 (1980) Introduction The case of Johnny Paul WITT v. STATE of...

Insurer's Duty in Settlement Offers: Insights from Boston Old Colony Ins. Co. v. Gutierrez

Date: Sep 5, 1980

Insurer's Duty in Settlement Offers: Insights from Boston Old Colony Ins. Co. v. Gutierrez Introduction The case of Boston Old Colony Insurance Company v. Raul Gutierrez, adjudicated by the Supreme...

JENKINS v. STATE of Florida: Limiting Supreme Court Jurisdiction Over Per Curiam Decisions

Date: Jun 27, 1980

JENKINS v. STATE of Florida: Limiting Supreme Court Jurisdiction Over Per Curiam Decisions Introduction The case of Philip H. JENKINS v. STATE of Florida, 385 So. 2d 1356 (Fla. 1980), presented a...

Right to Evidentiary Hearing under Rule 3.850 for Ineffective Assistance Claims: MEEKS v. STATE of Florida

Date: May 20, 1980

Right to Evidentiary Hearing under Rule 3.850 for Ineffective Assistance Claims: MEEKS v. STATE of Florida Introduction MEEKS v. STATE of Florida (382 So.2d 673, 1980) is a pivotal Supreme Court of...

Establishing Criteria for State-Funded Legal Representation in Juvenile Dependency Proceedings

Date: May 17, 1980

Establishing Criteria for State-Funded Legal Representation in Juvenile Dependency Proceedings Introduction The Supreme Court of Florida's decision in In the Interest of D.B. and D.S. (1980)...

AFFIRMATION OF FLORIDA'S HABITUAL OFFENDER STATUTE UNDER DUE PROCESS: Eutsey v. State of Florida (1980)

Date: Apr 25, 1980

Affirmation of Florida's Habitual Offender Statute under Due Process: Eutsey v. State of Florida (1980) Introduction Case: Eutsey v. State of Florida, 383 So.2d 219 (Fla. 1980) Court: Supreme Court...

Florida Supreme Court Reaffirms Alimony Discretion and Clarifies 'Special Equity' in CANAKARIS v. CANAKARIS

Date: Mar 28, 1980

Florida Supreme Court Reaffirms Alimony Discretion and Clarifies 'Special Equity' in CANAKARIS v. CANAKARIS Introduction CANAKARIS v. CANAKARIS, 382 So. 2d 1197 (Fla. 1980), is a seminal case in...

Defining 'Special Equity' and 'Exclusive Possession' in Divorce Proceedings: Insights from DUNCAN v. DUNCAN

Date: Feb 1, 1980

Defining 'Special Equity' and 'Exclusive Possession' in Divorce Proceedings: Insights from DUNCAN v. DUNCAN Introduction Dorothy Nell Duncan v. Tommy David Duncan, 379 So.2d 949 (Fla. 1980), is a...