Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. Big Bend Chapter

See the Headnotes for September and October!

UPDATE: This CLE will now be held virtually. Those who RSVP will be provided with the video link prior to the CLE.

Please join us for our next VIRTUAL CLE on Thursday, October 17 to learn about things like
• How is someone determined to be incapacitated?
• What options are there to assist the incapacitated person who hasn’t been adjudicated incapacitated?
• Options to assist the incapacitated person in the least restrictive alternative to guardianship.

Please RSVP by Tuesday, October 15 at [email protected]

We hope to see you there!

Paralegal volunteers needed! The next free legal clinic is set for Saturday, October 19, 2024 from 9:30am-11:30am at Nims Middle School. If you are able to volunteer your time, please email Asha Mahraj-Lucas at [email protected].

The Big Bend Chapter of the Paralegal Association of Florida has a team walking in the Strides of Leon Breast Cancer Walk on October 20, 2024. We would love for you to join our team and help save the tatas! Please email Carlie Duquette at [email protected] with any questions.

You can register to join our team here: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/TR?team_id=2770506&pg=team&fr_id=108722

If you can't join the walk but would like to donate, you can do so by using the same link above.

Additional information about the event can be found here: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?fr_id=108722&pg=entry

Making Strides of Leon

Sunday, October 20, 2024

Cascades Park

1001 S Gadsden St, Tallahassee, FL

Good morning! See the attached Court closure notice regarding all local districts. Please be safe during the storm.

The following Committees are vacant and need you. Please email Carlie Duquette if you are interested or want to know more information at: [email protected].
Membership (2-3 people)

The Membership Committee shall be responsible for encouraging membership in the Chapter.

Education (3-4 people)
1. Continuing Legal Education: The Education Committee shall be responsible for encouraging the continuing legal education of Chapter members and for working with the Seminar/Speaker Committee to provide opportunities for continuing legal education through monthly speakers and seminars.

2. Paralegal Programs: The Education Committee shall be responsible for maintaining a relationship with Tallahassee Community College (TCC), Keiser University, and any other local paralegal programs, and for assisting in whatever way possible to further the paralegal profession.

3. Scholarship Program: The Education Committee shall be responsible for administering the Chapter Scholarship Program for eligible paralegal applicants. The Chapter Scholarship Program shall include, but not be limited to, (a) Student Scholarships and (b) Career Development Scholarships. The duties will include receiving applications; conducting interviews with the applicants, their instructors and/or employers; as deemed appropriate or necessary by the Education Committee Chair; and recommending to the Executive Board those persons who should be awarded Chapter Scholarships.

Public Relations/Publicity Committee (Chairperson +1)
The Public Relations/Publicity Committee shall be responsible for promoting the Chapter and its activities to the public. This shall include the preparation and publication of news releases to legal journals, newspapers, local bar newsletters, PAF publications, and other local media such as radio and television.
Bar Liaison (1 person)

The Bar Liaison Committee may consist of only one (1) person. The Committee shall be responsible for representing the Chapter membership at Tallahassee Bar Association meetings and for promoting good relations between the Bar and the Chapter. The Committee shall seek opportunities for joint participation by the Bar and the Chapter in activities such as Law Week and Partners in Excellence.

Seminar/Speaker Committee (2-3 people)
The Seminar/Speaker Committee shall be responsible for organizing and hosting one seminar per year including any quarterly seminars which are requested by PAF The Committee is also responsible for assisting the President and Vice President in soliciting speakers for monthly meetings. The Committee is charged with setting and collecting fees for seminars and for preparing and presenting a report to the Executive Board and membership by the next Executive Board meeting or general membership meeting held after the conclusion of any seminar, whichever first occurs.
Elections Committee (2-3 people)

At least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the annual meeting, the President shall appoint the Committee on Elections. At least ninety (90) days prior to the annual meeting, the Committee shall issue a call for declarations of candidacy. The duties of the Committee shall also include receiving declarations, verifying the qualifications of candidates for office, preparation of the ballot for elections, presiding over nominations from the floor at the elections, and presiding over the elections at the annual meeting. The Committee shall also act as tellers for the election, tallying the votes and announcing the winners.

Audit Committee (2-3 people)
The Audit Committee shall submit a report of a completed audit of the Chapter’s financial transactions for the previous fiscal year no later than May 30 of the following year, and submit the Report to the President of the Chapter who will present it to the Board and to PAF.

Veteran’s Memorial Park in Pensacola, Florida was installed on October 24, 1992, is referred to as “Pensacola’s Jewel on the Bay,” and holds several monuments honoring US armed forces killed in action or missing in action including a three-dimensional mural of fallen soldiers, a Submarine Lifeguard League Memorial, a Purple Heart Memorial, a Korean War Memorial, and most recently a Revolutionary War Memorial.

Lieutenant James R. Polkinghorne, Jr., born in Pensacola on June 16, 1921, was the first Florida A&M College “FAMC” (now FAMU) student to be accepted into the U.S. Army Air Corps (now U.S. Army Air Forces) and assigned to the 301st Fighter Squadron, one of the four squads known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Lt. Polkinghorne enlisted after completing his junior year in May 1942. On May 5, 1944, Lt. Polkinghorne disappeared during combat over Italy, was presumed shot down, and was later declared dead. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart medal and is listed on the Tallahassee Aviation Wall of Fame inside the Tallahassee International Airport.

The National Naval Aviation Museum (formerly, National Museum of Naval Aviation and Naval Aviation Museum) in Pensacola, Florida was founded in 1962 and is home to more than 150 restored aircrafts, including the Curtiss NC-4, the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic. Visit the museum this summer to enjoy flight simulators, catch a show on one of the world’s largest IMAX screens, and watch the Blue Angels flight practice.

Located in St. Augustine, Florida, Castillo de San Marcos (“St. Mark’s Castle”) was built by the Spanish between 1672 and 1695 to defend their New World territory. The walls of the fort were virtually shatter-proof and were tested in 1702 by Governor James Moore, Sr. of Charleston and again in 1740 by General James Edward Oglethorpe.

Efforts to breach the fort failed miserably as cannons simply bounced off the walls or sunk. This fort has been under the government of Spain (1695-1763), Great Britain (1763-1783), Spain (17843-1821 following the Revolutionary War), and the United States (1821-present, with 1861-1865 under the Confederate States of America). To learn more, visit National Park Service or St. Augustine.

Of Interest:

Case No. 23-6049, Manning v. State of Florida: US Supreme Court rejects constitutional challenges to Florida’s six-member juries for felony cases (versus 12-member juries). Follow the hyperlink to the Brief in Opposition, written by the Office of the Attorney General.

According to a 2023 study done by 24/7 Wall Street, Florida has the 3rd largest population of overall military personnel of the 50 states with its Air Force personnel being the 2nd largest, Navy & Marine Corps personnel the 4th largest, and its Army the 13th largest. It is no surprise that Florida was ranked #4 in the Department of Defense’s 2022 Fiscal Year report of the top 10 states in which the US military spends the most money. Whatever the cost, we honor and remember our men and women who paid the ultimate price so we can have our freedom to be who we are, Americans. Take the time read or visit one of Florida’s Veterans’ Memorials, located in the capital city, Tallahassee or other Military Monuments and Memorials in Florida and test your knowledge…Do you know Florida’s history like you think you know Florida? (answers below):
1. This Fort, made from coral stone called coquina, is known as the oldest masonry fort in the United States.
2. This museum is known as “the world’s largest Naval Aviation” showcase spreading over 37 acres with 350,000 square feet of exhibits and is a great place to spot the famed Blue Angels flight team at practice.
3. In 2019, FAMU Village located on the west side of Florida A&M University’s campus was renamed to commemorate this Pensacola-born former student, service member, and Tuskegee Airmen lost in WWII.
4. What Revolutionary War battles were fought in Florida?
5. This park has the only permanent half-scale replica of Washington’s National Vietnam Memorial known as the “Wall South.”

Of Interest:

HB 5401: New Judgeships: establishes new circuit court judge positions in the First Judicial and Twentieth Judicial Circuit and county court judgeship in Columbia, Hillsborough, Orange, and Santa Rosa County.

Summer begins with the solstice on Thursday, June 20, 2024, marking the astronomical first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Tell us your favorite things to do during the summer?

CONTEST ALERT - Joann Gore from Lexitas is giving away a $25 gift card to a randomly chosen paralegal who likes, comments and shares this post! The winner will be contacted by DM for details of delivery of the gift card.

Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery.

Tell us what ways you and your family are celebrating today?

CONTEST ALERT - Brennan Fogarty from Accurate Serve is giving away admission for 2 adults to a local Tallahassee museum in support of today's Emancipation events. What a great way to get to know more about our local community and history. A winner who likes, comments and shares this post will be chosen randomly and contacted by DM for details of delivery of the giveaway.

In honor of International Picnic Day - tell us where is your favorite place to picnic?

CONTEST ALERT - Joann Gore from Lexitas is giving away a $25 gift card to a randomly chosen member of the Big Bend Chapter who likes, comments and shares this post! The winner will be contacted by DM for details of delivery of the gift card.

Reminder of the Big Bend Chapter CLE was changed to Wednesday, June 26, 2024, from Noon- 1pm with an RSVP by June 25, 2024, via email to Pamela Bickett: [email protected]. Sorry for the change in information. The picture provided was from the prior announcement.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, the not yet dads, the stepdads, the moms who are dad, the adoptive dads, the grandads, and the dads who are no longer with us.

Share your favorite memory of your father figure!

Heads up followers of our page! We have 3 celebrations next week and commenters may receive a prize! Like, comment and share next week's posts to join.

SC2023-0962: Florida Supreme Court opinion issued May 23, 2024, effective January 1, 2025, amends the following Florida Rules of Civil Procedure (follow the hyperlink to read the full opinion and review the appendix reflecting all the new language, strikes, deletions, etc. to these rules. The below information is an abridged summary):
o Rule 1.200 Case Management; Pretrial Procedure: 1) requires that within 120 days, cases must be assigned to one of the three management tracks ~ complex, general, or streamlined. 2) for any general or streamlined cases, the court must issue a case management order that “specifies the projected or actual trial period based on the case track assignment, consistent with administrative orders entered by the chief
judge of the circuit” and must include at least eight specified deadlines. 3) the court can set case management conferences at any time or on proper notice by a party. If a CMC is noticed by a party, the notice must identify the specific issues to be
addressed at the CMC and must provide a list of all pending motions.
o Rule 1.201 Complex Litigation: the court may, but is not required to, hold a hearing to determine if a case should be designated as complex. Parties are required to immediately notify the court if a CMC or hearing time becomes unnecessary. This rule expressly states that motions for trial continuances are governed by Rule 1.460.
o Rule 1.280 General Provisions Governing Discovery: requires initial discovery disclosures “within 60 days after the service of the complaint or joinder, unless a different time is set by court order.” This rule also imposes parties’ “duty to supplement discovery.”
o Rule 1.440 Setting Action for Trial: requires the court to enter order “fixing the trial period 45 days before any projected trial period in a case management order.”
o Rule 1.460 Motions to Continue Trial: states that motions to continue trial are disfavored and should rarely be granted and only upon good cause. This rule also expresses that sanctions can be imposed for any continuance granted based on the “dilatory conduct of an attorney or named party.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR CONTENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THIS NEWSLETTER?

PLEASE EMAIL GRACE HERON-NOLAN BY THE 15TH OF THE MONTH: [email protected]

SC2024-0662: Florida Supreme Court opinion issued May 23, 2024, effective January 1, 2025: Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.510 Summary Judgment rule amended as to section (c)(5), Timing for Supporting Factual Positions to tie deadline to respond to motion for summary judgment to date of service of motion versus the hearing date. Responses are now due no later than 60 days after service of motion (currently 20 days before time fixed for hearing). The Court also adopted Rule 1.202, Conferral Prior to Filing Motions, requiring parties to confer before filing non-dispositive motion and state same via Certificate of Conferral.

It is not enough to say the opposing counsel was unavailable. The certificate must “describe all efforts undertaken to accomplish dialogue” prior to filing the motion. Comments and separate requests for oral argument must be filed by August 6, 2024.

CALL TO ACTION: HOW CAN YOU HELP?
The following Committees are vacant and need you. Please reach out if you are interested or want to know more information. Email Carlie Duquette at: [email protected]

Audit Committee (2-3 people): The Audit Committee shall submit a report of a completed audit of the Chapter’s financial transactions for the previous fiscal year no later than May 30 of the following year, and submit the Report to the President of the Chapter who will present it to the Board and to PAF.

Membership (2-3 people) The Membership Committee shall be responsible for encouraging membership in the Chapter.

Education (3-4 people) 1. Continuing Legal Education: The Education Committee shall be responsible for encouraging the continuing legal education of Chapter members and for working with the Seminar/Speaker Committee to provide opportunities for continuing legal education through monthly speakers and seminars.

Paralegal Programs: The Education Committee shall be responsible for maintaining a relationship with Tallahassee Community College (TCC), Keiser University, and any other local paralegal programs, and for assisting in whatever way possible to further the paralegal profession.

Scholarship Program: The Education Committee shall be responsible for administering the Chapter Scholarship Program for eligible paralegal applicants. The Chapter Scholarship Program shall include, but not be limited to, (a) Student Scholarships and (b) Career Development Scholarships. The duties will include receiving applications; conducting interviews with the applicants, their instructors and/or employers; as deemed appropriate or necessary by the Education

Committee Chair; and recommending to the Executive Board those persons who should be awarded Chapter Scholarships.

Public Relations/Publicity Committee (Chairperson +1) The Public Relations/Publicity Committee shall be responsible for promoting the Chapter and its activities to the public. This shall include the preparation and publication of news releases to legal journals, newspapers, local bar newsletters, PAF publications, and other local media such as radio and television.

Seminar/Speaker Committee (2-3 people) The Seminar/Speaker Committee shall be responsible for organizing and hosting one seminar per year including any quarterly seminars which are requested by PAF The Committee is also responsible for assisting the President and Vice President in soliciting speakers for monthly meetings. The Committee is charged with setting and collecting fees for seminars and for preparing and presenting a report to the Executive Board and membership by the next Executive Board meeting or general membership meeting held after the conclusion
of any seminar, whichever first occurs.

Elections Committee (2-3 people) At least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the annual meeting, the President shall appoint the Committee on Elections. At least ninety (90) days prior to the annual meeting, the Committee shall issue a call for declarations of candidacy. The duties of the Committee shall also include receiving declarations, verifying the qualifications of candidates for office, preparation of the ballot for elections, presiding over nominations from the floor at the elections, and presiding over the elections at the annual meeting. The Committee shall also act as tellers for the election, tallying the votes and announcing the winners.

Reminder of the Big Bend Chapter Board meeting on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 6:00pm will be at Fasig Brooks. Please RSVP to Carlie Duquette [email protected] no later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. We hope to see you there

If you are a non-member and have any interest in receiving individual announcements regarding our upcoming events, kindly complete the form at the following link https://forms.gle/5yvMiPrimodMGnuS6. You do not need to be a member of the Chapter, certified or registered, to attend our events.