UNPRECEDENTED SURGE IN COURT FILINGS

After Gov. DeSantis signs tort reform bill, courts around the state – including Wakulla – are overwhelmed with cases

A graph from the Florida Clerks and Comptrollers showing the surge in lawsuits statewide

By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor

Courts all over Florida were inundated with cases filed after the Legislature passed a tort reform bill that was quickly signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
That included courts in Wakulla County.


Clerk of Courts Greg James

Clerk of Courts Greg James reported his office received more than 512 circuit cases (which are cases for damages of more than $30,000), and an additional 47 small claims cases.
The bulk of those cases were from attorneys seeking to preserve their cases ahead of the bill becoming law.
“It has greatly increased our workload,” Clerk James said.
The Legislature passed HB 837 – Civil Remedies on Thursday, March 23, and signed into law by DeSantis on Friday, March 24. It took effect immediately upon the Governor’s signature and contains new legal restrictions for certain civil lawsuits. It revamps attorney fees, the timeframe for filing negligence lawsuits, “bad faith” cases against insurers, premises liability, and comparison of fault.
In anticipation of enactment, there was an unprecedented surge in civil filings through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal with Clerk’s offices across the state.
James praised his deputy clerks for processing the surge of cases.