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In a renewed posture, both chambers of the Florida Legislature are, once again, taking up the requirement that all portions of law enforcement interrogations be recorded. Currently, there is no requirement under Florida law that law enforcement officers record all portions of a custodial interview with an arrestee, let alone any of it.
By Philip J. Bonamo, Esq. - Florida Board Certified Criminal Trial Law Attorney
An appeals court in our state has recently ruled that law enforcement authorities must obtain asearch warrant from a court as part of any criminal investigation before they can search ordownload information from a car’s ‘black box’, which is otherwise known as an electronic datarecorder.
By Philip J. Bonamo, Esq. - Florida Board Certified Criminal Trial Law Attorney
Despite consensus between the Florida Bar’s Family Law Section and alimony reform advocates, it’s unlikely that Florida’s alimony laws will be overhauled this year. The Florida legislature twice sent reform legislation to Governor Rick Scott, who vetoed both efforts in 2014 and 2016.
By Paul E Rice, Jr. - Board Certified Divorce Attorney
More often than not divorce will put you at odds with a person who knows you well enough to push your buttons. Your spouse knows exactly what upsets you-whether it is forgetting the children's schedule or overspending or ruining your favorite holiday. The anxiety and strain attendant with the process can make communicating more challenging.
By Elizabeth King
Bills have been filed in both the Florida House and Senate to again attempt to “reform” Florida’s alimony laws. Florida lawmakers twice sent reform legislation to Governor Rick Scott who vetoed both efforts in 2014 and 2016. The 2014 veto was due to a retroactive provision which the Governor and others felt would have harsh consequences for needy alimony recipients.
By Paul E Rice, Jr. - Board Certified Divorce Attorney
Divorce can be acrimonious. Spouses often wrestle over who gets the family home, the timeshare in the Keys or even the big screen TV. But, what about the family dog or cat? If the parties are going to split custody of the kids, then why not share the family pet.
By Paul E Rice, Jr. - Board Certified Divorce Attorney
One of the first things I look at when I am retained to represent someone in a criminal case is whether they are eligible for what is referred to as a Diversion. This can mean different things in different jurisdictions, but what I am referring to is whether the criminal case can be taken out of the regular court that it is pending and for a favorable result or outcome.
By Philip J. Bonamo, Esq. - Florida Board Certified Criminal Trial Law Attorney
It is very important to realize that if you are arrested for any crime, it can be tempting to do certain things due to being scared, upset, and confused about the situation. When I am speaking with someone after they have been arrested (or if they have not been arrested, but are the subject of a criminal investigation), I find quite often that they have done one or more things that they should not have when dealing with law enforcement.
By Philip J. Bonamo, Esq. - Florida Board Certified Criminal Trial Law Attorney
In an opinion issued on September 16, 2016, the Fifth District Court of Appeal rejected a husband’s claim that he should not be required to pay alimony due to his wife’s adulterous behavior. The Appellate Court, based in Daytona Beach, Florida, reasoned that while a trial court may consider evidence of adultery, such consideration would depend on the circumstances of a particular case.
By Paul E Rice, Jr. - Board Certified Divorce Attorney
The greater Daytona Beach area is a beautiful place to live and that is in large part due to its numerous trees. Although a large number of individuals were fortunate enough not to have sustained extreme property damage due to Hurricane Matthew, many homeowners are currently dealing with fallen trees that have harmed their homes or are littering their lawns.
By Matthew Shapiro, Daytona Beach Attorney