Private Trials & Hearings
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Why Private Trial Hearings ?
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REDUCE WASTED LEGAL COSTS DUE TO DELAYS
Coronavirus plus the necessity of quarantine has caused unusual congestion throughout our judicial system. An unpleasant side effect of this congestion is inordinate delay in obtaining court time for lengthy hearings and trials. Judges and their staffs in the Ninth Judicial Circuit are working hard to catch up, but the volume of new cases filed every day tends to frustrate their best efforts. This situation confronts every trial attorney with the risk of losing witnesses, incurring additional investigative costs, and consoling clients unhappy with the delay in achieving just resolution of their claims. Of equal importance is the inevitable delay in your receiving fees so necessary for maintaining staff and general office facilities as mandated by the Florida Bar.
Florida Statute 44.104 allows litigators and clients the opportunity to utilize the skills of both practicing attorneys and retired Judges. Except for the few limitations set forth in F.S. 44.104(14), the private trial procedure is virtually unlimited in scope. The designated private judge has almost all the powers of a Circuit Court Judge and the final judgment is fully enforceable.
In a private hearing/trial, due to the dramatically reduced caseload, the judge’s day is fully available to the parties, thus making it more likely the issues can be dealt with quickly thereby allowing the parties to focus their energy towards reaching a final resolution more quickly. Swift resolution will probably reduce the cost of the litigation, a savings which will, more likely than not, outweigh the expense of retaining the services of a private judge. Utilization of our private judges avoids the inordinate congestion at the Courthouse, achieves greater privacy, reduces the chance of losing witnesses, and incurring unnecessary fees for expert witnesses. Of equal, if not greater, importance is reducing the possibility of contracting the dreaded novel coronavirus!
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More time and attention from the judge
Judges in private hearings have much more time to read all the papers before the hearing and, as they only have a single case to deal with, can spend the day considering the detail of the case and formulating their views on it.
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Rooms and facilities for parties to use
At the Center for Professional Legal Services you will find excellent physical facilities designed to enhance the litigation experience. Our physical facilities include seven conference rooms, private meeting rooms, technological support for remote depositions, trial testimony or virtual mediation. Our fax machine and printing facilities make possible the rapid transmission of documents needed for review or introduction into evidence. Our large break room is equipped with modern appliances for refrigeration, microwave cooking and preparation of refreshments. Our waiting rooms, furnished with comfortable chairs, couches and reading materials, will help reduce the stress associated with waiting which witnesses so often experience in litigation endeavors.
Our physical facilities are spacious enough to allow adherence to the
CDC
guidelines for social distancing.
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INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM • FAIRNESS
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By utilizing the skills of our retired Judges, each of whom have decades of extensive, wide ranging experience – both as litigators and as trial judges – you can avoid the unpleasant negative effects, both direct and collateral, of the crowded judicial system. They each have a history of being well prepared for all aspects of any litigation placed at their disposal. Just as they ran their courtrooms with promptness, efficiency and courtesy, so will your judicial needs be met.
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J. Leonard Fleet, Esq.
J. Leonard Fleet was elected to Circuit Court, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, without opposition, in 1982. Robed January 1983, he presided over complex, multi-party cases in Criminal, Family and General Civil Divisions. His work was centered upon the fields of criminal law, civil rights litigation, and appellate practice during his 23 years as a trial attorney.
Mr. Fleet has had extensive judicial and practical experience with products liability, professional malpractice, windstorm claims, construction disputes and class action litigation.
Read More
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Kenneth L. Williams, Esq.
A former county and circuit court judge for more than twenty four years, Attorney Ken Williams served in the State Attorney’s office between March 1979 to June 1986. While working there he developed and handled a special Child Abuse Division which prosecuted child abuse cases in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. In addition to those duties, he continued to handle a full division, prosecuting serious felonies, including, kidnap, sexual battery, and murder cases. He earned a reputation for being a firm but fair prosecutor.
Mr. Williams served in the First Judicial Circuit of Florida in the capacity of both County judge and Circuit Court Judge from 1986 until his retirement in Oct. 2010.
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Virtual Mediations Available
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Our state-of-the-art training room provides CDC guidelines for social distancing and is a safe great environment for learning. CPLS provides free training to mediators and lawyers on a weekly basis, to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills needed to help parties resolve disputes effectively.
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Lunch and snack facilities are located on the ground floor lobby and immediately adjacent to our building. We are a short walk to the many other dining establishments located in downtown Orlando.
Come visit our offices and see for yourself how we can help you help your clients resolve their matters intelligently and swiftly in the comfort of our offices.
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ORLANDO OFFICE
201 East Pine Street Suite 445
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407-647-7887
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am- 6pm
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