On July 27, 2023, Elijah Levitt gave a presentation about his firm and appellate rulings from cases that he presided over as a former judge at the Boca Raton Solo/Small Firm Networking Group Dinner. In addition to promoting the work of his firm, Elijah spoke about the law of accord and satisfaction and the necessity of strict compliance with Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.540(b) for a Motion for Rehearing on Final Judgments.

On July 19, 2023, Elijah Levitt lectured at the monthly Coral Gables Bar Association luncheon on arbitrations and alternative dispute resolution. Florida law allows all cases to go to binding and non-binding arbitration, mediation, and private judging. Elijah and Levitt Legal are able to assist clients and attorneys with all of these alternatives. Elijah also has been a big supporter of the Coral Gables Bar Association, and the Coral Gables Bar Association has likewise supported him since June of 2018.

On June 2, 2023, the Chief Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit issued a new administrative order containing different filing requirements for county court civil cases. Notably, certain county court civil cases are required to be filed in the zip code linked to the respective courthouse. Attorneys and litigants could be subject to discipline for failing to file a county court civil matter in the correct courthouse. The Order also requires cases wherein an insurance company is the sole defendant to be filed in the Central Courthouse location. A copy of the Order is attached here .

On February 22, 2023, the Chief Judge for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida issued Administrative Order 2023-10-CIV for Procedures for Non-Binding Arbitration. Although the Order appears to be similar to Administrative Order 2022-7-CIV issued on January 31, 2022, litigants and arbitrators in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit may want to review the updated order to ensure compliance with it. The Order may be found here: https://www.17th.flcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-10-Civ.pdf

On February 22, 2023, the Chief Judge for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida issued Administrative Order 2023-9-CIV for Circuit Civil First Party Property Loss Cases ("Storm, Hurricane, Water Loss, Plumbing Cases") . Although the Order appears to be similar to Administrative Order 2022-49-CIV issued on November 15, 2022, litigants in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit may want to review the updated order to ensure compliance with it. The updated Order also instructs the Clerk of Court to designate these cases with the prefix of "CAPL." The Order may be found here: https://www.17th.flcourts.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/2023-9-Civ.pdf

On February 3, 2023, Elijah A. Levitt obtained a final judgment against eviction in favor of his client in West Palm Beach County Court. After the presentation of the Plaintiff landlord's evidence during a non-jury trial, the trial judge granted Mr. Levitt's Motion to Dismiss the Complaint in open court. Mr. Levitt represented the defending tenant, a family-owned restaurant whose landlord wanted to evict it from its business location for an alleged non-payment of rent. The Court found that the eviction notice was defective, and Mr. Levitt's client was permitted to continue to operate at its location. In eviction cases, the winning party usually is entitled to payment of its attorney's fees and costs by the losing party. Mr. Levitt will litigate his entitlement to, and amount of, attorney's fees and costs at a future hearing. Elijah Levitt is a highly experienced trial lawyer. Call today for a free consultation.

Although mediations have been mandatory for a while, on November 15, 2022, the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida Chief Judge issued Administrative Order 2022-49-CIV requiring that judges issue a case management order that includes non-binding arbitration in Circuit Civil water loss claims cases. Interestingly, the Uniform Case Management Order for those cases also requires mediations to commence within 60 days of issuance of the case management order. The administrative order and case management order are attached here. If you are in need of an arbitrator or mediator to comply with these Orders, or for another case or dispute, then I am happy to assist.

On December 1, 2022, Elijah Levitt attended the Broward County Bar Association’s holiday party and donated to the Young Lawyers Section’s toy drive at the Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Pictured here with Elijah are Joni Mosely, Esq., from The Mosely Firm and Russell Cohen Esq., from the Law Office of Russell A. Cohen, P.A.