AD Divisional News

Reader Note: Please be advised that the reader of these pages should scroll down the entire page to ensure that he/she has reviewed all of the instructions indeed as it may appear on the front to only contain a minimum passage when actually there is more to the page than meets the initial viewing upon uploading these web pages. Also, please note bookmarks/hyperlinks located at the bottom right of each of the Judges' pages with additional information to view. Visit Division AD Instructions

Circuit Civil Division AD email address: CAD-DivisionAD@pbcgov.org 

Circuit Civil Division AD mailing address:  Attn. Presiding Judge/ Circuit Civil Division AD, 205 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 9.1204, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

Circuit Civil Division AD courtroom: COURTROOM 9B

ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO THE COURT SHALL BE COPIED TO ALL COUNSEL/ PARTIES OF RECORD

Important Notices/Highlights/Updates:

The hurricane season (in the Atlantic) is a period that typically runs from June 1 through November 1 (and may continue through November 30, 2022). Therefore, during the season, please be reminded of the Court's emergency hotline (561) 355-6744 to call for any updates issued as to court closures and the like.

*ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 3.110-12/2024 - Adoption and Implementation of Civil Differentiated Case Management (effective January 1, 2025)

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 3.202-10/2023 - Motions to Compel Discovery or for Protective from Discovery. No motions to compel discovery or for protection from discovery will be heard unless the notice of hearing bears the certificate of moving counsel that opposing counsel has been contacted and a good faith attempt has been made to resolve the discovery dispute without a hearing.

Differentiated Case Management Orders

At the direction of the Florida Supreme Court and the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Differentiated Case Management plans will be applied to all civil cases (with some exception) as governed by Administrative Order. Civil cases will be set on a case track with certain management deadlines and model timeframes as governed by this Administrative Order 3.110 (as amended).

• Pre-trial deadlines and pre-trial requirements set by a DCMO shall be strictly enforced and only extended for good cause and in accordance with Administrative Order 3.110 (as amended).
• Motions for continuance (of a trial that is set by a DCMO) shall be set for a "DCM Case Management Conference" as soon as circumstances arise and in accord with Administrative Order 3.110 (as amended). A Joint Status Report in accordance with Administrative Order 3.110 also must be filed with the Clerk no less than 10 days in advance of the "DCM Case Management Conference". Motions for continuance should include a proposed Amended DCMO resetting pretrial deadlines that remain applicable and indicate the month when the case will be ready for trial. If counsel/ parties cannot be "trial ready" by the DCM-Case Management Conference/ Calendar Call date indicated in the DCM Order, a DCM Conference should be set for hearing as soon as circumstances arise. If the parties agree to extend deadlines and the extension will not prevent the case from being trial ready by the scheduled Calendar Call date, the parties may file a motion and submit an agreed order for the Court's consideration. The motion shall identify which deadlines are requested to be extended and the basis for the request. The agreed order must contain the agreed upon dates and state the scheduled Calendar Call date. The Court will either accept to extend the dates agreed to or direct the parties to set a DCM conference. Untimely motions will be denied absent compelling circumstances and a showing of good cause.

DCM Case Management Conferences shall be set on the Court's Uniform Motion Calendar (Tues., Wed., or Thurs. at 8:30 a.m.) unless otherwise directed. Please ensure that the date selected does not fall on a suspension date. See Suspension Calendar.

2025 Calendar Call - Jury / Non-Jury Trial Docket Schedule is as follows:

2026 Calendar Call - Jury / Non-Jury Trial Docket Schedule is as follows:

CALENDAR CALL: Calendar Call is conducted solely by the submission of one joint e-Calendar Call Form. Counsel and/or the parties do not appear in person or remotely by zoom. Counsel/ parties confer, complete, and submit one joint E-Calendar Call Form to the Court at CAD-DivisionAD@pbcgov.org on the scheduled date of Calendar Call no later than 4:00 p.m. EST.

UNIFORM MOTION CALENDAR in Circuit Civil Division AD is held remotely by zoom using the following zoom instructions:

Uniform Motion Calendar starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 9:30 a.m. UMC hearings are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (with exception to court suspension dates).  Cases scheduled on the UMC calendar are called by the Judge in the order determined by the Judge. Out of courtesy, and during the UMC calendar hearing session, please mute your audio until your case is called. The timing of when the Judge will call your case cannot be determined; however, counsel/ parties shall wait remotely until such time the Court calls up your case and starts the hearing. 

The following matters SHALL NOT be noticed for UMC, but shall be specially set for hearing:

• Motions for Contempt
• Motions for Sanctions
• Motions for Attorneys' Fees
• Motions for Rehearing and/or Reconsideration (these motions are only set upon approval of the Court)
• Contested Motions for Summary Judgment
• Motions to Approve Settlement of Minor's Claim
• Any motions requiring evidence to be taken or findings to be made by the Court, unless expressly permitted herein
• Any hearing of any nature reasonably requiring more than five (5) minutes per side to argue

Strict Compliance with Local Rule 4

Prior to setting a matter on the Uniform Motion Calendar and Special Set Hearings, counsel and/or parties noticing the matter shall attempt to resolve the matter and shall certify a good faith attempt to resolve the matter. All notices of hearing scheduled on the UMC Calendar shall set forth directly above the signature block, the below certifications without modification. See Local Rule 4.

Motions for Trial Continuance: If a case cannot be ready for trial by the scheduled calendar call date, despite all good faith efforts, a motion to continue shall be filed and set in a timely manner. Motions for trial continuance (of a trial that is set by a *DCMA Order) shall be set for a "DCM Case Management Conference" in accord with Administrative Order 3.110. Motions for continuance should include a proposed Amended DCMO resetting pretrial deadlines that remain applicable and indicate the month when the case will be ready for trial. If counsel/ parties cannot be "trial ready" by the DCM-Case Management Conference/ Calendar Call date indicated in the DCM Order, a DCM Conference should be set for hearing as soon as circumstances arise. *DCM Case Management Conferences can be set on the Court's Division AD Uniform Motion Calendar (Tues., Wed., or Thurs. at 8:30 a.m.) unless otherwise described in the divisional instructions or by court order.

Motions for [Disbursement of] Surplus Funds can be set for hearing on the Uniform Motion Calendar. However, any contested evidentiary hearings that will take more than 10 minutes (five minutes reserved for each side), should be set for a special set hearing (15 minutes or 30 minutes timeframe) pursuant to the divisional instructions on setting specially set hearings.

If counsel represents the party, counsel must set motions for Surplus Funds for hearing with notice to all parties. The Notice must contain the following language:

If you have received this order setting hearing, and you may be entitled to any surplus funds, you must file a Motion/Claim for Surplus, with the Clerk, within ten (10) days of the date of this order and mail a copy to the undersigned Judge at the address above and notice to all parties. Your claim will be heard at the above date and time. IF YOU FAIL TO FILE A TIMELY CLAIM, YOU WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY REMAINING FUNDS.

If you are a homeowner and not represented by counsel, a form can be found at www.mypalmbeachclerk.com. At the search bar enter OWNER'S CLAIM FOR MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SURPLUS. This form must be notarized and filed with the Clerk and Comptroller. The Judge will set the hearing after the Clerk and Comptroller provides notice to the Judge's chambers and will notice all parties. Any contested evidentiary hearings taking more than 10 minutes (five (5) minutes each side) should be set for a special set hearing, otherwise most Motions for Surplus can be scheduled for Uniform Motion Calendar pursuant to the divisional instructions.

When seeking a hearing date on the uniform motion calendar, please check Circuit Civil Division AD's suspension calendar, including court holiday and suspension dates, prior to coordinating and setting any hearings in the Division as these calendars may be change from time to time.

Cancellation of Uniform Motion Calendar Hearings: If cancelling a UMC hearing, please go online and cancel the hearing through the Court's online scheduling/servicing system. If you are indeed cancelling your UMC hearing, please file the complement Notice of Cancellation with the Clerk of Court with copies of that Notice to the associated parties and the Court at CAD-DivisionAD@pbcgov.org for proper and timely notice.

Limited Availability of Hearing Time for Special Set Hearings

Due to limited availability of hearing time for special set hearings, each case may reserve only one special set hearing per day. If more than one party attempts to schedule a hearing on the same case and/or if there is already a hearing set on that case, the second hearing may be cancelled by the Court. 

To obtain a special set hearing reservation, counsel may:

1. appear before the Court during Uniform Motion Calendar 'to obtain a special set hearing date' or 

2. submit a written request by electronic mail to the Court's Division email address at CAD-DivisionAD@pbcgov.org for the Court's consideration. When requesting a special set hearing reservation, please ensure that all counsel/parties of record are copied to the request; and include the name of the motion(s), the file date of the motion(s), the amount of time needed for reservation, and the mutually available and agreed to dates on when the parties would like to obtain a reservation. The Court determines all special set hearing dates and will determine when and what availability will be provided. Upon the Court's determination on availability for a special set hearing date, the judicial assistant will provide the Court's availability for reservation by reply to the parties' email/ request with instructions for them to set the hearing/reservation to calendar. In the interim, parties are encouraged to confer in good faith to resolve issues raised in the motion prior to seeking a hearing date on the motion.  

SUBMISSION OF HEARING MATERIALS:

Judge Goodman does not accept materials through "E-Courtesy".

Hearing materials shall be submitted to Judge Goodman well in advance of the scheduled date of the hearing.

Hearing materials that are more than 10 pages shall be submitted to presiding Judge Goodman by U.S. mail or by courier service to the main courthouse to be deposited in the "Judges' Box" located on the first floor/main lobby of the Main Courthouse.

Hearing materials that are less than 10 pages may be submitted by electronic mail to the Division's email address at CAD-DivisionAD@pbcgov.org- please include the date and time of the hearing, the case number, and the matter in that content of your correspondence.

• Hearing materials must be submitted at least 5 business days prior to the scheduled hearing date for timely review.
• Motions must be filed and docketed prior to reserving and/or scheduling a hearing with the Court.

Submission of Orders:

• Agreed orders and orders that comport with the Court's ruling after a hearing must be submitted electronically through the *Court's Online Services system for entry unless otherwise directed by the Court.
• Agreed Orders must be submitted with a cover letter (or noted in the "comments" section at upload) with verification that all parties have reviewed and agreed to the content and language of the proposed Agreed Order, and the motion at issue.  Agreed Orders should include "Agreed (or Unopposed) on (Title of Motions)" in the title of the Agreed Order.
• DO NOT submit proposed orders on the motion(s) at issue until after the hearing on the motion(s) at issue has occurred (unless given permission by the Court).
• If the Court issues a ruling at a hearing, the order should be submitted timely (upon 48-72 hours) with a cover letter indicating the date the hearing was held. If the parties cannot agree on the form of the order, competing proposed orders may be uploaded with respective cover letters for the Court to consider the competing orders. The Court will enter the order that accurately reflects the Court's in court ruling.
• If the Court does not rule at the hearing, and the parties happen to be directed to prepare competing proposed orders, the competing orders may be uploaded to the system (unless the Court orders otherwise) with respective cover letters including an explanation and reference to the date the hearing for the Court to consider the competing orders.
• Proposed orders are submitted individually in Microsoft Word format to the individual case number/case in the system. If the case is consolidated, the orders (if identical for filing in each consolidated case) will need to be submitted individually and simultaneously in Microsoft Word format to each of the consolidated cases.
• All orders should include an accurate and complete service list. See Administrative Order 2.306.
• No order or judgment shall contain a signature page that does not include a portion of the text of the order or judgment. Please check and preview your documents before submitting your orders online and/or otherwise. See Administrative Order 3.204.

The Court's Online Services system requires a user ID/password to access the Court's online calendar and to utilize online scheduling.  If you are interested in registering with the Court's Online Services system, please review the Online Services page. See also: Administration Order 2.310 

The filing of a "Notice of E-Mail Designation" does not automatically register parties for Judicial E-Service. Persons must register his/her primary and secondary email addresses with the 15th Circuit through Online Services to participate in the Online Scheduling System and Judicial E-Service. Failure to register may result in orders being sent by default to (an) the email address on file with The Florida Bar. Do not add a party's email to documents if he/she is not registered for Online Services (e.g. pro se parties) unless he/she has opted in or registered with the Court for online services. If a party is not registered for online services/ judicial e-service, parties are required to submit all proposed orders via U.S. Mail with sufficient copies and self-addressed stamped envelopes for all parties to be properly served; unless that non-registered party has filed and registered a written designation for e-service of all court documents. See Administrative Order 2.310. If a party is no longer involved in the case, he/she shall immediately update his/her profile and follow the necessary steps to remove his/her email from the Clerk and the Court's systems.

FYI: Changes to Redaction of Confidential Information Now in Effect. As of July 1, 2021 all filers of circuit civil, county civil, and small claims court documents are now solely responsible for ensuring that confidential information is redacted or is identified for redaction. See the Florida Supreme Court amended Rule 2.420. See also Changes to Redaction of Confidential Information Now in Effect

Foreclosure

• Effective July 1, 2019: Section 45.031 and Section 45.032, Florida Statutes have been amended with corrective language as to Final Judgment, Publication of Sale, and Disbursement of Proceeds. See also Administrative Order 3.316-12/17.
• All Motions to Cancel and/or Reschedule a Sale Date are set for hearing on UMC Calendar and must be set prior to the scheduled date of sale. See Administrative Order 3.301-5/21.

Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem/ Administrator Ad Litem is assigned by the Court using a wheel system for appointing pre-approved attorneys. DO NOT send any orders with names of attorneys who are not pre-approved attorneys. When preparing the Order, the section for appointment shall be blank for the Court to insert a name, address, and telephone number upon appointment.

E-Service Option for Service by Email

The Court sends copies of Court Orders (entered in your case) to the registered counsel/ parties of record at their designated and registered email addresses through the Court's online services. All parties are responsible for updating their email and mailing addresses with the Court; whether through the Clerk of Court and/or, if registered for e-service, through the Circuit Court's online services system. Unregistered parties, including pro se litigants, are encouraged to ensure that their mailing address is current in the court file, and those who have access to email are encouraged to consider an email designation to receive copies by email.  Unregistered parties, including pro se litigants, may fill out and file with the Clerk the appropriate email designation form to select this option, which option may avoid any delay in receipt of these copies by U.S. mail. See Administrative Order 2.310 (Service by Email). See also our Court Technology Page

Ex Parte Communication

The Court cannot and will not accept any ex parte communication/ personal correspondence on a case. If you have a matter to bring to the Court's attention, please file the proper Motion with the Clerk of Court, and provide/serve a copy of said Motion to all parties and/or counsel in the case. Pro Se Litigants may go to www.mypalmbeachclerk.com to seek information on locations of Self-Help Centers and other resources to assist him/her in understanding the Court's procedures and in obtaining proper forms and information on filing the proper motion.