Write a report outlining the court jurisdiction hypotheticals in more detail.Assignment: Hypotheticals – Using the Jurisdiction Chart in this week’s Module, indicate whether the cause of action will be litigated in Federal court or State court before naming the specific trial court (including the Judicial Circuit number) that will hear the trial. Then name the intermediate court (including the district number or circuit number) that will hear the guaranteed appeal and finally which appellate court that may decide to hear the second appeal if the court so chooses:
Betsy Badriver Orange County is involved in a car accident with Maria Wrongplace of Orange County occurring in Orange County, Florida. Betsy sues Maria for $55,000.
State or Federal? (Select one.)
Name of the Trial Court?
Name of the Int. Appellate Court?
Name of the High Appellate Court?
Sam Songwriter of Seminole County believes that Oscar Dastardly of Osceola County stole the lyrics to his song. Sam sues Dirk for copyright infringement.
State or Federal?
Name of Trial Court?
Name of Int. Appellate Court?
Name of High Appellate Court?
Two U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal have conflicting rulings on a First Amendment Freedom of Religion issue.
State or Federal?
Name the only Court that will hear this type of case.
Larry Landlord of Sanford, Florida of sues Tommy Tenant of Geneva, Florida for $11,000 for breach of a lease agreement in the city of Geneva.
State or Federal?
Trial Court?
Int. Appellate Court?
High Appellate Court?
Felicia Frivolous of Franklin County slipped and fell at the Apalachicola Save-a-Little grocery store due to an ice cream cone someone dropped on the floor. Felicia sues the store for $100,000.
State or Federal?
Trial Court?
Int. Appellate Court?
High Appellate Court?
JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS CHART
Jurisdiction = the power or authority of a court to determine an action.
Note: The subject matter jurisdiction descriptions listed below are very general summaries. Each state has different names for its courts. For example, the New York Supreme Court is the trial level court in New York State.
COURTS: FEDERAL STATE (Florida)
Highest Appellate
U.S. Supreme Court (1)
Jurisdiction: appeals from CCA, discretionary appeals & some original & exclusive jurisdiction
Reporter: U.S. Reports (U.S.), Lawyers Ed.(L. Ed.), Supreme Ct. Reporter (Sup.Ct.)
Supreme Court (1)
Jurisdiction: appeals from DCA, discretionary appeals & some original & exclusive jurisdiction
Reporter: Southern Reporter
(So., So. 2d)
Intermediate Appellate
Circuit Court of Appeals (13)
Jurisdiction: Appeals from U.S. District Ct.
Florida is in the 11th Circuit
Reporter: Federal Reporter
(F., F. 2d, F. 3d)
District Court of Appeals (6)
Jurisdiction: Appeals from Circuit Courts
Orange/Osceola is in the 6th DCA
Reporter: Southern Reporter
(So., So. 2d)
Trial
U.S. District Court (94, at least one in each state)
Jurisdiction: Federal questions, Federal crimes, Federal statutes,
AND
Civil actions with diversity of citizenship + claim exceeds $75,000
Specialty Courts, i.e. Tax, Bankruptcy, Veteran’s Affairs, Military Tribunal
Jurisdiction: The respective areas
Circuit Court (20)
Jurisdiction: Civil actions exceeding $50,000 dissolution of marriage and family law matters, felonies, probate and guardianships
Orange/Osceola is the 9th Judicial Circuit
Reporter: Florida Supplement (Fla. Supp.)Florida Law Weekly
(FLW)
County Court
Jurisdiction: Civil actions $50,000 or less, small claims up to $8,000, misdemeanors, traffic
Reporter: Florida Supplement (Fla. Supp.)Florida Law Weekly
(FLW)
Reporter: Specialty Reporters & Federal Supplement
STATUTES:
U.S. Code (USC, USCS, USCA)
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
Florida Statutes (Fla. Stat.)
Florida Administrative Code
