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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>That’s a great case, Dennis. It confirms that there is no law requiring an action be filed in “small claims” court—nothing in Chapter 34 at all. It’s always been a county court just with application of different rules. If the plaintiff alleges in its complaint that it is an a “action at law not exceeding $15,000” then it should proceed in county court under the Rules of Civil Procedure. As Lainie had commented, if the pleader states the amount specifically—e.g., $2,500,” then that is when the clerk of court fast tracks into small claims which triggers that initial hearing/mediation within a short period of time. The question, though, is whether the language in Rule 7.010(b) makes it mandatory or discretionary to use the small claims rules of procedure. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Regards, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoTableGrid border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse;border:none'><tr><td width=117 valign=top style='width:87.7pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:-4.1pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-216.9pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:-4.1pt;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:-216.9pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
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</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width=116 height=61 src="cid:image003.png@01D05D94.20548F60" align=left hspace=12 alt="AJH Logo mark" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"><![endif]><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=466 valign=bottom style='width:349.7pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:-6.5pt;mso-add-space:auto'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Anthony J. Horky, Esquire<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:-6.5pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Anthony J. Horky, P.A.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:-6.5pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>2255 Glades Road, Suite 324A<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:-6.5pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Boca Raton, Florida 33431<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:-6.5pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>T: 561.989.3206<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:-6.5pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>F: 561.952.0096 <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormalCxSpMiddle style='margin-left:-6.5pt;mso-add-space:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="http://www.horkylaw.com">www.horkylaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr><td width=583 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:437.4pt;border:none;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>This message and the documents attached to it, if any, are intended only for the use of the addressee and may contain information that is attorney-client privileged or confidential, and/or may contain attorney work product. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please delete all electronic copies of this message and its attachments, if any, destroy any hard copies you may have created and notify me immediately at: </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><a href="mailto:ahorky@horkylaw.com" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ahorky@horkylaw.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>.</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>-------------------------------------------------------</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:-4.5pt;text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Tax Advice Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS under Circular 230, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments), unless otherwise specifically stated, was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein.</span><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> landten-bounces@lists.flabarrpptl.org [mailto:landten-bounces@lists.flabarrpptl.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Dennis Chen<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, March 13, 2015 12:56 PM<br><b>To:</b> RPPTL Landlord Tenant Committee<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RPPTL LandTen] Jurisdiction question<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Take a look at this case that addresses small claims versus county court. Small claims just refers to procedure within the county court.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>Some attorneys use this tactic, filing in county rather than small claims, to avoid the mandatory pretrial and mediation. It also allows them to immediately send out discovery. It is a strategic move to reduce time out of the office and increase billable hours claim.<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal>Dennis<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>Dennis A. Chen, Esq.<br>Chen Law Firm, PA<br>13360 W. Colonial Dr, Ste. 470<br>Winter Garden, Florida 34787<br>Tel: (407) 392-1872<br>Fax: 1-866-571-3421<br><a href="mailto:dennis@chenlaw.net" target="_blank">dennis@chenlaw.net</a><br><br>Bankruptcy * Civil Litigation * Landlord/Tenant * Personal Injury * Real Estate Litigation<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>******** NEW ADDRESS effective 1/5/2015 ********<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Physical address is listed above. The new mailing address is:<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br>Chen Law Firm PA<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>PO Box 784419<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Winter Garden FL 34778<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Telephone and email remain the same.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail, including any attachment, contains legally privileged and confidential information and is intended solely for the recipient. Should the intended recipient forward this message to any person or entity, that action could constitute a waiver of the attorney-client privilege. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is prohibited. If this communication was sent or received in error, please notify us by reply e-mail and delete the original message.<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Fri, Mar 13, 2015 at 10:44 AM, Harry Heist <<a href="mailto:harry@evict.com" target="_blank">harry@evict.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Is it required that a simple security deposit dispute case for $1200 be filed in Small Claims Court or can an attorney file in County Court with a regular 20 day summons?</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>No injunctive relief is being asked for but it is a ridiculous complaint for one count called “Failure to Return” and a count for “Unjust Enrichment”.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>What a waste of time.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>If it is not proper, would a Motion to Dismiss be proper? The attorney who filed is not returning calls or emails so we can’t even try to settle this dumb case.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Harry</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>LAW OFFICES OF <br>HEIST, WEISSE & WOLK P.A.<br>PH: <a href="tel:1%20800%20253%208428" target="_blank">1 800 253 8428</a><br>FAX: <a href="tel:1%20800%20367%209038" target="_blank">1 800 367 9038</a><br>"Serving the Property Management Professional"<br>Website: </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.evict.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.evict.com</span></b></a></span><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <br>Email: </span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:harry@evict.com" target="_blank"><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>harry@evict.com</span></b></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=3 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%;margin-left:.1in;margin-right:.1in;margin-bottom:5.95pt'><tr style='height:19.9pt'><td width="16%" rowspan=2 style='width:16.3%;padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt;height:19.9pt'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=360 style='width:3.75in;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=64 valign=top style='width:48.3pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.45pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heist-Weisse-Wolk-PA/343965575625870" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=46 height=46 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image004.png@01D05D93.D3C45720"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=296 valign=top style='width:221.7pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.45pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><br></span></b><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Visit us on Facebook</span></b><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td><td width="82%" valign=bottom style='width:82.74%;padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt;height:19.9pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:115%;mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.45pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr style='height:19.85pt'><td width="82%" valign=bottom style='width:82.74%;padding:1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt 1.5pt;height:19.85pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:115%;mso-element:frame;mso-element-frame-hspace:9.45pt;mso-element-wrap:around;mso-element-anchor-vertical:paragraph;mso-element-anchor-horizontal:column;mso-height-rule:exactly'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE IS CONFIDENTIAL, ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED, AND INTENDED FOR THE PERSONS NAMED ABOVE ONLY. 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