A Florida appeals court reversed $10,000 in attorney fees and remanded a lien dispute Wednesday, raising questions about what proper notice and reasonable time for granting summary judgment to a nonmovant really look like under a relatively new rule of civil procedure.

Whether you’re a high-end developer or an everyday homeowner, Florida’s maze of land-use state and environmental statutes, local ordinances and master plans, stringent staff reviews, and strict code enforcement can be maddening. It can make the process of doing what you want with your own property a costly, confusing, and time-consuming hell-on-earth—or even a near-impossibility.

On Nov. 3, 2020, Florida voters enacted an amendment to the Florida Constitution calling for the minimum wage to begin increasing by $1 per year starting on Sept. 30, 2021. As a result of that vote, Florida’s minimum wage is currently $14 an hour and will reach $15 an hour on Sept. 30, 2026, at which point it will change annually based on inflation.

In 2025, the Florida Legislature enacted the Choice Act which further bolsters a company’s ability to enforce noncompete agreements with their high-ranking employees, which offers tech companies a level of predictability, stability, and contractual strength that could translate into billions in preserved enterprise value.

With the federal government’s decimation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, along with the mass layoffs at federal agencies as a result of the DOGE initiative, and then compounded by the government shutdown, there is a void in governmental support to assist small businesses and those who are self-employed in the prevention and remediation of unfair, deceptive business practices.

Any entrepreneur knows that a business’s worst enemy—but, ironically, its greatest certainty—is uncertainty. And wisely seeks to structure partnership, shareholding, and operating agreements to minimize it.
One business uncertainty that often gets overlooked, however, is the health and personal life of the owner him or herself. What happens to the business—and to any business co-owners or partners—if an owner experiences a divorce, dementia, or another incapacity, or actually dies?

A recent Law360 Bankruptcy Authority headline, "Already Lean US Trustee Program Sees 58 Take Buyouts," may be revealing the tip of the iceberg in an ocean of uncertainty concerning the effective administration of the bankruptcy courts as we move forward in this 
uncharted territory.

Whether you’re a high-end developer or an everyday homeowner, Florida’s maze of land-use state and environmental statutes, local ordinances and master plans, stringent staff reviews and strict code enforcement can be maddening. It can make the process of doing what you want with your own property a costly, confusing and time-consuming hell-on-earth – or even a near-impossibility.

From employees who improperly access employer information post-termination to espionage campaigns initiated by foreign governments and international terror organizations, computer fraud and hacking have become rampant in our society. 

Tripp Scott attorney Matthew Zifrony offers expert insight in HOAleader.com articles addressing whether condo and HOA boards can redirect special assessment funds when originally planned projects are delayed or stalled due to litigation.

A recent Law360 Bankruptcy Authority headline, "Already Lean US Trustee Program Sees 58 Take Buyouts," may be revealing the tip of the iceberg in an ocean of uncertainty concerning the effective administration of the bankruptcy courts as we move forward in this uncharted territory. 

When structuring partnership, shareholder and operating agreements, business owners try to address every reasonably conceivable situation. What often goes overlooked, however, are the effects on the business of divorce, dementia, or death — and the possible involvement of a surviving spouse, ex-spouse, or heirs.

Norman Tripp knew how hard it can be to afford college. When he attended the University of Miami, the son of a factory worker had to keep skipping semesters to work to make enough money to pay for the next semester. He succeeded: he met his wife, Jane, at the University and they earned their bachelor’s degrees in 1962.

Tripp went on to found the Tripp Scott P.A. law firm in Fort Lauderdale and became the general counsel for Alamo Rent a Car as the company exploded into a national chain. But Tripp never forgot about his days in Coral Gables, sending his children - and a continuous stream of scholarship donations - to the University.

Clients often question the necessity of hiring an appellate attorney when they already have a litigation or trial attorney handling their case. After all, the trial attorney was chosen for their skills and expertise, which can make their presence seem sufficient. But as legal matters unfold, the complexities of a case can easily surpass the trial attorney’s focus and abilities, particularly in cases that may be appealed. An appellate attorney makes sure that a client has the best chance of success at all stages of the litigation.

Employers may be confused about their legal obligations in the face of the Trump Administration’s campaign against transgender individuals. Legal experts are reminding business leaders that it is still unlawful for most employers to discriminate against transgender employees because of their gender identity. Neither executive orders nor EEOC policy shifts can change federal or state gender identity discrimination laws governing private sector employers.

In my 58+ years of practicing bankruptcy law, I have learned that many of the nuances of the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy Rules of Procedure and the general practice of bankruptcy law can inflict pain-and-suffering on attorneys that do not deal in the area on a regular basis, and come to find that actions taken on clients’ behalf prior to and during a bankruptcy proceeding can have significant
negative consequences.

In starting a family business, you hear and read about unexpected changes in family structure that leave outsiders or even family members not originally in the company with unintended control.

Recently, Tulsi Gabbard received starkly contrasting receptions in Florida and now in Washington, D.C.

 Gabbard, who transitioned from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party and is now Donald Trump’s nominee for director of National Intelligence, visited Fort Lauderdale last year, where she was warmly welcomed.

Cash is king and business owners know that harsh reality more than most since oftentimes businesses run into cash crunches at certain times of the year. When that happens sometimes traditional lenders such as banks are not an option and businesses need to reach out to merchant cash advance companies (MCAs). As MCAs grow in popularity, there is concern about an increase in companies claiming to negotiate MCA terms on behalf of business owners.

Artificial intelligence (AI) undoubtedly has the potential to enhance attorneys’ work product. But AI cannot replace attorneys, at least not at this juncture.

Murphy’s Law—“if anything can go wrong, it will”—rears its ugly head at the least opportune times. AI is in its relative infancy. Too much could go wrong with this emerging technology to risk a potentially painful and expensive legal outcome.