New Rule 9.380 Allows Notification of Related Cases

Among the many rule changes effective January 1, 2019, the Florida Supreme Court has created a new mechanism to notify an appellate court of related pending cases. New Rule 9.380 allows parties, without argument, to inform an appellate court of “related case or issue” that is either “arising out of the same proceeding in the lower tribunal,” or, helpfully, “involving a similar issue of law.”

How is this helpful to the appellate practitioner? If you are watching an issue develop and percolate in the trial courts or district courts, you can now notify the courts of other pending appeals or trial court decisions on the issue. Make note that this notice is not an opportunity to make additional argument: the rule expressly states that the notice “shall not contain argument.” Still, it’s a way to direct the courts to attempt uniformity in rulings.

Because there is no argument involved, the notice should follow the simple format of new Rule 9.900(k) [.pdf].