Sanctions and Florida Guardianship Lawsuits

An August 3, 2016 appeal out of the Fourth District Court of Appeal sheds some light on how to get sanctions against the other side for frivolous lawsuits. Have you heard of Florida Statute, section 57.105? This statute may be able to get you attorney’s fees in West Palm Beach probate. However, this case shows that it is not as easy as you may think.

Florida Statute, section 57.105 provides that you can seek sanctions when the other side makes you fight a frivolous claim.What is a frivolous claim?West Palm Beach probate lawyers know that a frivolous claim is one that has no basis in fact or law.For example trying to probate an unsigned and unwitnessed will may constitute frivolous. However, what constitutes as frivolous is for the probate court to decide. What does section 57.105 provide for? It awards you attorney’s fees but not costs.Do you know the difference? Keep in mind this swings both ways and you could be on the hook for frivolous claims as well.

St. Peter v. Osorio-Kohr was an “appeal in a guardianship proceeding from the trial court’s order denying appellant’s motion for attorney’s fees pursuant to section 57.105, Florida Statutes against appellee Karlene Osorio-Kohr.” Guardianship litigation is becoming more and more common in Delray Beach, Boca Raton and surrounding cities. Here the appellant requested attorney’s fees pursuant to section 57.105 after the trial court determined that the appellee did not have standing in the matter.The Fourth DCA affirmed the trial court’s decision. To read the entire Fourth DCA guardianship appeal, click here.