Judge Lauren N. Peffer
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
- 1 copy • Email
- Upon request
Evidence
- 4 copies
Motion to Tax Costs and Award Attorney Fees
- 1 copy
Notice for Trial
- 1 copy
Adjournments
- Motion calendar hearings must be canceled promptly through the online scheduling system and only by the attorney who set them.
- Canceling a hearing requires both online cancellation and direct notification to the Judicial Assistant.
- Special-set hearings may only be canceled by immediately emailing the Judicial Assistant with the reason and obtaining court approval.
- +2 more
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Phone
Chambers
Document Format Requirements3 rules
Trial exhibits over four pages must be consecutively paginated with sufficient copies for all participants or they will not be allowed at trial.
- Exhibits
- More than 4 pages
Court's wording
Any exhibit either party desires to use at trial exceeding four (4) pages in length must be consecutively paginated (by bates-stamp method or otherwise), with sufficient copies of such consecutively paginated exhibit so that both parties and the witness can refer to the exhibit at the same time during trial. Any exhibit not meeting these two requirements will not be allowed for use at trial.
The Court does not review exhibits on cell phones or laptops. Hard copies must be brought to the hearing, or the Court will not consider them.
Any case law the parties intend to rely upon should be submitted to the Court and the opposing party at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing date, with the appropriate citations utilized and/or relied upon highlighted.
- Case law submission
Formatting
- •Appropriate citations utilized and/or relied upon must be highlighted
Document Filing Requirements16 rules
After three unsuccessful good-faith attempts to coordinate, a party may unilaterally set a hearing, and the notice must be marked as unilaterally set with supporting correspondence attached.
Court's wording
It is mandatory that all parties consult with one another regarding their availability. However, if after three (3) reasonable good faith attempts were unsuccessful, a party may unilaterally set a hearing. Once the hearing has been set the Notice of Hearing must indicate that it is a Unilaterally Set hearing and please attach the correspondence supporting the attempts to coordinate the hearing.
A Motion to Withdraw must include the client's contact information in the motion text and in the certificate of service for both the motion and the notice of hearing.
- Document
- Motion to withdraw as attorney
Must include
- •Certificate of service
Court's wording
When filing a Motion to Withdraw as Attorney of Record, you are required to include the client's contact information, including address and e-mail address if any, within the text of the Motion. You are also required to serve on your client a copy of the Motion to Withdraw and a Notice of Hearing. You must include your client's name and contact information in the certificate of service for both the Motion to Withdraw and the Notice of Hearing.
A Motion must be filed. A proposed order must be uploaded.
- Document
- Motion for continuance
Must include
- •Proposed order
Any filing prepared with AI must include a clear factual disclosure of AI use and a certification that all citations to the law or record were verified as accurate.
- Document
- Any filed paper
Must include
- •AI disclosure
Court's wording
If any attorney for a party or a pro se party has used Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the preparation of any complaint, answer, motion, brief, or other paper filed with the Court, assigned to Judge Peffer, MUST in a clear and plain factual statement, disclose that AI has been used in any way in the filing, and CERTIFY that each and every citation to the law or the record in the paper, has been verified as accurate, the order stated.
The proposed order on a motion to withdraw must include the client's contact information and 30-day notice to retain new counsel or be deemed pro se.
Court's wording
Your proposed order must include your client's contact information and indicate that your client has 30 days to retain new counsel and have counsel file a notice of appearance or your client shall be deemed to be proceeding pro-se unless the party must be represented per the rules of civil procedure.
Phone and /or Video Conference appearance may be permitted; however, the movant must e-file a written motion prior to the hearing and secure an order via the e-order service or directly to chambers permitting remote appearance.
Please do not simply email the Court stating that you have an emergency. You must comply with the requirements of Administrative Order 2021-51-CO, Circuit and County Civil and Probate Emergency Matters, “including the submission of a “ Request for Emergency Relief.”
Substitution of counsel requires the client's written consent and a certification by new counsel that they reviewed the docket and spoke with all counsel of record.
Court's wording
The Court will not grant a substitution of counsel unless client's written consent is obtained, and new counsel certifies, “I have reviewed the Court docket in this file and have spoken with all counsel of record. I am aware of all pending hearings, depositions and other deadlines that are set in this case.” See Rule 2.505(e)(2)
If Local Rule 11 is triggered, please use the standard form attached hereto. Do NOT add any additional language (e.g., waiver of privilege, etc.) This division does not hear these motions.
Judge Peffer requires a uniform order for this purpose submitted via the e-order system. Proposed orders submitted not in compliance will not be entered. The required form is attached to these instructions.
Pro se parties' hearing documentation must include a certification that a copy was provided to the opposing party.
Court's wording
Pro Se / Non Represented Parties must email or mail a copy of all Documentation that is to be presented to the court for the Hearing to the Judicial Assistant at least five (5) business days prior to the scheduled hearing date and must include a certification that a copy was provided to the opposing party.
A party may not submit an order through the online order system unless the form of the order has been approved by both parties.
If you reach an agreement, please file the Agreed Order. If the Judge signs the Order prior to the hearing, you do not need to appear. However, if it is not signed you must attend.
Please make sure to include Judge Peffer's zoom link on all notice of hearings.
If parties cannot agree on order wording, each party must email their own proposed order with a cover letter explaining the disagreements in PDF/Word format.
Court's wording
If the parties cannot agree on the wording of an order each party shall submit their own proposed order to the Judge via email with a cover letter explaining the areas of disagreement in PDF/Word format. The Judge will then select whichever order she feels most accurately reflects her ruling or draft a separate order if needed.
If you are under a Trial order, please make sure the Joint Pretrial Stipulation is filed to the Courts before submitting readiness for Trial.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Supporting documents must not be sent to the court by email or mail; they must be uploaded through the CMS case supporting documents feature.
Please do not send supporting documents to the Courts, even by e-mail. These may be uploaded instead through the CMS “case supporting documents” feature.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
Continuance motions may not be emailed unless they have been filed with the Clerk of the Court.
These motions may NOT be emailed if they have not been filed with the Clerk of the Court.
Page 1 | Procedure K: Other Division Procedures
Agreed orders, ex-parte orders compelling discovery, and orders invoking the rules must be submitted through the online e-order system when all parties are represented.
Judge Peffer participates in the e-orders program( submit order through CMS). This means that if you are submitting an AGREED ORDER, EX-PARTE ORDER COMPELLING DISCOVERY, or an ORDER INVOKING THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, ETC and all parties are represented by attorneys, you MUST submit these through the online e-order system.
Page 1 | Procedure D: Submission of Orders and Judgments
Hard copy orders dropped off or mailed to the court will not be entered, including orders invoking rules brought to the small claims pretrial conference.
Any hard copies of Orders dropped off or mailed to the Court will NOT be entered. This also means you CANNOT bring Orders Invoking Rules to be signed at the small claims pretrial conference as they will NOT be entered. (You must still use the approved form for invoking the rules).
Page 1 | Procedure D: Submission of Orders and Judgments
If all parties are registered, the proposed or agreed continuance order may be submitted via the e-order system; an objection requires setting a hearing through online scheduling.
However, if all parties are registered in the case, you may submit the proposed or agreed order via the e-order court management system. If the opposing party objects to the continuance, it will be necessary to set a hearing on the Motion through on-line scheduling system.
Page 1 | Procedure K: Other Division Procedures
Case law may be submitted via CMS supporting documents tab, by email to the division email, or as a hard copy.
Case Law can be submitted via CMS under the supporting documents tab OR emailed to the Division e-mail (div82@17th.flcourts.org) OR submitted hard-copy to the Court.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - Case Law Submission
Pro se parties may submit a proposed order by mail with self-addressed stamped envelopes and copies for all parties.
Pro se/ unrepresented parties may mail a copy of the proposed order to the court along with self- addressed stamped envelopes and sufficient copies for all parties.
Page 1 | Procedure C: In-Person and Remote Appearances
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
The party requesting Uniform Motion Calendar relief must furnish a proposed order through the Court Online Order Portal within 5 days after the hearing.
Ex-parte matters and non-evidentiary motions may be heard on the Uniform Motion Calendar provided such matters can be conducted in five (5) minutes equally allocated among the parties. The party requesting relief shall furnish the Court a proposed order through the Court Online Order Portal within 5 days after the hearing.
Page 1 | Procedure C: In-Person and Remote Appearances
Self-represented parties must email or mail all hearing documentation to the Judicial Assistant at least five business days before the hearing.
Pro Se / Non Represented Parties must email or mail a copy of all Documentation that is to be presented to the court for the Hearing to the Judicial Assistant at least five (5) business days prior to the scheduled hearing date and must include a certification that a copy was provided to the opposing party.
Page 1 | Procedure C: Pro Se / Non Represented Parties
Any case law the parties intend to rely upon should be submitted to the Court and the opposing party at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing date, with the appropriate citations utilized and/or relied upon highlighted. This ensures the Court will have sufficient time to review the relevant portions in preparation for your hearing.
Any case law the parties intend to rely upon should be submitted to the Court and the opposing party at least five (5) business days prior to the hearing date, with the appropriate citations utilized and/or relied upon highlighted. This ensures the Court will have sufficient time to review the relevant portions in preparation for your hearing.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - Case Law Submission
Sanctions may be imposed if discovery is not completed within ten days of the ex-parte order or if a party fails to appear for a noticed Motion to Compel hearing.
Sanctions may be imposed if discovery is not completed within ten (10) days from the date the Ex-Parte Order is entered necessitating a hearing on a Motion to Compel, or if a party fails to appear for a properly noticed hearing on a Motion to Compel.
Page 1 | Procedure J: Division Forms - Motion to Compel Discovery
A filed motion must be set for hearing within 60 days of filing or risks being deemed abandoned or denied without prejudice.
A Motion that is filed must be set for hearing within 60 days of filing, or else may risk being either deemed abandoned OR may be denied without prejudice.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - Setting Motions Timely
If the opposing party fails to provide reasonable deposition dates within two business days of the request, the movant may unilaterally set the deposition.
Judge Peffer will not authorize motions to be set for hearing “to compel dates.” If the opposing party does not provide reasonable dates within two business days of the request, you may unilaterally set the deposition. The burden will then be on the opposing party to move for protective order and explain why no dates were provided.
Page 1 | Procedure K: Other Division Procedures
Represented parties may upload the motion and hearing documentation to CMS supporting documents five business days before the hearing.
Represented Parties may add the Motion and any other documentation for the hearing to supporting documents five (5) business days prior to the scheduled hearing.
Page 1 | Procedure C: Pro Se / Non Represented Parties
Service and Proof of Service Rules
The moving attorney must serve the client with a copy of the Motion to Withdraw and the Notice of Hearing.
You are also required to serve on your client a copy of the Motion to Withdraw and a Notice of Hearing.
Page 1 | Procedure K: Other Division Procedures
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A copy of the Notice for Trial with stamped, self-addressed envelopes for all parties must be mailed or delivered to the Judicial Assistant.
When filing a Notice for Trial, you MUST mail or deliver a copy of the Notice for Trial along with stamped, self-addressed envelopes for all parties to the Judicial Assistant.
Page 1 | Procedure I: Setting Case for Trial
Emergency motions and urgent matters must be filed with the Clerk and a courtesy copy emailed to the division email.
Emergency motions or other urgent matters shall be filed with the Clerk and a courtesy copy emailed to the division email at div82@17th.flcourts.org.
Page 1 | Procedure F: Emergency Hearings or Other Urgent Matters
Attorneys must send a copy of their Motion to Tax Costs and Award Attorney's Fees to the Judge's office.
Attorneys must send a copy of their Motion to Tax Costs and Award Attorney's Fees to the Judge's office. Once received, the Judge will electronically enter an Order Preliminary to Hearing.
Page 1 | Procedure L: Motion for Attorney's Fees and Tax Costs
Parties must bring four copies of all evidence to trial or the evidence may be excluded.
Parties are to bring 4 copies of all evidence to trial. One for Plaintiff. One for Defendant. One for the Clerk of the Court and one for the Court. It is not the Court's responsibility to make copies for unprepared litigants and evidence may be excluded if sufficient copies are unavailable.
Page 1 | Procedure I: Setting Case for Trial
Four copies of any document submitted into evidence are required: for the court, opposing party, submission into evidence, and the party.
Please bring FOUR (4) copies of any document you wish to submit into evidence: one for the court, one for the opposing party, one for submission into evidence, and one for yourself.
Page 1 | Procedure G: Exhibits for Evidentiary Proceedings
Courtesy copies are generally not required; parties wishing to send one must contact the Judicial Assistant first.
Generally, the Court does not require courtesy copies. If you desire to transmit a courtesy copy to the Court please contact the Judicial assistant at div82@17th.flcourts.org
Page 1 | Procedure E: Courtesy Copies
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
A law firm and its affiliated attorneys may not set more than three motions on a single day without advance court approval.
NO LAW FIRM (INCLUDING ALL ATTORNEYS AFFILIATED WITH THE FIRM) may set more than three (3) motions on any single day, even if the Motions involve separate files, unless approved in advance by the Court.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
Double booking hearings is prohibited and sanctions may be imposed; add-ons require court approval.
NO DOUBLE BOOKING of any hearing is permitted at any time. Sanctions may be imposed for non-compliance. No “ADD-ONs” will be permitted without approval of the Court.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
A fee hearing cannot be set until the Court determines entitlement and the parties comply with the preliminary order.
NOTE: Before a Fee Hearing may be set, the Court must determine Entitlement first. The parties must comply with the court's preliminary order.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
All parties must consult regarding attorney availability before scheduling a hearing.
It is MANDATORY that all parties consult regarding availability of each attorney. Users may log on at the same time to see the Court's schedule of available times when selecting the date and time for a hearing.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
For all other Motions to Compel, parties must make a bona fide item-by-item effort to resolve each matter first.
For all other Motions to Compel, the Court requires all parties to make a bona fide effort to resolve each matter being compelled on an item by item basis.
Page 1 | Procedure J: Division Forms - Motion to Compel Discovery
The Order Preliminary on a fees motion will not be entered until a final judgment or stipulation disposing of the underlying case is entered.
However, the Court will not enter its Order Preliminary unless there is a Final Judgment, Stipulation for Dismissal, etc., entered disposing of the underlying case.
Page 1 | Procedure L: Motion for Attorney's Fees and Tax Costs
Invocation of the rules is discretionary and rarely granted, and filing the motion does not excuse appearance at the pretrial conference unless an order is entered.
Please remember that the invocation of rules is discretionary with the Court and is rarely granted. Do not assume that the Rules have been invoked unless you receive a signed order from Judge Peffer. Also, please note that submission of a motion to invoke the rules does NOT excuse appearance at the Pretrial Conference unless the Court has actually entered the order.
Page 1 | Procedure H: Pretrial Procedures and Conferences
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A notice of cancellation and/or dismissal/settlement must be sent before the hearing date.
The Notice of Cancellation and/or Dismissal/Settlement must be sent before the hearing date.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
Opposing counsel must be contacted about any objection before filing a Motion for Continuance.
You must contact opposing counsel to determine if they have an objection prior to filing a Motion for Continuance.
Page 1 | Procedure K: Other Division Procedures
Special-set hearings may only be canceled by immediately emailing the Judicial Assistant with the reason and obtaining court approval.
Should any scheduled special-set hearing become unnecessary, the scheduling party shall immediately send an email to the Judicial Assistant explaining the reason for the desired cancellation. If approved by the Court, the Judicial Assistant will cancel the hearing (see Local Rule 11)
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
Canceling a hearing requires both online cancellation and direct notification to the Judicial Assistant.
Please keep in mind that the Judge and Judicial Assistant are not alerted when hearings are canceled through the on-line scheduling system, therefore you must not only cancel through the online system, but you must also contact the Judicial Assistant to notify her of the cancellation.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
Motion calendar hearings must be canceled promptly through the online scheduling system and only by the attorney who set them.
If you are canceling a Motion Calendar Hearing, please cancel it through the on-line scheduling system as soon as possible in order to allow someone else to schedule their hearing for that time slot. These hearings may only be canceled by the attorney that set the hearing.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
Chambers Communication Rules
Emergency motions will not be addressed unless they are rule-compliant ex-parte motions or the other side is copied on the email.
Please note that the Motion will not be addressed unless it is an ex-parte motion in compliance with the rules, or the other side is copied on the email.
Page 1 | Procedure F: Emergency Hearings or Other Urgent Matters
The Judicial Assistant must be emailed to set a hearing needing more than 30 minutes or for eviction/unlawful detainer, claim of exemption, and attorney fee hearings.
Please contact JENNIFER CASTANEDA, Judge Peffer's judicial assistant, by email (div82@17th.flcourts.org) to request that a motion be set for hearing if more than 30 minutes is needed AND/OR if setting a hearing for eviction and unlawful detainer, claim of exemption hearings and attorneys fee hearings.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
Cases without attorneys for all parties must schedule hearings through the Judicial Assistant unless the self-represented party agreed to online scheduling, and pro se status must be noted in the email.
IF YOUR CASE DOES NOT INVOLVE ATTORNEYS FOR ALL PARTIES, THEN THE HEARINGS MUST BE SET THROUGH THE JUDICIAL ASSISTANT, UNLESS THE SELF-REPRESENTED PARTY HAS AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN ONLINE SCHEDULING. PLEASE NOTE IN YOUR EMAIL IF A PARTY IS A SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT.
Page 1 | Procedure B: Hearing Procedures - How Do I Get a Hearing?
After complying with the Preliminary Order, the moving attorney must contact the Judicial Assistant to obtain a special set evidentiary hearing time.
Once the attorneys comply with the Preliminary Order and are ready for a special set hearing, the moving attorney must contact the Judicial Assistant to obtain a special set evidentiary hearing time. The judge's office will then enter an Order Setting Evidentiary Hearing.
Page 1 | Procedure L: Motion for Attorney's Fees and Tax Costs
A request to use screen-sharing on Zoom must be emailed to the division email at least one business day before the hearing.
FOR THE USE OF SCREEN-SHARING ON ZOOM, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO THE DIVISION EMAIL AT DIV82@17TH.FLCOURTS.ORG, AT LEAST ONE BUSINESS DAY PRIOR TO THE HEARING.
Page 1 | Procedure K: Other Division Procedures
The Judicial Assistant can be reached by phone, but non-urgent inquiries involving both parties are redirected to email with the other side copied.
You may reach Judge Peffer's Judicial Assistant at (954) 831-3381. If you call and the inquiry is not urgent, and involves both parties, you will be directed to correspond through email and copy the other side in the message.
Page 1 | Procedure A: Communications with the Judicial Office
Questions to the division email must copy the opposing party, and court personnel cannot relay ex-parte information to the Court.
If you have any questions, please email div82@17th.flcourts.org and remember to also copy the opposing party. This will ensure a prompt response. Before sending your email, make sure you obtain the other party's email address as required by Florida law, the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration. It's important to note that court personnel are not allowed to relay ex-parte information to the Court.
Page 1 | Procedure A: Communications with the Judicial Office
We understand and expect that many cases will settle after being noticed for trial. However, if your case resolves, as a professional courtesy to the Court, email the Judicial Assistant as soon as possible so the Judge can properly manage the rest of her docket. Failure to attend the pre-trial conference or case management hearing may result in dismissal or default of the case.
We understand and expect that many cases will settle after being noticed for trial. However, if your case resolves, as a professional courtesy to the Court, email the Judicial Assistant as soon as possible so the Judge can properly manage the rest of her docket. Failure to attend the pre-trial conference or case management hearing may result in dismissal or default of the case.
Page 1 | Procedure I: Setting Case for Trial
Parties may not call chambers to inquire whether the Judge has signed an order or received a document.
PLEASE do not call to inquire whether the Judge has signed a particular order or has received any document or pleading. We are unable to answer such questions because of the volume of phone calls and mail received each day.
Page 1 | Procedure L: Motion for Attorney's Fees and Tax Costs