Transcript eFiling Tutorial

EFILING “DEBRIEF”
ONE YEAR LATER
Christin Gallardo, Esq.
Agenda
• Recent Amendments to Rules of Judicial Administration
Related to eFiling and eService
• Portal Enhancements
• Tri-County Differences in Procedures and Policies
• Navigating the Broward County e-Issuance System for
Summonses, Writs and Subpoenas
• Certified Copies Through the Portal
• Avoiding Pitfalls in e-Filing from the Desk of the Broward
County Clerk’s Office
• Signing Your Pleadings Digitally
• Compiling ADA Compliant Pleadings
Rule 2.515 – SC13-915
• The signature of an attorney on a pleading constitutes a
certificate that the signing attorney
• read the document
• that to the best of the attorney’s belief, there are grounds to support
the document
• the documents is not intended to delay
• the document contains no confidential or sensitive
information or any confidential or sensitive info has been
protected pursuant to Rule 2.420 [confidentiality] and 2.425
[minimization]
Rule 2.515 - SC13-915
• The subsequent filing using an attorneys credentials
and/or service of a documents the attorney certifies:
• compliance with the four requirements outlined in the last slide and
accepts responsibility for the document
• compliance with all rules of procedure regarding service
• that every person identified as a signer has authorized the
signature
• “every signing attorney is as responsible for the document as
if that document had been served by such signing attorney or
filed using the assigned electronic filing credentials of such
signing attorney”
Rule 2.525 - SC13-915
• Amended to now explicitly require a document to be efiled
by the attorney who signs the document
• “(b) Only the filing credentials of an attorney who has signed a
document may be used to file that document by electronic
transmission”
Rule 2.516 – SC13-1915
• Amended to reflect the ability to now serve documents via
the Portal (“eService”)
• eService, and service by e-mail, is treated as service by
mail for the computation of time. RJA 2.516 (b)(1)(D)(iii)
• When a party may or must act within a specified time after service
and service is made by mail or email, 5 days are added to the
period… . RJA 2.514(a)(b)
Service through the Portal is not available when serving documents
that are to be served but not filed such as discovery responses,
Proposals for settlement, etc.
Portal Enhancements
Quick file to cases you’ve already filed on by
selecting “My Cases” in the top menu.
Portal Enhancements
Find your case on the list and select “File Now.”
You’ve just saved yourself and your client’s valuable time!
Portal Enhancements
• Enhancements to “Appellate Workbench”
• Use the Portal when filing to the 2nd DCA and the Supreme Court
• Use eDCA for the 1st, 3rd, and 4th DCA
Portal Enhancements
• Notice of Inclusion on a Case
Receive notification when you’ve been added to a service list.
Portal Enhancements
• Notice of Email Delivery Failure
Portal Enhancements
• Service List Notifications
Triple check your service list, especially when filing
confidential documents such as Estate Inventories.
Portal Enhancements
• Document Type Search
Select “Add Document”
Portal Enhancements
• Document Type Search
Select “Search for Document Group and Type”
Portal Enhancements
• Document Type Search
Enter search terms and press “Select”
Portal Enhancements
• Document Type Search
Select the desired document from the list provided.
Portal Enhancements
• New selection for confidential information:
Selection number three is applicable to Baker Act and Marchman Act
files in Broward pursuant to its local Administrative Order 2011-11-PRC.
Certified Copies, Summonses
Writs and Subpoenas
• Broward
• Palm Beach
• Miami-Dade
*
summonses only
Certified Copies - Broward
Select the number of pages/documents on the case status page.
Make sure to order an envelope!
Certified Copies - Broward
Select the filing type “Copy of” and upload a memorandum
to the clerk with a list of the requested documents.
Summonses, Writs and Subpoenas
• Broward Summonses/Writs/Subpoenas Procedure
• Summonses/Writs/Subpoenas will be listed under the Document
Types. Select the appropriate document type(s) and upload your
document.
• The Portal will automatically calculate fees.
• The clerk will apply stamps and signatures to the electronic
eIssued image, and an electronic version of the issued document
will be sent to the filer via email.
• Print and provide the hard-copy version of the issued document(s)
to their service provider of choice for service.
• eFile the original Return of Service along with the summons or
subpoena in one document.
Proposed Orders via the Portal
• Broward
• Palm Beach
• Miami-Dade
* submit via Portal with cover letter or attached to petition
* submit by paper
* submit by paper
Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Broward
• Proposed orders should be submitted with a cover letter or attached
to the petition.
• Documents must be signed correctly and legibly - electronically or
otherwise.
• The Notice of Filing and the document to which it refers should be
uploaded separately
• Use the Smart Form if there is one and makes sure to merge exhibits
using a PDF merger tool.
• Consents and Waivers should be uploaded separately.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Broward
• Don’t forget to put the correct case number on your document. Use a
cover sheet if necessary to avoid confusion.
• When filing a New Case, make sure the Petition/Complaint is the first
document uploaded.
• Make sure to enter the page number and documents numbers
correctly when ordering certified copies and don’t forget to attach a
memo explaining what copies are being requested.
• Don’t scan documents in color.
Creating and Using a Digital Signature
Place your original signature on a clean sheet of paper
and scan it.
2. Open the scan and take a screenshot of your screen by
pressing [ctrl] [Print Screen].
3. Open Microsoft Paint.
4. Paste the screenshot into Microsoft Paint by pressing
[ctrl] [v].
1.
Creating and Using a Digital Signature
5. Use the crop tool to draw a box around your signature.
6. Copy the image of your signature that you have cropped by
hovering your mouse inside the box and pressing [ctrl] [c].
Creating and Using a Digital Signature
7. Open a new document in Paint and
paste the cropped image using [ctrl] [v].
8. Use your mouse to drag the corner of the
white background closer to your signature
to create a smaller image.
9. Use the save icon to save a JPEG file of
your signature onto your computer.
Creating and Using a Digital Signature
Open your ready-to-file converted pleading in Adobe Acrobat and
select the “Sign” option to open the menu. Select “Place Signature.”
Creating and Using a Digital Signature
A dialog box will open and prompt you to select an option.
Select “Use an Image.”
Use the Browse option that appears to browse to
the location where you saved your signature image.
Creating and Using a Digital Signature
Your image will appear in the
review pane. Press “Accept.”
The dialog box will disappear
and you will be able to move
the image of your signature
around on the document.
Click your mouse to apply it.
To resize, click and drag the corner.
Creating and Using a Digital Signature
Once you have placed
all needed signatures,
select “Signed. Proceed
to send.”
Select “Save a Copy.”
Merge document with
your exhibits and eFile!
Accessibility RJA 2.526
• Any document that is or will become a judicial branch
record…must be formatted in a manner that complies
with all state and federal laws requiring that electronic
judicial records be accessible to persons with disabilities,
including without limitation the Americans with Disabilities
Act and Section 508 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of
1973 as incorporated into Florida law by section
282.603(1), Florida Statutes (2010), and any related
federal or state regulations or administrative rules.
Accessibility RJA 2.526
• Making court documents usable by assistive devices, i.e.
•
•
•
•
•
•
screen readers
Convert directly to PDF.
Lead pleading only at this time. Exhibits can be scanned
and then merged with lead pleading.
Can OCR but be mindful of size limitations for service
(5MB) and eFiling (25MB).
Use electronic signature.
CLE on this topic available on Florida Bar website.
http://www.floridasupremecourt.org/clerk/electronicAccess
ibility.shtml
Resources
• www.myflcourtaccess.com detailed eFiling manual available via link
at bottom of page
• ADA Link www.floridasupremecourt.org
• Florida Supreme Court Standards for Electronic Access AOSC0930
http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/technology/bin/UpdatedEAccessStandardsFeb2012v7.pdf
• Efiling Authority (including instructional videos and other materials)
http://www.flclerks.com/eFiling_authority.html#Manuals
• Broward: www.browardclerk.org (will also provide links to resources)
• Miami-Dade: http://www.miami-dadeclerk.com/faq_efiling.asp
http://www.miami-dadeclerk.com/contact.asp (efiling inquiry form)
• Palm Beach: http://www.mypalmbeachclerk.com/efiling.aspx
Support
• Portal registration issues/technical problems with
Florida Courts ePortal: [email protected]
or eFiling Portal Help line at 850-577-4609
• Broward -Did not receive notification of clerk action
within 24 hours: send an email to
[email protected] include reference number in the
subject line
• Other questions: Broward County Clerk Internet/Public
Access Help Desk at 954-831-5588 and your call will be
routed to the appropriate division
Thank you!
Special Thanks to Dian Diaz and Allison Woodham
at the Broward Probate Clerk’s Office for providing
assistance in compiling the “common pitfalls.”
To download a copy of this powerpoint, please visit
http://www.wintterlaw.com/attorneys-staff/christin-gallardo/