Miami family law attorney blog
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Domestic Violence
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
How many times can a party file a Florida domestic violence injunction? If the filing is based on the same incident(s), more than one filing may not be allowed depending on the outcome of the first filing. This was an issue in the case Klement v. Kofsman, 4D21-1867 (Fla. 4th DCA March 30, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
In order to obtain an injunction for protection against sexual violence in Florida, a petitioner must prove: “(1) that the petitioner is the victim of sexual violence, (2) that the sexual violence was reported to law enforcement, and (3) that the petitioner 'is cooperating in any criminal proceeding against the respondent, regardless of whether criminal charges based on the sexual violence have been filed, reduced, or dismissed by the state attorney.’ § 784.046(2)(c), Fla. Stat. (2020).” See Rollins v. Rollins, 5D21-2301 (Fla. 5th DCA March 18, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
When a long time has passed since the entry of a Florida domestic violence injunction was entered, a party may be able to ask to have it dissolved. The passage of time is not the only factor the court has to consider, however, in determining whether an injunction should be dissolved. This was an issue in the case Labrake v. Labrake, 1D21-456 (Fla. 1st DCA March 16, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
Who has standing to request a domestic violence injunction in Florida? According to the Florida Statutes, this type of injunction may be sought by “family or household members”, which are defined as “spouses, former spouses, persons related by blood or marriage, persons who are presently residing together as if a family or who have resided together in the past as if a family, and persons who are parents of a child in common regardless of whether they have been married. With the exception of persons who have a child in common, the family or household members must be currently residing or have in the past resided together in the same single dwelling unit.” See Chp. 741, Fla. Stat. Standing was an issue in the case Alcon v. Collins, 1D20-2265 (Fla. 1st DCA March 2, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
How long does someone have after an incident of violence to file a petition for injunction against domestic violence in Florida? There is no “bright line” rule but there has to be a reasonable amount of time. It may be difficult, for example, for a party to prove he or she is in fear of becoming a victim of domestic violence again if his or her last contact or incident of violence with the abuser was several years prior. The amount of time it took for a petition to be filed after an alleged incident of violence was an issue in the case Dickson v. Curtis, 3D21-1086 (Fla. 3d DCA February 9, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
A party’s acts toward another, no matter how annoying, inconsiderate or even violent, may not be enough to support the entry of a Florida stalking injunction. Entry of this type of injunction requires a showing of a course of conduct involving two separate incidents of stalking that evidence a continuity of purpose to harass. This was an issue in the case Stallings v. Bernard, 2D20-3141 (Fla. 2d DCA February 18, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
A Florida dating violence injunction can be obtained when a victim of violence has reasonable cause to believe he or she is in imminent danger of becoming the victim of another act of dating violence. See Florida Statute Chp. 784.046(2)(b). What qualifies as “reasonable cause”? This was an issue in the case Santos v. Bartoletta, 2D20-3652 (Fla. 2d DCA February 2, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
What evidence is admissible in a Florida domestic violence case? Whether or not evidence is admissible depends on a variety of factors, including the type of evidence and the ability to authenticate evidence. This was an issue in the case Payne v. Koch, 5D21-2420 (Fla. 5th DCA January 28, 2021) in which a domestic violence injunction was sought by a father individually and on behalf of his child against the child’s mother.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
When examining whether or not stalking occurred in a Florida domestic violence case, a court looks at whether or not there is a pattern of harassment, among other factors. Does a person taking a job at the same place as an ex romantic partner establish a pattern of harassment? This was an issue in the case Ahern v. Leon, 4D21-539 (Fla. 4th DCA January 19, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
What does a court consider when someone asks for a Florida domestic violence injunction to be dissolved? In order to dissolve an injunction based on changed circumstances, the person asking for this must “demonstrate that the scenario underlying the injunction no longer exists so that continuation of the injunction would serve no valid purpose.” Bak v. Bak, 4D20-1676 (Fla. 4th DCA January 19, 2022) (internal citation omitted).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
What distinguishes unpleasant behavior from stalking? The distinction is important since a Florida domestic violence injunction cannot be entered based merely on unpleasant interactions with someone. To obtain a stalking injunction, a person must show in part that he or she is under emotional distress because of the actions of someone else. This was an issue in the case Hasan v. Rivera, 4D20-1598 (Fla. 4th DCA January 12, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
The subject of a Florida dating violence injunction may involve a break-up that goes wrong. When a dating relationship ends, the parties may behave in a way that gives rise to the filing of a domestic violence injunction petition. This was an issue in the case Bell v. Battaglia, 2D19-280 (Fla. 2d DCA January 12, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
What qualifies as cyberstalking in Florida? According to the Florida Statutes, it is “To engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at a specific person . . . causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose.” Fla. Stat. Chp. 784.048(1)(d). This was an issue in the case Strober v. Harris, 2D21-267 (Fla. 2d DCA January 5, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
In order to obtain a stalking injunction in Florida, a party must prove two separate incidents of stalking. When the parties to a stalking injunction case are neighbors, an injunction could interfere with the accused’s right to enjoy and be present in his or her own home. This was an issue in the case Sutton v. Fowler, 4D20-1978 (Fla. 4th DCA December 22, 2021).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
A Florida domestic violence injunction is available to a person who is the victim of abuse and is in reasonable fear that the abuse will continue. The incidents alleged cannot be too remote in time, and must put a reasonable person in fear of becoming a victim of domestic violence. An appeal of an injunction was an issue in the case McGuire v. Boscan, 3D20-1419 (Fla. 3d DCA December 1, 2021).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
How recent must allegations of abuse be in order to support a Florida domestic violence injunction? Since a party must show he or she is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of violence, the acts alleged cannot be too remote in time, and depending on the type of injunction sought, one of the incidents must have occurred within 6 months of filing the petition. This was an issue in the case Files v. Hayes, 1D20-3652 (Fla. 1st DCA September 22, 2021).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
A relationship filled with constant breaking up and getting back together may form the basis for a Florida stalking injunction. When one party is ready to make a break up permanent, the other party may not understand the repercussions of continuing with unwanted attempts to contact the party who has moved on. This was the case in the matter of Chiu v. Adams, 5D20-2502 (Fla. 5th DCA September 3, 2021).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
When a person spreads damaging information about a person to third parties, can this be enough to obtain an injunction against stalking in Florida? Generally, the person relaying the information to third parties can show he or she did so for a legitimate purpose and not simply for the purpose of harassing the alleged victim, this is not considered stalking. This was an issue in the case Ozyesilpinar v. Jalali, 3D19-2427 (Fla. 3d DCA August 18, 2021).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
How do I dissolve a Florida domestic violence injunction? This is a question many have because an injunction affects many aspects of life such as the ability to possess firearms and to hold certain jobs. According to Florida law, “A party seeking to dissolve an injunction for protection entered against him has the burden to establish changed circumstances sufficient to “demonstrate that the scenario underlying the injunction no longer exists so that continuation of the injunction would serve no valid purpose.” Bradley v. Sylman, 5D21-649 (Fla. 5th DCA July 23, 2021).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Domestic Violence
A domestic violence injunction can be appealed, but what happens when the injunction expires while the appeal is pending? Usually, expiration of the injunction renders the appeal moot, which means since the injunction is no longer in effect, there is no issue to appeal anymore. This was a topic in the case Waite v. Chapman, 2D19-4680 (Fla. 2d DCA June 18, 2021).
