Court Filings

The Court of Appeals held that defendant's written speedy-trial motion under CPL 30.30(1)(b), filed on the day trial was to begin, was timely and provided reasonable notice to the People. The Appellate Division erred in affirming the trial court's summary refusal to consider the motion as untimely and for lack of notice. Because the motion complied with the specific statutory deadline in CPL 170.30(2) and included detailed calculations of chargeable days, the Court reversed and remitted the case for further proceedings on the motion so the People may be given a fair opportunity to respond and the trial court may exercise its discretion how to proceed.

The Court of Appeals affirmed the Appellate Division's reversal of Supreme Court's judgment in a CPLR article 78 challenge. Petitioner Bi-Coastal Properties had sought review of respondents' denial of a clerical error review application and claimed entitlement to J-51 tax exemption benefits beginning July 1, 2020. The Court held that the petitioner’s challenge—asserting an overassessment caused by failure to apply a change in physical value and an exemption after window replacement—was reviewable only under the Real Property Tax Law's article 7 procedures, not by CPLR article 78. The certified question was left unanswered as unnecessary.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by Zakariya Daud Clarke from the denial of a motion under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 (postconviction relief) in the Circuit Court for Clay County. The appellate court, in a per curiam decision, affirmed the lower court's ruling. The opinion is brief and does not include detailed reasoning in the published entry; the appellate panel unanimously concurred and issued the decision on April 21, 2026.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal issued a short per curiam decision affirming a nonfinal ruling from the Circuit Court for Brevard County in case number 2019-CA-052645. The appeal was brought by William Ivan (individually and as trustee) against Jeff Holder and Andrew Holder (and nominal parties). The appellate court, without published opinion, affirmed the lower court's ruling. No reasoning or detailed findings are included in the document beyond the affirmance and the judges' concurrence.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's decision in a case brought by Si’leshia Green as parent and natural guardian of a minor against the Flagler County School Board. The appeal arose from the circuit court in Flagler County (case 18-2023-CA-99). The opinion is per curiam, issued April 21, 2026, and provides no published reasoning beyond affirmance. The panel of Judges Lambert, Edwards, and Harris concurred. The mandate is subject to any timely post-judgment motions under Florida appellate rules.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed a lower-court ruling in a dispute between policyholder Norma Tamburini and Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. The opinion is per curiam and contains only the single-word disposition “AFFIRMED,” indicating the appellate court upheld the circuit court’s judgment. No published reasoning or opinion text appears in the document beyond the affirmation and the panel concurrence, so the court relied on the record and the circuit court’s decision without issuing additional analysis in this entry.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed Gary W. Lucas, Jr.'s appeal from a Duval County circuit court criminal case. The panel issued a per curiam decision on April 21, 2026, and concluded the appeal lacked merit, affirming the judgment below. No published opinion or extended reasoning accompanied the single-line disposition; the court simply announced AFFIRMED and recorded concurrence by the three judges. The decision is subject to any timely post‑opinion motions under Florida appellate rules.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed Carl Joseph Johnson's appeal from Seminole County circuit court criminal proceedings and, in a brief per curiam decision dated April 21, 2026, affirmed the lower court's ruling. The opinion contains no extended explanation or reasoning, and the panel (Chief Judge Jay and Judges Eisnaugle and Boatwright) issued a unanimous affirmance. The mandate is subject to timely post-judgment motions under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.330 or 9.331.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court's judgment in the criminal case of Brent Paul Venrooy v. State of Florida. The opinion is per curiam, dated April 21, 2026, and provides no published reasoning beyond the single-word disposition "AFFIRMED." The panel of judges (Lambert, Soud, Boatwright) concurred. The decision notes the case came from the Circuit Court for St. Johns County and that any timely post-opinion motions under Florida appellate rules may still be filed.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed Viswanauth Somwaru's appeal from the trial court's denial of a postconviction motion under Florida Rule 3.850. After briefing and oral argument, the appellate court issued a short, per curiam decision on April 21, 2026, holding that the lower court's ruling would be affirmed. The opinion contains no extended reasoning in the published entry; it simply affirms the circuit court's disposition and notes the panel members who concurred.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal considered an appeal by Trevorisse Thomas from the denial of a Rule 3.850 motion in Duval County. The court issued a brief per curiam decision on April 21, 2026, affirming the lower court's ruling. No written opinion was provided and the state did not file an appearance. The panel unanimously concurred, and the decision is subject to any timely motion for rehearing or certification under Florida appellate rules.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed Timothy Barrett, Sr.'s appeal from the denial of his Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 postconviction motion. The court issued a brief per curiam opinion on April 21, 2026, concluding the appeal should be affirmed. No reasons are provided in the published entry; the panel judgment affirms the circuit court's ruling, and judges Jay, Edwards, and Kilbane concurred. The decision is subject to timely motion for rehearing or certification under the Florida appellate rules.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed a nonfinal order from the Circuit Court for Lake County in a family-law dispute between Thomas B. Symonette (appellant) and Mary Symonette n/k/a Mary M. Bradley (appellee). The appellate court, in a brief per curiam opinion, affirmed the circuit court's ruling without published opinion or extended explanation. The decision was entered on April 21, 2026, and the panel of judges concurred. The opinion notes that the decision is not final until disposition of any authorized post-judgment motion under Florida appellate rules.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's decision in a family law matter between Micaiah Lufcy (appellant) and Sarah Lufcy (n/k/a Tolfa) (appellee). The appeal arose from proceedings in the Seminole County Circuit Court, and the appellate court issued a short per curiam opinion simply stating 'AFFIRMED.' No additional reasoning or factual details are included in the published entry. The panel of judges Wallis, Edwards, and Maciver concurred, and the decision was issued April 21, 2026.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's judgment in the criminal case of Matthew Lucas Wade. The appeal arose from a conviction in Citrus County circuit court and was argued by Wade's public defenders against the State. The per curiam opinion contains no published reasoning beyond the court's conclusion to affirm. All three panel judges concurred and the opinion notes that the decision is not final until any timely authorized post-judgment motions are resolved.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed Justin Ryan McMillian’s appeal from the trial court’s denial of his motion under Florida Rule 3.850 (postconviction relief). The appellate court, in a per curiam decision, affirmed the lower court’s ruling without published opinion or extended explanation. The court’s brief order indicates it found no reversible error in the trial court’s handling of McMillian’s 3.850 claims and left the circuit court’s disposition intact.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed two nonfinal orders in a family-related proceeding: one denying Elizabeth Collins's motion to disqualify the respondent's trial counsel and a separate order staying the underlying action. The court treated the disqualification matter as an interlocutory appeal under the Florida Rules and affirmed the lower court's denial. The petition challenging the stay order was dismissed. The opinion is short and does not provide detailed reasoning on the merits of the disqualification ruling.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal reviewed Christine Marie Lackey's appeals from three circuit-court criminal cases in Sumter County. After considering the record and briefs, the panel issued a unanimous per curiam decision affirming the judgments below. The opinion contains no extended discussion or legal analysis; it simply announces that the appellate court affirms the trial-court rulings. Judges Wallis, Harris, and Maciver concurred, and the opinion notes the decision is not final until any timely post-opinion motions are resolved.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's decision in a civil case between appellant Britne White and appellee Fidus Roofing & Construction, LLC. The appeal arose from a judgment or order entered by the Circuit Court for St. Johns County. The appellate court issued a per curiam opinion on April 21, 2026, with the panel unanimously concurring and affirmed the lower court's ruling without published opinion or extended reasoning in the document provided.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's decision in the criminal matter involving Keith Taurus Hamlet, Sr. The appeal was taken under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(b)(2) from the Circuit Court for Orange County. The appellate court issued a short per curiam opinion—stating only 'AFFIRMED'—with three judges concurring and without published reasoning in the opinion excerpt provided. The defendant represented himself on appeal; the State was represented by the Attorney General's office.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by Colbert Cherubin from a Polk County circuit court decision and, in a per curiam opinion, affirmed the lower court's judgment. The opinion contains no extended discussion, reasoning, or explanation beyond the court's unanimous decision to affirm. The panel consisted of Judges Smith, Brownlee, and Kamoutsas, and counsel for both sides are noted. The decision was entered April 21, 2026, and is subject to the normal deadline for a motion for rehearing.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal reviewed a criminal appeal by Aron Rodriguez-Villasana from the Polk County circuit court under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.141(b)(2). The court issued a per curiam opinion on April 21, 2026, affirming the lower court's judgment. No separate written opinion or explanation of reasoning is provided in the published entry; the panel of three judges concurred. The decision becomes final when the time to file a motion for rehearing expires or any filed rehearing motion is resolved.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal issued a brief per curiam decision affirming the trial court's judgment in a case where T.M., the father of two minor children, appealed the Department of Children and Families. The appeal arose from proceedings in the Circuit Court for Hamilton County. The appellate panel (Rowe, Ray, and Long, JJ.) unanimously concurred and affirmed the lower court's decision without published opinion. The mandate is subject to any timely motions authorized by Florida appellate rules.

The First District Court of Appeal reviewed Wesley Bunsee's appeal from a decision of the Circuit Court for Escambia County and issued a per curiam decision on April 21, 2026. The appellate court affirmed the lower court's judgment without published opinion. The panel (Roberts, Ray, and Treadwell, JJ.) concurred, and the opinion notes that the judgment is not final until any timely post-judgment appellate motions are resolved. Counsel for both parties are listed in the record.

The Florida First District Court of Appeal reviewed an appeal by Wesley Bunsee from a decision of the Circuit Court for Escambia County. The appellate court issued a short, per curiam opinion on April 21, 2026, concluding simply: AFFIRMED. No opinion explanation or discussion of the issues appears in the published entry; the judgment of the lower court therefore stands. The panel consisted of Judges Roberts, Ray, and Treadwell, and counsel for the parties are noted in the filing.

The First District Court of Appeal reviewed Robert D. Allen's appeal from a decision of the Circuit Court for Escambia County. After considering the record, the appellate court issued a per curiam decision on April 21, 2026, affirming the lower court's judgment. The opinion is brief: it announces affirmation without published opinion or extended explanation, and the three-judge panel concurred. The decision noted that it is not final until any timely authorized post-judgment appellate motions are resolved.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal reviewed Terry L. Young's appeal from the Circuit Court for Orange County and issued a per curiam opinion on April 21, 2026. The court affirmed the lower court's decision. The short opinion contains only the disposition (affirmed), notes that the opinion is not final until the rehearing period expires, and records that Young appeared pro se while the State did not file a responding appearance.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's judgment in a civil case between borrower Peter A. Liggatt (appellant) and Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company (appellee). The appellate panel issued a brief per curiam decision, noting the appeal from the Circuit Court for Orange County and concluding that the lower court's ruling should stand. No extended opinion or reasoning was published in the document; the court simply entered judgment affirming the lower tribunal's decision and the three judges concurred.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal affirmed a County Court judgment in a criminal/procedural matter. The appeal was filed by Kendrick Tyron Perry, Sr., pro se, from a decision of the County Court for Lee County (Judge Devin S. George). The appellate court issued a per curiam opinion on April 21, 2026, concluding the lower-court judgment should stand. No detailed reasoning, facts, or issues are provided in the published entry beyond the affirmance and the court of appeal judges concurring.

The Sixth District Court of Appeal reviewed Justus Pierce's appeal from a Lee County circuit court criminal matter and affirmed the lower court's decision. The opinion is per curiam, brief, and provides no extended reasoning in the published text. The panel (Traver, C.J., White and Gannam, JJ.) voted to affirm the judgment below. The decision was issued April 21, 2026, and counsel for both parties are identified in the filing.