Epstein Secrets

Epstein here, the plaintiff argued that strict compliance with Rule 1.440 was required. The plaintiff relied upon a previous First District opinion, Bennett v. Continental Chemicals, Inc., 492 So.2d 724 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986), in which the court adopted a bright line rule that strict compliance with Rule 1

15 EFTA00808533 C. Epstein Waived the Right to Rely on Rule 1.440 Epstein has waived reliance on Rule 1.440. As discussed above, Epstein filed the Second Amended Complaint on August 22, 2011. Rothstein never answered the complaint. Pursuant to Rule 1.500(a), Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, it was incumbent upon Epst

because there was no default against Rothstein on the operative complaint. Florida law is clear: "strict compliance with rule 1.440 is mandatory." Bennett v. Cont'l Chemicals, Inc., 492 So. 2d 724, 727 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986) (emphasis added).6 At the earliest opportunity on the next business day, Monday,

Edwards filed a "Supplement" to his Motion for Separate Trials (App. 15). In his Supplement, Edwards advised for the first time that no default on the Second Amended Complaint had been entered in Epstein's case against Rothstein. In other words, at the time Edwards filed his motion to set case for trial, 7 EFTA00793699

se for trial, the "action" is not "at issue" when Edwards made his request. Florida law is clear: "strict compliance with rule 1.440 is mandatory." Bennett v. Cont'l Chemicals, Inc., 492 So. 2d 724, 727 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986) (emphasis added). Accord Teelucksingh v. Teelucksingh, 21 So. 3d 37, 37 (Fla. 2d

m., in a "Supplement" to his Motion for Separate Trials filed just the day before (App. 14), Edwards asserted for the first time that no default on the Second Amended Complaint had been entered in Epstein's case against Rothstein. In other words, at the time Edwards filed his motion to set case for trial, the case was not

set 5 EFTA00793771 the cause for trial, the "action" was not "at issue." Florida law is clear: "strict compliance with rule 1.440 is mandatory." Bennett v. Cont'l Chemicals, Inc., 492 So. 2d 724, 727 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986) (emphasis added). Accord Teelucksingh v. Teelucksingh, 21 So. 3d 37, 37 (Fla. 2d

recognized the case was not at issue at the time the motion to 5 Epstein simultaneously filed his Motion for Default Against Defendant Rothstein on the Second Amended Complaint. (App. 17). Pursuant to Rule 1.440, the "action" will be at issue 20 days after the circuit court grants Epstein's motion for default. Thereafter,

DCA case recognizing the 16 mandatory nature and compliance, strict 17 compliance with Rule 1.440.• Judge May 14 wrote, 'we don't quarrel with Bennett versus 19 Continental Chemicals.• 20 However, we point out that none of 21 those cases involve the case that has boon 22 pending at issue for

longer applied. Mr. Edwards pointed out to this Court and to Mr. Epstein -- he is absolutely correct -- that Mr. Epstein's operative complaint is the Second Amended Complaint to which there is no default. What rule 2.440 tolls this Court to do is to look at the time that Mr. Edwards moved -- it's maybe a notice to set