When it comes to family law, John F. Schutz, P.L. is a full service firm. As Florida appellate attorneys, we will represent you through pre-suit settlement attempts, mediation, discovery, temporary relief hearings, trial and appeal. Our philosophy is that the appellate process is a necessary extension of the trial practice. When judges make mistakes, the Florida appellate court is designed to address those mistakes. Having Florida appellate attorneys who understand your situation from day one is critical to securing a favorable ruling.
For example, we have filed and received favorable rulings in multiple appeals to keep psychological and substance abuse treatment records from being turned over to a client’s spouse or the spouse’s lawyer. Trial courts emboldened with broad discretion have attempted to invade our client’s privileges and privacy. We have successfully appealed these erroneous decisions and maintained our client’s privacy.
In a contentious alimony modification case, the trial court failed to protect our client’s right to have a court reporter present during her evaluation. The appellate court reversed the trial court and agreed that our client had a right to this protection.In a modification of child custody case, the trial court permitted the release of our client’s psychological records. The appellate court reversed the trial court and protected our client’s psychological records.
Where the initial determination of child custody was at issue, the trial court permitted the release of our client’s psychological and treatment records. The appellate court granted our emergency motion to stay the disclosure of the records and reversed the trial court ruling, protecting our client’s privilege
After the trial court found Mr. Schutz’s client in contempt for failing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in spousal and child support from a Pennsylvania court, Mr. Schutz appealed. The appellate court reversed the finding of contempt and found the alleged arrearage was unenforceable under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA).
In a contempt action, Mr. Schutz successfully overturned the trial court’s ruling holding the Former Husband in contempt for non-payment of child support. The appellate court also reversed the award of attorney’s fees against the Former Husband.
Mr. Schutz represented the Former Wife in a contempt action. He was successful in having the Former Husband held in contempt for his failure to pay his child support obligation. The Former Husband appealed the trial court’s ruling. The appellate court agreed with the trial court and Mr. Schutz that the Former Husband was in contempt of court and that he had the ability to pay his past due child support.
In a modification of child support case, Mr. Schutz successfully argued to the appellate court to reverse the trial court ruling denying his client’s retroactive reduction in child support. The appellate court agreed with Mr. Schutz and his client was given a significant retroactive reduction in his child support payment.
Where the trial court ordered the Wife’s pleadings to be struck and entered a default judgment against her, Mr. Schutz successfully overturned the trial court’s ruling in the appellate court and had the issue remanded back to the trial court.