The Civil Case Management Program monitors all circuit civil cases with the exception of family matters. These are cases with damages in excess of $30,000 filed by a business, individual, or other organization. Some examples of case types that fall under the circuit civil category of cases are residential foreclosures, contract disputes, malpractice matters, tort actions, and products liability.

The Supreme Court of Florida has established guidelines for the prompt processing and resolution of civil cases, “the trial judge shall take charge of all cases at an early stage in the litigation and shall control the progress of the case thereafter until the case is determined.” Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.545(b). This Court has adopted a case management system to help meet those guidelines.

The Case Management system requires early consultation and cooperation among the parties for the preparation and submission of an Agreed Case Management Plan.

The basis for the Civil Case Management plan is identified as the Civil Differentiated Case Management (DCM) Procedures and Backlog Reduction Plan. The plan is to be used a model for the purpose of establishing time standards, improving the courts ability to provide early and continuous management of civil cases as required by Fla. R. Jud Admin 2.545.