Vero Beach Civil Litigation Lawyer

 Which Court Hears Your Case

Florida sorts civil cases by the amount in dispute and the type of case.

• County court: generally handles civil disputes of $50,000 or less, including small claims.
• Circuit court: generally handles civil disputes exceeding $50,000 along with certain type cases (regardless of the amount), including disputes over title or boundaries of real property.

In Indian River County, county and circuit civil cases are filed and heard at the Indian River County Courthouse, 2000 16th Avenue, Vero Beach.

Some civil cases belong in federal court instead of state court.  The federal court can have jurisdiction when the issue arises  under federal law or because the parties are from different states and the amount at issue is more than $75,000.  Federal civil cases from Indian River County are heard in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, located at 101 South U.S. Highway 1 in Fort Pierce.  Gregory Heritage is admitted to practice in that court.

How a Florida Civil Lawsuit Works Since the 2025 Rule Changes

On January 1, 2025, the Florida Supreme Court substantially amended the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, which governs civil cases.  Consequently, civil cases now move more efficiently, deadlines are firmer, and parties must be prepared for trial on time.

• The complaint and the response.  A lawsuit begins when the plaintiff files a complaint and serves it on the defendant.  A defendant generally has 20 days after service to respond, either with an answer or with a motion.  A defendant who does nothing can have a default entered against them.
• Initial disclosures within 60 days.  Each side must provide the opposing party, without being asked, the names of witnesses, copies or descriptions of relevant documents, electronically stored information, a calculation of the damages it claims, and any insurance policy that may cover the claim.  A party is not excused from this discovery requirement because it has not finished investigating. 
• A case management order with real deadlines.  The court assigns every case to a streamlined, general, or complex track and issues an order setting deadlines for discovery, motions, mediation, and a projected trial period.  Continuances are harder to get than they used to be.
• Discovery.  Written questions, document requests, and depositions, are now limited to what is proportional to the needs of the case. Before filing most motions, the lawyers must confer and try to resolve the issue first.
• Summary judgment.  Florida Judges can grant summary judgment if there are no genuine issues of any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. 
• Mediation.  Florida judges can and routinely do order civil cases to mediation before trial.  During mediation, a neutral mediator works with both sides to try to reach a settlement.  As a result, many civil cases settle during mediation.  To achieve a reasonable settlement, a lawyer should be prepared for trial.
• Trial.  If the case does not settle, it is tried before a judge or a six-person jury.

Civil Disputes We Handle in Indian River County

• Breach of contract.
• Business disputes.
• Homeowners’ association disputes for homeowners and associations.
• Fraud and misrepresentation in business and transactions.
• Defending lawsuits, including claims brought against individuals and small businesses.

Veterans and Service Members in Civil Cases

Service members on active duty have protections in civil cases that many lawyers and many plaintiffs overlook. The federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is a federal law that provides legal and financial  protections to eligible military service members, including protections in civil lawsuits.  Further, Florida law can allow a court to pause a civil case when military duty materially affects a service member’s ability to appear, and there are restrictions for default judgments against service members whom could not respond.  

If you were served with a lawsuit while deployed or on orders, those protections should be raised early to the Court.

About Gregory M. Heritage

He has more than 26 years of legal experience across four states and the District of Columbia.  He has personally completed more than 1,500 cases in civil and criminal courts.

Gregory Heritage holds an LL.M. in Litigation and Dispute Resolution from George Washington University Law School, which is a graduate law degree focused on resolving disputes and trial execution.  He earned his J.D. at George Mason University School of Law, and during law school he served as an extern in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.

He has handled jury and bench trials, evidentiary hearings, arbitrations, mediations, and appellate matters, including before the Alaska Supreme Court, the Nevada Supreme Court, and federal district and bankruptcy courts. He is admitted to practice law in Florida, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Heritage Law Firm is a solo practice, and that is deliberate.  The lawyer you meet at the consultation is the lawyer who reviews your contract, drafts the pleadings, takes the depositions, sits beside you at mediation, and conducts trial.  

Frequently Asked Questions About Civil Litigation in Vero Beach

I was served with a lawsuit. How long do I have to respond?

Generally 20 days after you were served.  Within that time, you must file an answer or a motion responding to the complaint.  If you do nothing, the plaintiff can ask the court for a default, which can lead to a judgment against you without a trial.

Can I make the other side pay my attorney’s fees?

Sometimes–Florida generally requires each side to pay its own lawyer, but a contract with a fee clause allows the prevailing party to recover fees, a statute may provide for fees, and a rejected proposal for settlement can shift fees if the other side does at least 25 percent worse at trial than the offer.  

Will my case go to trial?

Most civil cases are resolved and do not go to trial.  Florida courts routinely send cases to mediation before trial, and many settle there or before.  A case is much more likely to settle on good terms when the other side knows you are ready for trial.

What changed in Florida civil cases in 2025?

The Florida Supreme Court amended the Civil Rules of Procedure effective January 1, 2025.  Each side must now make initial disclosures of witnesses, documents, damages, and insurance within 60 days after the complaint is served; the court issues a case management order with firm deadlines; discovery must be proportional to the case; and lawyers must confer before filing most motions.  As a result of these rule changes, civil cases move faster and more efficiently.  

What does a civil litigation lawyer in Vero Beach cost?

Heritage Law Firm handles civil matters on either a flat fee or an hourly basis at $300 per hour, depending on the type of case and the work involved.  There is no charge for the initial consultation. Fees are discussed openly before you commit to anything.