Rule 12.510 - SUMMARY JUDGMENT(a) Motion for Summary Judgment or Partial Summary Judgment. A party may move for summary judgment, identifying each claim or defense-or the part of each claim or defense-on which summary judgment is sought. The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The court shall state on the record the reasons for granting or denying the motion. The summary judgment standard provided for in this rule shall be construed and applied in accordance with the federal summary judgment standard. A motion for summary judgment and the notice setting hearing must contain the following statement in all capital letters and in the same size type, or larger, as the type the remainder of the motion:
A RESPONSE TO THE MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT MUST BE MADE IN WRITING, FILED WITH THE COURT, AND SERVED ON THE OTHER PARTY NO LESS THAN TWENTY DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING DATE. YOUR RESPONSE MUST INCLUDE YOUR SUPPORTING FACTUAL POSITION. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND, THE COURT MAY ENTER ORDERS GRANTING THE SUMMARY JUDGMENT OR FINDING FACTS TO BE UNDISPUTED.
(b) Time to File a Motion. A party may move for summary judgment at any time after the expiration of 20 days from the commencement of the action or after service of a motion for summary judgment by the adverse party. However, no motion for summary judgment may be filed while the movant's responses to mandatory disclosures are pending. The movant must serve the motion for summary judgment at least 40 days before the time fixed for the hearing.(c) Procedures.(1)Supporting Factual Positions. A party asserting that a fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by: (A) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials; or(B) showing that the materials cited do not establish the absence or presence of a genuine dispute, or that an adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact.(2)Objection That a Fact Is Not Supported by Admissible Evidence. A party may object that the material cited to support or dispute a fact cannot be presented in a form that would be admissible in evidence.(3)Materials Not Cited. The court need consider only the cited materials, but it may consider other materials in the record.(4)Affidavits or Declarations. An affidavit or declaration used to support or oppose a motion must be made on personal knowledge, set out facts that would be admissible in evidence, and show that the affiant or declarant is competent to testify on the matters stated.(5)Timing for Supporting Factual Positions. At the time of filing a motion for summary judgment, the movant must also serve the movant's supporting factual position as provided in subdivision (1) above. At least 20 days before the time fixed for the hearing, the nonmovant must serve a response that includes the nonmovant's supporting factual position as provided in subdivision (1) above.(d) When Facts Are Unavailable to the Nonmovant. If a nonmovant shows by affidavit or declaration that, for specified reasons, it cannot present facts essential to justify its opposition, the court may:(1) defer considering the motion or deny it;(2) allow time to obtain affidavits or declarations or to take discovery; or(3) issue any other appropriate order.(e) Failing to Properly Support or Address a Fact. If a party fails to properly support an assertion of fact or fails to properly address another party's assertion of fact as required by rule 1.510(c), the court may: (1) give an opportunity to properly support or address the fact;(2) consider the fact undisputed for purposes of the motion;(3) grant summary judgment if the motion and supporting materials-including the facts considered undisputed-show that the movant is entitled to it; or(4) issue any other appropriate order.(f) Judgment Independent of the Motion. After giving notice and a reasonable time to respond, the court may:(1) grant summary judgment for a nonmovant(2) grant the motion on grounds not raised by a party; or(3) consider summary judgment on its own after identifying for the parties material facts that may not be genuinely in dispute.(g) Failing to Grant All the Requested Relief. If the court does not grant all the relief requested by the motion, it may enter an order stating any material fact-including an item of damages or other relief-that is not genuinely in dispute and treating the fact as established in the case.(h) Affidavit or Declaration Submitted in Bad Faith. If satisfied that an affidavit or declaration under this rule is submitted in bad faith or solely for delay, the court-after notice and a reasonable time to respond-may order the submitting party to pay the other party the reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, it incurred as a result. An offending party or attorney may also be held in contempt or subjected to other appropriate sanctions. Fl. Fam. Law. R. P. 12.510
Amended effective 11/1/2023; amended by 2022 WL 405026, 2/10/2022; amended by 321 So.3d 692,7/8/2021; amended by 214 So.3d 400, effective 3/16/2017; amended by 102 So.3d 505, effective 10/1/2013.Commentary
2021 Amendment. This rule is amended to correspond with Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.510, which was recently amended to adopt almost all the text of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56.
Committee Notes
2012 Amendment. This rule is amended to state who the adverse party serves and provide for service in accordance with Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516.