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SB 644

Attorney Fees, Suit Money, and Costs

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Erin Grall

SB 644 modifies Florida civil litigation rules governing attorney fee and cost recovery, potentially affecting litigation accessibility and settlement incentives statewide.

Filed
#civilpracticeandprocedure #domesticrelations
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Bill Summary · SB 644

Legislative bill overview

SB 644 modifies Florida law regarding the recovery of attorney fees, suit money, and court costs in civil litigation. The bill adjusts which parties can recover these expenses and under what circumstances, potentially affecting access to legal remedies and litigation economics in Florida courts.

Why is this important

Attorney fees and cost-shifting rules directly impact whether individuals and small businesses can afford to pursue legal claims, as these expenses often exceed the dispute amount itself. Changes to these rules can either encourage or discourage litigation and settlement negotiations depending on how broadly or narrowly they allow fee recovery.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of applicability: Unclear whether changes apply broadly across all civil cases or only specific claim types, affecting different populations of litigants differently
  • Access to justice concerns: Restricting fee-shifting could deter legitimate claims by low-income plaintiffs who cannot afford upfront legal costs, while expanding it could increase frivolous litigation
  • Business impact: Changes may significantly affect small businesses' litigation strategies and insurance costs depending on whether defendants can more easily recover fees from unsuccessful plaintiffs

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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