Judge Farfante

The Honorable Darren D. Farfante

Circuit Civil: Business Court, Division L & Asbestos Litigation, Division Z

Edgecomb Courthouse800 E. Twiggs St., Room #520
Tampa, Florida 33602
Courtroom #508
Judicial Assistant: Melanie Correa
(813) 272-5330

Zoom Meeting ID: 439-383-7898
Password: Not required Court Zoom Link Administrative Orders Judicial Biography

Forms
Schedule
Procedures & Preferences
Circuit Civil, Division L & Z

Forms

Schedule

Please contact the Judicial Assistant by e-mail for available trial weeks at divisionl@fljud13.org

DIVISION Z - ASBESTOS LITIGATION

Asbestos Motion Calendar

The asbestos motion calendar is generally held the third Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m.The asbestos motion calendar hearing dates for the year 2026 and 2027:

2026 Asbestos Hearing Dates:

January 15	July 16
February 19	August 20
March 19	September 17
April 30	October – No monthly hearing
May 21	November 19
June 25	December – No monthly hearing

2027 Asbestos Hearing Dates:

January 21	July 15
February 18	August 26
March 18	September 16
April 29	October – No monthly hearing
May 20	November 18
June - No monthly hearing	December - No monthly hearing

Contact for MG&M The Law Firm:

Keisha Pollard (kpollard@mgmlaw.com) 305-537-3429

Circuit Civil Division L & Z Preferences - The Top Ten

Important Notice Regarding Administrative Order S-2024-046:

Administrative Order S-2024-046, promulgated by the Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Circuit and applicable to all Circuit Civil divisions, establishes requirements that apply to your case. Please familiarize yourself and your office staff with this order.

The types of proceedings which will presumptively proceed in person and remotely (absent a court order directing otherwise) are summarized below:
-    Uniform Motion Calendar hearings (via Zoom);
-      Case Management Conferences (via Zoom);
-      Motions to Compel Discovery (via Zoom);
-      Motions to Dismiss (via Zoom);
-      Motions for Summary Judgment (via Zoom);
-      Motions for Rehearing/Clarification (via Zoom);
-      Motions for Injunctive Relief (in-person);
-      Motions seeking Emergency or Expedited Relief (via in-person);
-      All Evidentiary Hearings (in-person);
-      Hearings on Motions for Contempt (in-person);
-        Order to Show Cause (in-person);
-      Pre-Trial Conferences (in-person);
-      Non-Jury Trials (in-person);
-      Jury Trials (in-person).

Zoom Information:
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us./j/4393837898
Zoom Meeting ID: 439-383-7898
No Password is Required
(In the event of audio issues, Dial +1 305 224 1968 for phone audio)

Absent a Court Order, all testifying witnesses must appear in person for testimony, and the Parties’ stipulation to appear via Zoom for a presumptively in-person category above is not sufficient. The Court does not permit hybrid hearings (i.e. some parties or counsel appearing in person while others appear via Zoom), absent a specific Court Order.

SCHEDULING SHORT HEARINGS- 15 Minutes or Less
Initial Case Management Conferences are heard on the Uniform Motion Calendar. A Case Management Report must be uploaded and e-filed for this hearing, pursuant to Local Rule 3.13 (See Business Court Rules).

The Court has available slots for Uniform Motion Calendar dockets on JAWS. After securing the hearing time in JAWS, make sure to list the document index number and title of the motion in the hearing description:

JAWS hearing description:

Doc# 26
Motion to Withdraw

then file the motion and notice of hearing:

All counsel or parties must be present at the commencement of the docket. Unopposed or shorter motions may be taken up first. Do not try to argue a longer motion or an evidentiary motion on these dockets.

SCHEDULING 30 MINUTE OR LONGER HEARINGS
30 minute hearings are also posted on JAWS and can be booked there. If no hearings are available,

Contact the court by email at divisionL@fljud13.org (copying all sides). In the subject line, include an abbreviated style using the last name of the first plaintiff and the first defendant and the case number: SMITH/JONES 19-CA-012345. Complete the first three columns of this chart and paste it in the body of the e-mail request:

Doc# (or, if filed before July 2017, the e-file date)	Motion Title	Time Requested	Time and date approved by all sides

For the document index number, see the Clerk’s Hover System: https://hover.hillsclerk.com/html/home.html.
The court will offer hearing choices (reply all).
When the parties select the most agreeable time, complete the fourth column and re-paste the chart into an e-mail to the court. In the event parties are unable to agree on a hearing date, follow Local Rule 3.10.
The court will schedule the matter in JAWS on behalf of the moving party;
Upon receipt of the JAWS scheduling e-mail (within 24 hours), e-file the initial motion(s) and notice as sampled below. IMPORTANT: Please wait to receive the JAWS scheduling email before e-filing, to ensure your hearing time is confirmed by the court.

Hearing Materials: The Court will accept and review hard copies of any hearing materials in three-ring binders received at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to any hearing.

A proposed order should be submitted for the judge’s review via the Florida E-Portal in PDF format. Every proposed order should be accompanied by a cover letter that indicates (1) the proposed order has been shown to the other side, (2) the other side has either agreed to the order, failed to respond after five days, or indicated that they object to the proposed order and will submit their own competing order.

If the opposing party does not agree to the form of the proposed order and will submit a competing order, then the competing proposed orders should be uploaded via the Florida E-Portal in PDF format with a cover letter indicating the parties could not agree to the form of the proposed order and the parties shall simultaneous email the competing form of proposed order in word format to divisionl@fljud13.org with a subject line which includes “Competing Order” and the Case Number.

If a party is pro se and does not have an email address associated with the case, the attorney will be responsible for mailing copies of the order to pro se parties.

Filing a notice of an email address through the Portal does not input the email address into the JAWS for purposes of receiving electronically signed orders and judgments, JAWS notifications or email correspondence from the court. Parties must register email addresses on JAWS for each individual case and for each individual attorney or party entitled to service.” See Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 10(b)

If it is thought that the order may have been overlooked or misplaced, please e-mail the Judicial Assistant.

Communication to Chambers should be directed to the division’s e-mail address: DivisionL@fljud13.org. The Court’s Judicial Assistant is available for questions regarding scheduling and the Court’s preferences and procedure and cannot hear any details of the case or provide legal advice. You must copy all parties when emailing the Court’s Judicial Assistant at divisionl@fljud13.org.

Hearing Materials: The Court will accept and review hard copies of any hearing materials in three-ring binders received at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to any hearing.

If you file an emergency motion, please email a copy of the emergency motion to the Court’s Judicial Assistant at divisionl@fljud13.org and comply with Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 19.

If you no longer need your hearing time, please send a notice of cancellation to the Court’s Judicial Assistant by email to divisionl@fljud13.org . Court ordered evidentiary hearings may not be canceled absent court order.

Please email a copy of your notice of hearing and the motion(s) scheduled at least three (3) days prior to your hearing. The Notice of Hearing must include the following: (1) The Motion to be heard and the Docket Number(s); (2) the hearing time reserved; (3) whether the hearing is in person or remote (evidentiary hearings must specifically state so on the notice); (4) instructions for remote appearances; (5) whether a court reporter has been ordered.

Once your evidentiary hearing is scheduled, the Judicial Assistant will email instructions for the numbering and marking of exhibits. If you do not receive an email, please contact the Judicial Assistant at divisionl@fljud13.org. (See Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 16)

See https://www.fljud13.org/JudicialDirectory/DarrenDFarfante/Forms.aspx

Additional Procedures

See Local Business Court Rule 3.22, 3.23, 3.24, 3.25 and 3.26. Lead Trial Counsel and local counsel for each party, together with all parties, must attend the final pretrial conference in person unless previously excused by the Court. See also Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 15

See Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 15

Motions for new trial, rehearing, reconsideration or clarification require the court’s review before scheduling. E-mail divisionL@fljud13.org
Attaching a copy of the motion bearing the clerk’s e-filing date. If approved for hearing, dates will be extended thru the usual scheduling process for lengthy hearings.
In the Menu boxes for my UMC, TELEPHONIC and 30 MINUTE hearing slots, I’ve referred external users back to the web page for directions:

There will be no cross-noticing unless the all counsel agree and contact the judicial assistant by e-mail and receive confirmation that the docket will accommodate hearing additional matters at the same time. To seek permission to cross-notice a motion, send an e-mail to DivisionL@fljud13.org and file a cross notice of hearing with hearing date, time and document number: Cross notice of hearing: Aug 20 9 30 (123); the body of the notice of hearing should state “TIME PERMITTING” At the scheduled hearing time the court will consider whether cross noticed issues can be addressed. Priority will be given to the originally scheduled matter.

Mediation

See Local Business Court Rule 3.20 and 3.21.

See Local Business Court Rule 3.6.

Viewing documents filed:
To view any documents filed in your case, please visit https://hover.hillsclerk.com. The Hillsborough Online Viewing of Electronic Records (HOVER) provides remote viewing of court records maintained by the Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court. On this site, attorneys of record and Self-Represented Litigants (pro-se) will have access to search case indexes and view case progress dockets and images not sealed or made confidential by Florida Rules of Judicial Procedure or court order. For issues or concerns, e-mail hover@hillsclerk.com or call (813) 307-7180.

Scheduling hearings:
The court only enters rulings on written documents which have been properly filed, either electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, or in paper form by filing with the clerk. After a document is properly filed, the court will not take any action on it until a hearing is held. To schedule a hearing after the motion is filed, e-mail a request for hearing to DivisionL@fljud13.org copying all associated parties to the case. If you do not have access to e-mail you may submit the request in paper form to Division L, Complex Business Division, 505 Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602 (phone: 813-272-5330).

The request must contain:
a) the title of the motion requiring hearing time;
b) the date the motion was filed with the clerk;
c) the amount of hearing time requested;
d) the date of the trial, if applicable.
e) phone number for self-represented litigant (if no access to e-mail)

The Judicial Assistant will e-mail available times to all sides. After coordinating the responses (by either phone or e-mail), the court will schedule the hearing which will appear on the court’s daily JAWS docket (not the clerk’s docketing system). Upon receipt of the JAWS scheduling e-mail, it is the responsibility of the moving party to file the notice of hearing with the clerk to give legally effective notice to all parties. Scheduling through JAWS does not substitute for filing a notice of hearing with the clerk.

The court cannot give parties or attorneys legal or procedural advice. HCBA Lawyer Referral Service (813) 221-7780

Parties unable to e-file should file all original documents with the Clerk of Circuit Court:
Hand Delivery: Room 101, Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 East Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602 Mail: Clerk of the Circuit Court, Circuit Civil Division, PO Box 989, Tampa, FL 33601 Telephone Contact: Clerk’s Office, Circuit/Civil Division: 272-8100 extension 4365
Weblink: http://www.hillsclerk.com
For scheduling on JAWS Click Here

See Local Business Court Rule 3.12 through 3.15. Initial Case Management Conferences are heard on the Uniform Motion Calendar. A Case Management Report must be uploaded and e-filed for this hearing, pursuant to Local Business Court Rule 3.13.

See Local Business Court Rule 3.7. Before filing any motion, the moving party shall confer in person, telephonically, or by e-mail with counsel for the opposing party in a good faith effort to resolve the issues raised by the motion and shall file with the motion a statement certifying that the moving party has conferred with opposing counsel and that counsel have been unable to agree on the resolution of the motion. Counsel shall respond promptly to efforts by opposing counsel who wish to confer to resolve motions prior their filing. Prior to filing a motion to dismiss for failure to state a cause of action, counsel shall notify opposing counsel in writing the intention to file a motion to dismiss and shall identify the reason(s) counsel will allege that the complaint fails to state a cause of action. If requested, counsel shall stipulate to the filing of an amended complaint in lieu of filing the motion. No conference is required prior to the filing of a motion for injunctive relief without notice, for summary judgment, or to permit maintenance of a class action.

Business Court is a specialized division of the circuit civil court, identified as Division L. It was created in 2007 to resolve business related disputes.

Case Types

The types of cases that are automatically assigned to the business division are specified in the governing administrative order of the Chief Judge of the circuit, currentlyAO S-2013-021. These are:

A. Internal affairs or governance; dissolution or liquidation rights; obligations between or among owners (shareholders, partners, members); or liability or indemnity of managers (officers, directors, managers, trustees, or members or partners functioning as managers) of corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies or partnerships;

B. Trade secrets and non-compete agreements;

C. Intellectual property;

D. Securities or state securities laws;

E. Antitrust statutes;

F. Shareholder derivative actions and related class actions;

G. Corporate trust affairs or director and officer liability;

H. Non-consumer UCC-related transactions;

I. Purchases and sales of businesses or the assets of a business; and

J. Franchisee / franchisor relationships and liabilities.

Under the administrative order, other complex cases may be transferred into business court at the request of the judge assigned to the case.

Business Court Procedures

Procedures in Business Court are governed by the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and by Local Rule 3, approved by the Florida Supreme Court on June 10, 2017.

The rule was formulated by a business court rules committee appointed by former HCBA President Carter Anderson and chaired by attorney Erin Jackson.

For information about scheduling, submitting proposed orders, appearing by telephone, or other chambers preferences, click here.

Asbestos Court Contact:
After reviewing the courts procedures and preferences, any questions related to the scheduling of asbestos matters in Division “Z” or the procedures should be directed to divisionL@fljud13.org.

Division Z Cases

Click here to view pending division cases.

Asbestos Motion Calendar
The asbestos motion calendar is GENERALLY held the third Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. Counsel will be notified of any changes to the time. The asbestos motion calendar hearing dates for the year 2025 and 2026 are:

2025 Asbestos Hearing Dates: TBC
January 23	July 24
February 20	August 21
March 20	September 19
April 24	October 16
May 22	November 20
June 26	December 4

2026 Asbestos Hearing Dates: TBC
January 15	July 16
February 19	August 20
March 19	September 17
April 30	October – No Monthly Hearing
May 21	November 19
June 25	December – No Monthly Hearing

Asbestos Motion Calendar Coordinator
Copies of all motions and notices of hearing must be delivered via e-mail, U.S. mail, fax, or hand delivery to the Asbestos Motion Calendar Coordinator (Coordinator) whose contact information is:

Contact for MG + M The Law Firm
Keisha Pollard (kpollard@mgmlaw.com) 305-537-3429

Asbestos Motion Calendar Agenda
An Asbestos Motion Calendar Agenda (Agenda) will be created by the Coordinator. In order for a motion to be placed on the Agenda and heard by the Court, the motion and a notice of hearing must be received by the Coordinator by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday one week prior to the asbestos motion calendar hearing date. The Coordinator will provide the Court and counsel who have a motion set on the asbestos motion calendar with the Agenda no later than 3:00 p.m. on the Friday prior to the asbestos motion calendar hearing date. Motions for which copies are not timely received by the Coordinator are subject to not being heard by the Court at the asbestos motion calendar hearing.

Hearing Materials Please deliver any hard copy materials for the Court’s review in three-ring binders for receipt at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the hearing.

Notices of Cancellation
When a hearing on a motion on the asbestos motion calendar is cancelled, a notice of cancellation must be promptly filed with the Clerk’s Office and delivered to the Coordinator. Notice to the Court may be accomplished by e-mailing a copy of the notice of cancellation and uploading to the statewide portal. Upon receipt of a notice of cancellation, the Coordinator will update the Agenda to reflect the cancellation and provide a copy of an updated Agenda to the Court and counsel.

Special Set Hearings:
Motions that cannot be addressed at an upcoming asbestos motion calendar due to exigent circumstances may be considered by the Court for a special set hearing. To request a special set hearing, the motion subject to the special set request must be filed with the clerk’s office and a courtesy copy, along with detailed correspondence stating the reason for the need to special set the motion, must be mailed or hand delivered to the Court. The Court will review the motion and determine whether the matter should be special set for hearing. The Judicial Assistant will contact counsel and advise whether the motion will be special set for hearing and, if so, will provide a hearing date and time.

Emergency Motion Procedures:
An emergency motion must be filed with the Clerk’s office. The word “emergency” must appear in the title. The Clerk will notify the court. Do not send additional copies to chambers.

Proposed Orders:
In the Statewide Portal, use the DIVISION Z queue when uploading orders for the court’s signature. Please follow Division L’s Procedures and Preferences for submission of proposed orders.

Judge Farfante

The Honorable Darren D. Farfante

Judicial Biography

The Honorable Darren D. Farfante

Year appointed to the Bench: 2017

Assignments:

Education

Forms

Schedule

Circuit Civil Division L & Z Preferences - The Top Ten

Additional Procedures

Informational Links

Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida

Judge Farfante

The Honorable Darren D. Farfante

Forms

Schedule

Circuit Civil Division L & Z Preferences - The Top Ten

1. Remote Appearances

2. Scheduling Hearings:

3. Submitting Proposed Orders: See Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 13

4. Communication with Office:

5. Courtesy Copies (See Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 12(c)(v))

6. Emergencies: (See Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 19)

7. Cancellations: (See Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 12(f)

8. Notices: (See Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 12(c)(iv) & (v))

9. Exhibits: (See Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 16)

10. Forms:

Additional Procedures

11. Pretrial: (See Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 15)

12. Set Case for Trial:

13. Motions to Compel Discovery: Administrative Order S-2024-046, Paragraph 11 (B)

14. In Lieu of a Hearing:

15. Settlements:

16. Information for Self-Represented Litigants

17. Case Management Conference

18. Meet and Confer and Certificate of Good Faith

19. Business Court Rules

20. Asbestos Court Contact: