IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO COUNTY, FLORIDA

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. PA-CTY-98-06


RE: ASSIGNMENT OF CASES - COUNTY CIVIL AND SMALL CLAIMS

In order to provide for the orderly assignment of county civil cases in Pasco County, it is

ORDERED:

1. County civil and small claims cases filed in Pasco County shall be assigned by the Clerk of the Court for Pasco County to Sections of the Pasco County Division as follows:

a. Any county civil or small claims case in which the defendant resides or the cause of action accrues or the property in litigation is located west of Range 18 East, in Pasco County shall be designated a West Pasco case and shall be assigned to the appropriate section and judge at the West Pasco Judicial Center, New Port Richey, Florida.

b. Any county civil or small claims case in which the defendant resides or the cause of action accrues or the property in litigation is located east of Range 17 East, in Pasco County shall be designated an East Pasco case and shall be assigned to the appropriate section and judge at the Pasco County Courthouse, Dade City, Florida.

2. In any county civil or small claims case in which there are two or more defendants residing east and west of the range lines described above, or in which the case could be assigned to either New Port Richey or Dade City, pursuant to paragraph 1 above, the case shall be assigned:

a. to the appropriate section and courthouse facility located nearest the principal office of the plaintiffís attorney; or

b. when the section or courthouse facility is not readily discernable, to the appropriate courthouse facility on an alternating east - west basis.

3. This order shall not prohibit the Chief Judge or the Pasco Administrative Judge from assigning or reassigning cases when it is deemed necessary for the prompt and efficient administration of justice; or prohibit an unassigned judge from presiding over, hearing, and disposing of cases by agreement of the affected circuit judges.

Unnumbered administrative Order entered in 1972 and any other administrative orders regarding the assignment of county civil and small claims cases in Pasco County are hereby rescinded.

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida, this 7th day of April, 1998.

 

/s/Susan F. Schaeffer

Susan F. Schaeffer, Chief Judge