expectations
©
appellate
raising
Follow Us
Federal & Florida appeals. Global clientele.
Appeals FAQ. The Q & A
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Your contact with this firm reflects your understanding and agreement with these statements.
Recommendations or testimonials are not necessarily representative of results obtained, or all clients’ experiences with the lawyer. Facts and circumstances may differ from the matter(s) in which the results or recommendations are provided. Decisions about any lawyer are important and should not be based solely upon what is stated in a social networking site, website or blog. Your contact with this firm reflects your understanding and agreement with these statements.
© 2007-12 Easley Appellate Practice, P.L.L.C. (Since 1994) All rights reserved.
4000 Ponce de León Blvd., Suite 470, Miami, Florida 33146  
(800) 216-6185 (305) 444-1599  inquiries@easleyappellate.com
HomeOur FirmLawyersNews/MediaReviewsOur ServicesBlog & PublicationsLinksContact


13. Can I appeal a partial judgment where the trial court decided the equitable claims during a bench trial and issued an injunction, all before the legal claims were allowed to go to a jury?

The general answer is yes, and the appeal could go forward either using the appellate rule that allows appeals as a partial, but final, judgment, or as a judgment under the appellate rule that allows appeals of judgments that concern injunctions, which is similar in federal appeals. Where a jury demand has been properly made, but extends to only some issues in an action, or where there are both legal and what we call equitable claims, examples include foreclosure cases or contract claims seeking a bench trial, and they’re all in the same action, the case can be bifurcated to divide the issues for to be decided by the judge and the issues decided by the jury. 

The trial judge may still determine factual issues that are unrelated to the issues to be tried by the jury. But if the case was not bifurcated or if the judge had the bench trial first and decided issues that would bind a jury on related issues in the legal claims part of the trial, then there is potential legal error worth raising on appeal.