A.G. Gancarski
A bill that passed the House 107-0 Thursday would provide shelter for Florida principals who had a questionable foreign court issue a cash judgement against them.
HB 623, filed by Northeast Florida Republican Cord Byrd and co-sponsored by Rep. Frank White, offers additional circumstances in which an out-of-country foreign judgment need not be recognized.
White, a candidate for Attorney General, said the bill protected Americans from jurisdictions where the rule of law was in doubt.
Among those circumstances: “substantial doubt about the integrity” of said foreign court, and a court proceeding that contravenes due process.
The bill conforms with the Uniform Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition Act, passed by 32 states, including Florida.
Per the American Bar Association website, “foreign judgment is not considered enforceable if it was ordered under a system that does not provide impartial tribunals or procedures compatible with the requirements of due process of law.”
The Senate version (SB 760), carried by fellow Northeast Florida Republican Aaron Bean, passed two committees without a no vote. Rules is that bill’s last stop before the Senate floor.
