"Binding authority, also referred to as mandatory authority, refers to cases, statutes, or regulations that a court must follow because they bind the court. Persuasive authority refers to cases, statutes, or regulations that the court may follow but does not have to follow." Which Court is Binding?, Georgetown U.L. Ctr. (last visited Apr. 22, 2021).
If a plaintiff brings an action in one of Florida's state courts, the circuit court will be bound by decisions from the district court of appeal in which the circuit court is located, along with decisions from the Supreme Court of Florida. Decisions from other circuit courts, other district courts of appeal, and federal courts are merely persuasive authority that the circuit court is free (but not bound) to follow.
On the other hand, if a plaintiff brings an action in one of Florida's federal courts, the district court is bound by decisions from the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of the United States. While the district court is not bound by decisions from Florida state courts, both the federal district courts and the Eleventh Circuit are often strongly persuaded by decisions from the Supreme Court of Florida when they are faced with an issue pertaining to substantive Florida law.
Ethan Allen, Inc. v. Georgetown Manor, Inc., 647 So. 2d 812 (Fla. 1996)
Dade Enters. v. Wometco Theatres, 160 So. 209 (Fla. 1935)
United Yacht Brokers, Inc. v. Gillespie, 377 So. 2d 668 (Fla. 1979)
Ferguson Transp., Inc. v. North Am. Van Lines, Inc., 687 So. 2d 821 (Fla. 1996)
Tamiami Trail Tours, Inc. v. Cotton, 463 So. 2d 1126, 1127 (Fla. 1985)
Westgate Resorts, Ltd. v. Sussman, 387 F. Supp. 3d 1318 (S.D. Fla. 2019)
Banks Hardwoods Fla., LLC v. Iglesias, S.A., 2009 WL 3446736 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 20, 2009)
In re Maxxim Med. Grp., Inc., 434 B.R. 660 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. 2010)
Skypoint Advisors, LLC v. 3 Amigos Prods. LLC, 2020 WL 70977 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 7, 2020)
Davies v. Afilias Ltd., 293 F. Supp. 2d 1265 (M.D. Fla. 2003)
Elandia Intern., Inc. v. Koy, 2010 WL 2179770 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 22, 2010)
Plain Bay Sales, LLC v. Gallaher, 2019 WL 6206836 (S.D. Fla. Nov. 21, 2019)
Becker Designs, Inc. v. Biker Design, Inc., 2006 WL 2444075 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 22, 2006)
Maxi-Taxi of Fla., Inc. v. Lee Cty. Port Authority, 2008 WL 1925088 (M.D. Fla. Apr. 29, 2008)
Gutierrez v. Martin Engin’g, 2006 WL 8433636 (S.D. Fla. Apr. 28, 2006)
BPI Sports, LLC v. Labdoor, Inc., 2016 WL 739652 (S.D. Fla. Feb. 25, 2016)
Fiberglass Coatings, Inc. v. Interstate Chem., Inc., 16 So. 3d 836 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009)
Farah v. Canada, 740 So. 2d 560 (Fla. 5th DCA 1999)
McKinney-Green, Inc. v. Davis, 606 So. 2d 393 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992)
Fernandez v. Ganguzza, LLP, 30 So. 3d 644 (Fla. 3d DCA 2010)
USB Acquisition Co., Inc. v. Stamm, 660 So. 2d 1075 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995)
Lawler v. Eugene Wuesthoff Mem’l Hosp. Ass’n, 497 So. 2d 1261 (Fla. 5th DCA 1986)
Ethyl Corp. v. Balter, 386 So. 2d 1220 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980)
Lake Hosp. & Clinic, Inc. v. Silversmith, 551 So. 2d 538 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989)
Mortg. Now, Inc. v. Guaranteed Home Mortg. Co., Inc., 545 F. App’x 809 (11th Cir. 2013)
Ingenuity, Inc. v. Linshell Innovations Ltd., 644 F. App’x 913 (11th Cir. 2016)
Johnson v. Wellborn, 418 F. App’x 809 (11th Cir. 2011)
KMS Restaurant Corp. v. Wendy’s Intern., Inc., 361 F.3d 1321 (11th Cir. 2004)
Intern. Sales & Serv., Inc. v. Austral Insulated Prods. Inc., 262 F.3d 1152 (11th Cir. 2001)
MQ Assocs., Inc. v. North Bay Imaging, LLC, 270 F. App’x 761 (11th Cir. 2008)
Dunn v. Air Line Pilots Ass’n, 193 F.3d 1185 (11th Cir. 1999)
Camp Creek Hosp. Inns, Inc. v. Sheraton Franchise Corp., 139 F.3d 1396, 1409 (11th Cir. 1998).
