Battle for the Waterfront BLOG Bait-And-Switch Leaves Rowing Club High And Dry The Cape Coral Rowing Club (CCRC) has served our youth for nearly 20 years. In a self-described “waterfront wonderland,” providing athletic programs that leverage our unique environment should be a no-brainer. Yet, despite decades of success, including launching athletes to prestigious institutions like MIT and Stetson University, our city council just ran the club aground. For 15 years, CCRC operated out of Cape Harbour before commercial development forced a temporary move to Seven Islands in 2022. The long-term solution was supposed to be Tropicana Park. In 2024, the City Council unanimously approved a $4.7 million construction contract for the park, which included roughly $500,000 in taxpayer funds for a state-of-the-art floating [...]

One Flag, Two Views BLOG One City, One Flag: A Beacon of Freedom Cape Coral stands at a rare crossroads where symbolism and community identity can align in a meaningful, lasting way. The proposed 250-foot flagpole at Bernice Braden Park is not an act of excess; it is an act of intention. This project represents a visible commitment to our shared American values at a time when they are too often fragmented. At 250 feet, this structure is designed to be the tallest freestanding flagpole in Florida, flying a massive 80-by-150 foot American-made banner. Illuminated to be visible across the region, it will serve as a constant reminder of our national heritage. The initial $420,000 cost of installing the flag is expected to [...]

Are Experts on Attorneys’ Fees Necessary or Just Another Cost? BLOG In a landmark shift for Florida litigation, the Sixth District Court of Appeal recently broke with longstanding precedent by ruling that trial courts are no longer required to hold an evidentiary hearing or hear expert witness testimony to prove the reasonableness of attorney’s fees. The opinion, which was issued on March 20, 2026 in Charles Ruffenach v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, et. al., represents a substantial shift in the legal landscape of Southwest Florida and begs the question: is this a win for judicial efficiency or a threat to fairness? Safeguarding the Standard: The Case for Evidentiary Rigor While the Sixth DCA’s decision aims to streamline the legal [...]

Non-Binding Arbitration: Tool or Trap? BLOG You may have never heard of arbitration, let alone the difference between "binding" and "non-binding." Think of arbitration as a "diet trial." It is held before a qualified arbitrator, usually a specialized attorney or retired judge, who reviews evidence and issues a written decision. Binding Arbitration: The decision is final. You are stuck with it. Non-Binding Arbitration: The decision is not final. Either party can reject the outcome and ask the Court for a real trial. This raises a big question for anyone involved in a lawsuit: Is non-binding arbitration a smart way to resolve a dispute, or just an expensive hoop to jump through? When You Need a Reality Check: Sometimes, Non-Binding Arbitration [...]