Powers & Rogers | Powers & Rogers, PLLC

Know Your Courtroom

Know Your Courtroom When you walk into a courtroom for the first time, it can feel overwhelming. It is a world with its own rules, its own language, and its own rhythm. Whether you are a plaintiff, a defendant, or simply a witness, understanding the environment you are walking into can make a real difference in how you carry yourself and how well you are able to participate in the process. BLOG At Powers & Rogers, we created our "Know Your Courtroom" video to pull back the curtain on what a Florida courtroom actually looks like and how it operates. This post covers the same ground for those who prefer to read along. The Layout: More Than Just a [...]

Know Your CourtroomRobson Powers2026-08-24T11:22:38-04:00

Hidden In The Paperwork: What Cape Coral Landowners Need To Know

Hidden In The Paperwork: What Cape Coral Landowners Need To Know BLOG Leave Land, Not A Liability I agree with everything Robson has laid out, and I’ll add a step that happens long before any contract is signed:What you tell your heirs before they inherit the property at all. Many of the people caught off guard by a UEP assessment are heirs, not original owners. They inherited a lot in Cape Coral they’ve never seen, often from a parent or grandparent who bought it decades ago as an investment or a future retirement plan that never happened. The property passes down, but the knowledge doesn’t always come with it. Nobody ever sat down and explained what a UEP assessment is, whether one applies [...]

Hidden In The Paperwork: What Cape Coral Landowners Need To KnowKara Rogers2026-08-19T22:32:20-04:00

Property Tax Reform: Relief Or Risk For Cape Coral?

Property Tax Reform: Relief Or Risk For Cape Coral? BLOG Give Homeowners A Break For many Cape Coral homeowners, the dream of homeownership is getting harder to hold onto. Insurance premiums are climbing, inflation persists, and property assessments keep rising without any corresponding increase in household income. Florida’s proposed homestead property tax reforms are a direct response, and they deserve support. In my practice, I regularly speak with homeowners worried about the cost of staying in their homes. Rising property values may look good on paper, but they translate to higher tax bills, a real burden for retirees on fixed incomes and working families already stretched thin. Critics point to the effect on local government budgets. It’s a fair consideration, but government should [...]

Property Tax Reform: Relief Or Risk For Cape Coral?Robson Powers2026-07-21T23:06:10-04:00

Battle For The Waterfront: Is Denying Cape Coral Rowing Club A Home At Tropicana Park Good Governance Or A Fiscally Irresponsible Bait And Switch?

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 [...]

Battle For The Waterfront: Is Denying Cape Coral Rowing Club A Home At Tropicana Park Good Governance Or A Fiscally Irresponsible Bait And Switch?Kara Rogers2026-06-23T13:42:54-04:00

One Flag, Two Views

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 [...]

One Flag, Two ViewsRobson Powers2026-06-09T02:10:38-04:00

Commercial Property Claims: Why They’re More Complex After Hurricanes

Commercial Property Claims: Why They’re More Complex After Hurricanes When a hurricane strikes Southwest Florida, commercial property owners face more than just physical destruction. They face a complicated insurance claims process that often becomes a second disaster altogether. BLOG For businesses in places like Cape Coral and across the Gulf Coast, commercial property claims after hurricanes are rarely straightforward. Unlike residential claims, commercial insurance losses often involve multiple buildings, business interruption losses, inventory damage, tenant disputes, code compliance issues, and highly technical policy language. The larger the property and the longer the operational disruption, the more complex the claim becomes. For many business owners, the biggest surprise is not the storm damage itself but discovering how aggressively insurers scrutinize commercial hurricane claims. [...]

Commercial Property Claims: Why They’re More Complex After HurricanesRobson Powers2026-05-26T11:46:23-04:00

Are Experts on Attorneys’ Fees Necessary or Just Another Cost?

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 [...]

Are Experts on Attorneys’ Fees Necessary or Just Another Cost?Kara Rogers2026-04-20T02:37:10-04:00

The Growing Role of AI in the Legal Profession

The Growing Role of AI in the Legal Profession AI is rapidly transforming how law firms handle legal documents. Traditionally, reviewing contracts, drafting agreements, and analyzing case files required long hours of manual work by lawyers and paralegals. BLOG As technology continues to evolve, the legal industry is increasingly exploring how AI can improve accuracy while reducing time spent on repetitive tasks. AI is also becoming a valuable tool for drafting legal documents. With the help of machine learning models and natural language processing, legal professionals can generate first drafts of contracts and other common legal forms. While human review is still essential, AI can significantly speed up the drafting process by providing a structured starting point. Legal research is [...]

The Growing Role of AI in the Legal ProfessionRobson Powers2026-04-03T13:09:51-04:00

Jury Trial vs. Bench Trial: What’s the Difference?

Jury Trial vs. Bench Trial: What’s the Difference? A jury trial and a bench trial are two very different paths through the court system, and choosing between them can have a real impact on how your case is decided. BLOG What is a Jury Trial? In a jury trial, a group of community members listens to the evidence, hears the witnesses, and decides what the facts are. The judge still runs the courtroom and rules on legal issues, but the jury decides whether the plaintiff wins or loses in a civil case, or whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty in a criminal case. Jury trials are what most people picture from TV and movies: jury selection, opening statements, witness testimony, [...]

Jury Trial vs. Bench Trial: What’s the Difference?Kara Rogers2026-03-12T18:13:35-04:00

Legal Resources Every Cape Coral Resident Should Know

Legal Resources Every Cape Coral Resident Should Know Living in Cape Coral offers sunshine, waterways, and a wonderful community, but there are times when legal questions or challenges arise. BLOG Whether you’re dealing with family matters, property issues, or unexpected legal problems, knowing where to turn for trusted resources can make all the difference. In this guide, we outline essential legal resources every Cape Coral resident should have on hand. One of the first places to start is the Lee County Clerk of Court & Comptroller. This office handles vital records, civil and criminal court filings, marriage licenses, and more. For residents navigating court cases or needing public documents, the Clerk’s office is a cornerstone resource. Their online portal also allows [...]

Legal Resources Every Cape Coral Resident Should KnowKara Rogers2026-02-09T17:45:53-05:00