Stokes Law Firm

Stokes Law Firm St. Petersburg law firm specializing in Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, and Family Law. Prior to entering private practice, John M.

Stokes spent six years as a prosecutor, where he gained invaluable experience in criminal litigation. His experience as a prosecutor has given him a unique edge and advantage when it comes to crafting strong and compelling defense cases for his clients. At Stokes Law Firm we are committed to providing personal, individualized legal counsel to each client and every case. Our firm will dedicate all

the necessary resources to your case and pledge to return every phone call and correspondence. Our offices are conveniently located, and immediate representation can be arranged 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Take the first step and call now for your confidential free consultation.

Tomorrow - Day 9 - Part II - The Florida Court System - APPEALS.
08/19/2026

Tomorrow - Day 9 - Part II - The Florida Court System - APPEALS.

Federal Court in Personal Injury CasesMost Florida personal injury cases are filed in state court, but some may be heard...
08/19/2026

Federal Court in Personal Injury Cases
Most Florida personal injury cases are filed in state court, but some may be heard in Federal Court. Federal jurisdiction commonly exists when the parties are citizens of different states and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, or when a claim involves federal law. Federal courts apply their own procedural rules and, in diversity cases, generally apply Florida substantive law. Federal litigation often involves stricter deadlines, detailed procedures, and extensive pretrial requirements.

TOMORROW - DAY 8 - CIRCUIT COURT
08/18/2026

TOMORROW - DAY 8 - CIRCUIT COURT

The Florida Court System — County CourtFlorida’s County Courts are trial courts of limited jurisdiction located in each ...
08/18/2026

The Florida Court System — County Court
Florida’s County Courts are trial courts of limited jurisdiction located in each of Florida’s 67 counties. In civil matters, they generally hear disputes involving $50,000 or less, excluding interest, costs, and attorney’s fees. This includes many smaller personal injury and property-damage lawsuits. County Courts also handle small claims, certain landlord-tenant matters, traffic offenses, and misdemeanors. Larger personal injury cases generally fall within the jurisdiction of Florida’s Circuit Courts.

Day 6 - The Purpose of Personal Injury Law — Elements of NegligenceTo recover in a Florida negligence case, an injured p...
08/17/2026

Day 6 - The Purpose of Personal Injury Law — Elements of Negligence
To recover in a Florida negligence case, an injured person generally must prove four essential elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. The defendant must have owed the plaintiff a legal duty of reasonable care, breached that duty through an act or omission, and caused the plaintiff’s injuries as a result. Finally, the plaintiff must have suffered legally recognized damages. If any required element cannot be proven, the negligence claim may fail.

📚 STOKES LAW FIRM — LAW SCHOOL FOR LAYMENA Quick Schedule UpdateOur apologies to everyone who has been following along w...
08/14/2026

📚 STOKES LAW FIRM — LAW SCHOOL FOR LAYMEN
A Quick Schedule Update
Our apologies to everyone who has been following along with our daily Law School for Laymen — Accident & Injury Law series.
Today’s originally scheduled lesson, Part II: The Florida Court System — County Court, has been postponed briefly. As we developed the series, we decided that adding a weekly review and summary would make the lessons more useful and help tie together the important concepts covered during the week.
Today, we reviewed Days 1–4: The Purpose of Personal Injury Law.
📘 MONDAY — DAY 6:
The Purpose of Personal Injury Law — The Elements of Negligence
This is an especially important lesson because duty, breach, causation, and damages form the foundation of most personal injury claims.
⚖️ TUESDAY — DAY 7:
We begin Part II — The Florida Court System, starting with County Court.
Thank you for following along, and we apologize for any confusion caused by the schedule change.
We hope everyone has a safe, relaxing, and wonderful weekend!
STOKES LAW FIRM
Defending Rights — Protecting Futures!
🎓 Stay Informed. Stay Protected. Stay Ahead.

Monday's Topic on Day 6 - The Purpose of Personal Injury Law - The Elements of Negligence.
08/14/2026

Monday's Topic on Day 6 - The Purpose of Personal Injury Law - The Elements of Negligence.

Days 1–4 Review: The Purpose of Personal Injury LawFlorida negligence law developed from English common law and evolved ...
08/14/2026

Days 1–4 Review: The Purpose of Personal Injury Law
Florida negligence law developed from English common law and evolved from contributory negligence to today’s modified comparative negligence system. Personal injury law primarily seeks compensation, providing damages for losses caused by another’s negligence, while punitive damages are reserved for exceptional misconduct. Personal injury claims are civil, not criminal, proceedings. The injured plaintiff generally bears the burden of proof, establishing negligence, causation, and damages by the greater weight of the evidence—a lower standard than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal cases.

Burden of Proof in Florida Personal Injury CasesIn a Florida personal injury case, the injured person, or plaintiff, gen...
08/13/2026

Burden of Proof in Florida Personal Injury Cases

In a Florida personal injury case, the injured person, or plaintiff, generally has the burden of proving the claim by the greater weight of the evidence. This means showing that the plaintiff’s version of the facts is more likely true than not true. Unlike criminal cases, proof beyond a reasonable doubt is not required. The plaintiff generally must prove negligence, causation, and legally recoverable damages.

TOMORROW - DAY 4 - Tomorrow's Subject in Law School for Laymen -BURDEN OF PROOF.
08/12/2026

TOMORROW - DAY 4 - Tomorrow's Subject in Law School for Laymen -BURDEN OF PROOF.

Address

5901 Sun Boulevard, Suite 201
Saint Petersburg, FL
33715

Telephone

+17279540186

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