I may be part of a multi person law suit. I'm Canadian and the defendant is Canadian. The other plaintiffs are American. The defendant has a house in Florida as possible assets. Do we have to sue him in his home Canadian city? Can the USA house be used or seized as an asset by a Canadian court?
Can we open the suit in the city where his house is? The other plaintiffs are in various USA locations.
Did I explain this properly, I am going to speak with a Canadian lawyer. But he will obviously want the case and may not give the best advice.
Enforcement of a Canadian judgment by a Florida court is generally possible, but it involves a specific legal process. Here are the key steps and considerations:
1. **Reciprocity**: The United States and Canada have a generally reciprocal arrangement regarding the enforcement of judgments. However, this is not an automatic process and must follow certain legal principles.
2. **Recognition of Foreign Judgments**: The Florida court must first recognize the Canadian judgment. This involves filing a legal action in the Florida court seeking recognition of the foreign judgment.
3. **Uniform Foreign Money-Judgments Recognition Act (UFMJRA)**: Florida has adopted this act, which outlines the criteria and procedures for recognizing and enforcing foreign judgments. The Canadian judgment must meet the standards set by this act.
4. **Requirements**:
- The Canadian court must have had proper jurisdiction over the case and the parties.
- The defendant must have been given proper notice and an opportunity to be heard.
- The judgment must be final, conclusive, and enforceable in Canada.
- The judgment must not violate Florida's public policy.
5. **Defenses**: The defendant can raise certain defenses against the enforcement, such as:
- The judgment was obtained by fraud.
- The proceedings in Canada were not compatible with due process.
- The judgment conflicts with another final and conclusive judgment.
6. **Procedure**: Once recognized, the Canadian judgment can be enforced like any other judgment of a Florida court, which may involve actions such as garnishment, seizure of assets, or other enforcement measures.
It is advisable to consult with a lawyer who specializes in international judgment enforcement to navigate this process effectively.