The civil cover sheet that lawyers fill out when electronically filing documents has been changed to add a classification for civil filings that stem from sexual abuse cases.

The Supreme Court on December 16 approved changes to Form 1.997 (Civil Cover Sheet) in the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.

The modification comes after a change, effective July 1, 2021, that the court made to Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.420(d). That amendment eliminated the requirement that clerks of court independently review and redact confidential information in most county and circuit court civil and small claims cases. However, the court said clerks would continue to review civil cases involving medical malpractice, related to the Jimmy Ryce Civil Commitment Act, and for civil cases resulting from instances of sexual abuse.