Bonnie Carter v. Florida Department of Children and Families, et al.

• Court: District Court, M.D. Florida
• Decided: December 30, 2025
• Docket: 6:25-cv-00372
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA ORLANDO DIVISION

BONNIE CARTER

Plaintiff,

v. Case No: 6:25-cv-372-JSS-DCI

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, et al.,

Defendants.

ORDER Defendant Jo Lisa Byers (Byers), proceeding pro se, filed the instant motion seeking access to file and receive electronic notifications of filings through CM/ECF. Doc. 113 (the Motion). As will be explained, the Motion is due to be GRANTED IN PART. In the Motion, Byers represents that she “cannot reasonably travel to the Orlando courthouse” and that submitting filings in person or by mail “is not always feasible and effectively denies [her] access to the Court.” Doc. 113 at 2. Accordingly, Byers seeks an order directing the Clerk to: 1) grant Byers permission to file documents via CM/ECF; 2) “provide Defendant full access to the docket;” and 3) “re-serve all filings and orders that Defendant may not have received.” Doc. 113 at 3. On August 1, 2025, the Middle District of Florida discontinued the web portal—an electronic filing platform for pro se litigants.1 Now, “[a]bsent a court order, a pro se litigant is not

1 See United States District Court Middle District of Florida, Lawyer Web Portal, https://apps.flmd.uscourts.gov/cmecf/filings.cfm (last visited on Oct. 17, 2025) (“Litigants without lawyers are not permitted to submit filings through the court’s web portal. Instead, litigants without permitted to file documents in CM/ECF.” United States District Court Middle District of Florida, Administrative Procedures for Electronic Filing, at B(4) (Nov. 18, 2025). And “[p]ro se litigants are generally denied access to electronic filing unless extenuating circumstances exist to justify waiving CM/ECF procedures.” See Huminski v. Vermont, 2014 WL 169848, at *4 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 15, 2014); McMahon v. Cleveland Clinic Found. Police Dep’t, 455 F. App’x 874, 878 (11th Cir.

2011) (per curiam) (affirming denial of CM/ECF access for pro se litigant because there was “no good cause under the circumstances of the case to authorize his access.”); see also Gerow v. Blackwell, 2024 WL 4679030, at *1 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 5, 2024) (“The Eleventh Circuit has routinely upheld this district’s practice of denying CM/ECF access to pro se litigants absent a showing of good cause.”) (citations omitted). In this instance, Byers has not shown any extenuating circumstances or good cause to authorize her access to file via CM/ECF. Since the Court’s discontinuation of the pro se Web Portal on August 1, 2025, Byers has successfully filed eight docket entries without CM/ECF access. See e.g., Docs. 68, 69, 74, 78, 79, 107, 112, 113. And while Byers contends that filing via

mail is “not always feasible,” the Court is not convinced that the filing of future documents in person, by U.S. Mail, or by other delivery service will be unduly burdensome and prejudicial. All pro se parties filing in this district are subject to the limitations inherent in paper filing, and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure account for such processing time by adding three days to the applicable deadlines. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(d) (citing Rules 5(b)(2)(C) and 6(a)). Accordingly, The Court is not persuaded that CM/ECF access is necessary for Byers to litigate this matter.

lawyers must submit filings in person, by U.S. Mail, or by other delivery service.”); see also Gillespie v. Wilcox, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS, at *2 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 11, 2025) (“Previously, the Court operated a web portal that allowed pro se litigants to file documents electronically. That service has now ended.”). That said, the Court in its discretion may grant a pro se party permission to receive electronic notification of filings.2 Moore v. Adventist Health Sys. Sunbelt Healthcare Corp., 2023 WL 4947933 (M.D. Fla. Aug. 3, 2023) (authorizing electronic notification of filings for a pro se litigant). Parties that receive notice of electronic filing receive “an email confirmation of the filing that is sent to each E-filer of record in the case and to any other individual authorized by the Court

to receive electronic notifications of case filings.” Admin. Proc. for Elec. Filing, at D(1). Further, “[a] non-sealed document filed electronically can be viewed for the first time for free from the document link within the [notice]. The hyperlink expires after the earlier of two events: the first use or 15 days after the [notice] is emailed,” after which a party must access PACER—and pay the required fees—to view a document. Id. at D(2). It is recommended that a party obtaining a document in this manner open the document and save it for future use, as the document may be accessed for free only during the first view. Thus, Byers’ request to receive email notification via CM/ECF is well-taken and will be granted. To the extent Byers seeks access to the electronically maintained docket system known as

“PACER,” “[a]ny member of the public can access electronic records of the federal courts by registering online with PACER[.]” Rothschild v. Anywhere Advisors LLC, 2024 WL 2749245, at *1 (M.D. Fla. May 29, 2024). The Court’s Guide for Proceeding Without a Lawyer provides: If you have internet access, you may also register for PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) and view and print the documents in a case. To register, go to the PACER registration page on the PACER website (www.pacer.gov) or call (800) 676-6856. Using PACER may cost $.10 a page for viewing or printing. PACER will give you details when you register. Problems with PACER should be addressed to PACER, not to the court.

2 Byers may also consent to receive electronic service from other parties in this case by filing a notice of consent to electronic service. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 5(b)(2)(E). United States District Court Middle District of Florida, Guide for Proceeding Without a Lawyer, p. 13 (Feb. 10, 2022) (available at https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/sites/flmd/files /documents/flmd-guide-for-proceeding-without-a-lawyer.pdf ). Accordingly, it is ORDERED that: 1. The Motion (Doc. 113) is GRANTED IN PART to the extent that Byers seeks authorization to receive electronic notification of filing; 2. DENIED without prejudice in all other respects; and 3. The Clerk is directed to add Byers’ email address, jolisa.byers@gmail.com, to CM/ECF in this matter. ORDERED in Orlando, Florida on December 30, 2025.

ene — UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE Copies furnished to: Counsel of Record Unrepresented Parties