It probably won't cost you anything to hire a lawyer. Florida Statutes regulating the landlord tenant relationship, especially as it pertains to security deposits, is very specific. In most cases, if you prevail, you would be entitled to attorney's fees in addition to the return of your security deposit, or portion thereof. I would highly recommend consulting a lawyer.
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As with any professional, the best way to find one is by referral. It sounds as if you're not represented, but if you know any lawyers, I would begin by asking them if they could recommend a good mediator. As previously mentioned, your spouse (or spouse's lawyer) will need to mutually agree upon the mediator, otherwise the court will appoint one for you. I would highly recommend you do some research, because there are very good mediators, and very bad mediators. Good luck to you.
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The Certificate of Settlement Authority has nothing to do with the mediator. It's a document that the plaintiff is required to submit, for the purpose of certifying that the representative who will appear at the mediation on behalf of the plaintiff has the authority to settle the case.
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No, the Southern District is not sending Ch. 13 cases to mortgage modification mediations like the Middle District. I mediate a lot of the Ch. 13 cases in the middle district, and although the success rate is higher than state court, there is still nothing magical about the process. It can be done outside of mediation, albeit with a lot more difficulty. Also, beware that I know of one trustee in the Middle District who filed a Motion To Dismiss a Ch. 13 when it was filed for the sole...
I think Ms. Golant covered it well. The only thing I'll add is that I practice law and mediate in St. Petersburg, and although I don't litigate foreclosure cases, I know many lawyers who do, and you would be surprised at how affordable many of them are, especially for how incredibly talented they are. As everybody has already said, you really should consult with a lawyer.