The Florida Supreme Court ruled that fact witnesses can only be paid to assist with cases in certain circumstances, following a firm’s request to recover fees in a breach-of-contract lawsuit.

While Naples law firm Hahn Loeser & Parks claimed it should be reimbursed for paying witnesses to assist with case and discovery preparation, legal consulting company Trial Practices Inc. argued that allowing payments to fact witnesses could be construed as encouraging them to testify in one party’s favor.

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles T. Canady. Photo: WFSU.