Circuit Judge · Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court
What applies in this courtroom
834 verified requirements and 6 rule deadlines govern practice before Judge Donald W. Hafele across the judge, division, county, circuit, and statewide layers.
The tabs below show the judge-and-division layer only. The Full Premium Report assembles the complete stack — every requirement, deadline table, ruling intelligence, live case-type scan, and source appendix in one cited document.
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Circuit Criminal — Divisions T/KK2
Courtroom W129
On this assignment since June 8, 2026
Has presented numerous legal education seminars to lawyer and judges Education University of Miami (cum laude) with a Bachelor of Arts degree (1979) University of Miami Law School (1982) Prior Work Experience Civil litigator (1982-1999) Professional Activities President of the Student Bar Association (1981 - 1982) Division Information The Honorable Donald W.
Published by the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court on this judge's own profile page and reproduced verbatim — BenchPath does not write or paraphrase judicial biographies. Read it on the court's site →
Appeals from this courtroom go to the Fourth District Court of Appeal (West Palm Beach).
● LiveThat court's published bench (11): Alan O. Forst, Burton C. Conner, Caroline Shepherd, Cory J. Ciklin, Johnathan D. Lott, Jonathan D. Gerber, Mark W. Klingensmith, Melanie G. May, Robert M. Gross, Shannon K. Shaw, Spencer D. Levine
Jurisdiction per § 35.043, Fla. Stat. (six-district alignment eff. Jan. 1, 2023).
Provenance attributed 2026-08-08: official page https://www.15thcircuit.com/judges/hafele-donald live-verified to name this judge (sha256 89d66b886452dfae…). No clean biographical prose was extractable from the page (it served procedures/contact/referral text); roster facts render, narrative withheld.
11 verified rules specific to this judge's division, grouped by requirement category. 834 total requirements apply in this courtroom across all layers — the Full Premium Report assembles the complete stack.
No judge-level deadline on record runs shorter than a statewide deadline with the same trigger. The sentinel compares quoted timing across every published rule scoped to this judge on each visit — a clean result today is re-earned tomorrow.
No judge-scoped deadlines on this tab. Deadlines are extracted only when the source rule text states them — we never infer or calculate dates the rule does not explicitly contain. 6 rule deadlines apply in this courtroom across all layers — assembled with citations in the Full Premium Report.
Timing shown here is quoted from the rule text. Compute your actual date against the court's calendar and the rule itself — not legal advice.
No verified ruling summary yet. BenchPath generates ruling summaries from opinion and docket corpora (CourtListener where covered) and publishes them only after human review — fabricated judicial analytics are exactly what this platform refuses to ship.
Use the live case-law search below to see what exists for this judge today.
How Florida’s appellate courts disposed of the 112 opinions in BenchPath’s corpus (April 14, 2010–February 22, 2024) that name this judge as the lower-tribunal judge — the courts’ own disposition labels, counted verbatim. This is a census of the appellate record we hold, not a complete case history, an affirmance rate, or a performance rating.
Florida appellate and Supreme Court opinions naming this judge as the lower-tribunal judge, taken verbatim from each court’s official slip opinion (source-hashed). Descriptive record, not a rating. Showing the 50 most recent; all 112 are counted in the outcome census above.
BOCA VIEW CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC. vs EILEEN BREITKREUTZ, et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label):
last checked September 4, 2026
last checked September 4, 2026
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○ bring your licenseMonitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger)
Monitor: content changed at 15th Cir. — Division T/KK2 Instructions (Judge Hafele). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 15th Cir. — Division T/KK2 Instructions (Judge Hafele)
Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger)
Judge Hafele: exhibits in chambers three days before any evidentiary proceeding, courtesy copies two days out, all hearing materials three business days ahead, and interpreter requests seven days in advance.
3 verbatim requirements published by Palm Beach Division TKK2 on exhibits.
Judge Hafele: Word-format proposed orders go in immediately after the hearing, with a hard outer limit of 10 days; e-mails to chambers need case number, case name, and matter in the subject line.
1 verbatim requirement published by Palm Beach Division TKK2 on proposed orders & online scheduling.
VAS AERO SERVICES, LLC f/k/a VOLVO AERO SERVICES CORP. and H.I.G. CAPITAL, LLC vs VOLVO AERO LEASING LLC
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Apollo Investment Group, LLC v. , UH-SI, LLC d/b/a Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
JIANGNING REN vs BMW BANK OF NORTH AMERICA
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
UNITY RECOVERY CENTER, INC. and JASON ACKNER vs SOUTH FLORIDA PROPERTY VENTURES II, LLC
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
CEDRICK L. JONES vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
LARRY BRYANT vs DAVID ARONBERG
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JOHN R. CHOATE, et al. vs RYSURG, LLC, et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed in Part/Reversed in Part
THIRD REEF HOLDINGS, LLC vs MARTIN STEIN, BLACKFORD CAPITAL ASSOCIATES II, INC. and BFC-BSI, LLC
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
KEVIN HAYMES vs DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
NERMINE HANNA vs SEVEN SPRINGS OF THE PALM BEACHES, INC.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Constance Avaras and Apollo Investment Group, LLC v. UH-SI, LLC d/b/a Palm Beach Marriot Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
THIRD REEF HOLDINGS, LLC, etc. vs MARTIN STEIN, et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
SHAINA THANE vs ROSE ACCEPTANCE, INC., et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
DELMAR LOPEZ, VS JURI GALICIA,
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
TOPVALCO INC. VS MICHAEL A. WOLFF
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Opinion
JONATHAN ALEXANDER OVERSTREET vs SOUTHERN FLORIDA TRANSPORTATION GROUP, LLC, et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA vs WATERFRONT ICW PROPERTIES, LLC and WELLINGTON ARMS, A CONDOMINIUM, INC.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, etc. v. NE 32nd Street, LLC and Dorothy Jacks, as Palm Beach County Property Appraiser
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Opinion
JOSE ANTONIO PACHECO vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
CA FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC, Publisher VS DAVE ARONBERG, as State Attorney of Palm Beach County, Florida,
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Opinion
WING KEI HO and VS CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
PAUL LOSCHIAVO and JILL LOSCHIAVO VS PALM BEACH IMPORTS, INC. d/b/a
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
PAMELA K. WINCHIE vs GEOFFREY W. COLINO, et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
MARTHA CASTRO vs PEOPLE'S TRUST INSURANCE COMPANY
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
SPANISH CREEK, LLC VS WATERFRONT ICW PROPERTIES, LLC,
Fourth District Court of Appeal
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
MARIA LUDOVICI MARCHEGIANI VS AMOS EYAL
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
EILEEN BREITKREUTZ vs BOCA VIEW CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
N&P CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT, INC. and JULIO ABREU vs LEONOR PEREZ
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
PLAZA LA MER, INC. and SOUTH SQUARE DEVELOPMENT, INC. vs DELRAY PROPERTY INVESTMENTS, INC., et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
ANTHONY V. PUGLIESE, I I I, et al vs FD DESTINY, LLC., et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
SOUTH SQUARE DEVELOPMENT, INC. vs DELRAY PROPERTY INVESTMENTS, INC., et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
VOLVO AERO LEASING, LLC vs VAS AERO SERVICES, LLC f/k/a VOLVO AERO SERVICES, CORP., et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
VOLVO AERO LEASING, LLC vs VAS AERO SERVICES, LLC f/k/a VOLVO AERO SERVICES, CORP., et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
ROBERT GIBSON, Successor in Interest to Joseph P. Karam, Jr. vs LORIE FISCHER
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
NOEL RODRIGUEZ a/k/a NOEL ALEXIS RODRIGUEZ NEVINS vs TEMPERATURE CONCEPTS, INC. and ROBERT MARK BORDONI
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Reversed
DAVID B. COHEN and CAROLYN COHEN a/k/a CAROLYN P. RAFF vs DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee for Residential Accredit Loans, Inc., Mortgage Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-QO10
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
AVP DESTINY LLC, et. al. vs ELISABETH DELUCA, et. al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JOSIE SAINT FLEUR and ANTOINE SAINT LOUIS, as Personal Rep of the Estate of Karenine Saint Louis vs LYFT FLORIDA, INC., et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
PLAZA LA MER, INC. vs DELRAY PROPERTY INVESTMENTS, INC. and SOSQ PROPERTY INVESTMENTS, INC., et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
DICKINSON WRIGHT, PLLC and PETER WEBSTER vs THIRD REEF HOLDINGS, LLC and BFC-BSI, LLC
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Reversed
DICKINSON WRIGHT, PLLC and PETER WEBSTER vs THIRD REEF HOLDINGS, LLC and BFC-BSI, LLC
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Reversed
AVP DESTINY, LLC and ANTHONY V. PUGLIESE, III vs FD DESTINY, LLC., et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
VINCENT CHARLES SALERNO, etc., ESTATE OF SUSAN M. SALERNO vs DEL MAR FINANCIAL SERVICE, LLC, GLADSTONE LAW GROUP, P.A., ET AL.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
PATRICIA SALMON vs FORECLOSED ASSETS SALES AND TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP FOR THE LSF6 MRA REO TRUST
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JANE MARIE LETWIN and PHILIP J. RUFFOLO vs JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, ETC., ET AL.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
MATTHEW LADD vs CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
AVP DESTINY, LLC and ANTHONY V. PUGLIESE, III vs FD DESTINY, LLC., et al.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JOHANNA O'NEILL vs THE FIRST LIBERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
ASSETS OVERSEAS, LLC and JOSE A. CONTRERAS vs U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, etc.
Fourth District Court of Appeal · Palm Beach County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
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Monitor: content changed at 15th Cir. — Division T/KK2 Instructions (Judge Hafele). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 15th Cir. — Division T/KK2 Instructions (Judge Hafele)
Monitor: content changed at 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 15th Circuit — Administrative Orders (faceted ledger)
Monitor: content changed at 15th Cir. — Division T/KK2 Instructions (Judge Hafele). Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 15th Cir. — Division T/KK2 Instructions (Judge Hafele)