Melissa M. Polo
Circuit Judge · Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court
High confidence· verified August 3, 2026
Circuit Judge · Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court
What applies in this courtroom
451 verified requirements and 6 rule deadlines govern practice before Judge Melissa M. Polo 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 Civil — Division C
Courtroom Edgecomb Crt 504
Patricia DePagter
Contact details published by the court for scheduling and chambers procedure questions — always confirm preferences with the JA before a hearing.
No Response - If after 5 days of service a response is not received by opposing counsel, a proposed Order, as a PDF , may be uploaded to the Florida ePortal, along with a cover letter detailing the service and no response, for Judge Polo’s consideration.
For any case assigned to Judge Polo, if any attorney or pro se party has used Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) in the preparation of any complaint, answer, motion, brief, or other paper filed with the Court, the party MUST, in a clear and plain factual statement, disclosure that AI has been used in any way in the filing, and CERTIFY, that each and every citation to the law or the record in the paper has been verified as accurate. Failure to comply may result in sanctions, including dismissal.
Published by the Thirteenth 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 →
Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs St., Room #523, Tampa, Florida 33602
Published forms & procedures: Order on Procedures Applicable to Jury Trials; Order on Procedures for Motions in Limine; Order Setting Non-Jury Trial and Directing Pre-Trial Procedure (Residential Foreclosure); Order Setting Procedures for "Daubert" Type Hearings; Uniform Order setting Cause for Trial and Pre-Trial(Non-Jury Trial); Uniform Pretrial Conference Order (Jury Trial)
Verified against Judge Melissa M. Polo's own court profile page, 2026-08-02.
Captured verbatim from the court's own published pages and orders during circuit verification. Chambers practices change without notice — confirm anything time-critical with the judicial assistant. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Appeals from this courtroom go to the Second District Court of Appeal (St. Petersburg).
● LiveThat court's published bench (15): Andrea Teves Smith, Anthony K. Black, Craig C. Villanti, Daniel H. Sleet, Edward C. LaRose, J. Andrew Atkinson, John Guard, Matthew C. Lucas, Morris Silberman, Nelly Khouzam, Patricia J. Kelly, Robert Morris, Stevan T. Northcutt, Susan H. Rothstein-Youakim
Profile upgraded 2026-08-02: bio_url now points to this judge's own page (https://www.fljud13.org/Directory/Judges/Judge-Polo), confirmed to name them before extraction. Biography captured verbatim from the court's page. 6 linked form/procedure document(s) fetched and hashed.
4 verified rules specific to this judge's division, grouped by requirement category. 451 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 124 opinions in BenchPath’s corpus (June 8, 2018–July 29, 2026) 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 124 are counted in the outcome census above.
last checked September 4, 2026
last checked September 4, 2026
last checked September 3, 2026
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Westlaw
Circuit Civil — Division Ccurrent
date not recorded — present · Courtroom Edgecomb Crt 504
assignment source →Monitor: content changed at 13th Cir. — Judge Polo (Civ C) Procedures & Preferences. Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 13th Cir. — Judge Polo (Civ C) Procedures & Preferences
Monitor: content changed at 13th Cir. — Hearing Officers directory. Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 13th Cir. — Hearing Officers directory
Monitor: content changed at 13th Cir. — Judge Polo (Civ C) Procedures & Preferences. Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 13th Cir. — Judge Polo (Civ C) Procedures & Preferences
Jurisdiction per § 35.043, Fla. Stat. (six-district alignment eff. Jan. 1, 2023).
Florida Association of Christian Child Caring Agencies v. The New York Times Company, Morel
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
JOHN J. HICKS, I I I vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
GINA OVIEDO-BATT, M.D. AND LAKE MAGDALENE EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS, LLC vs TAVIA J. STOKES, ET AL
Second District Court of Appeal · Writ of Certiorari to the Circuit Court for Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Denied
JOSEPH W. PATTEN, JR. vs JANEEN PATTEN
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
MICHAEL QUILL, NADA ABDO-QUILL, MARIE SILVA VS CHRISTINA PAYLAN, ET AL.,
Second District Court of Appeal · Writ of Certiorari to the Circuit Court for Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Petition - PC Denied
TIMOTHY JAJWVAN THROW vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
STATE OF FLORIDA vs JEFFERY CLARENCE COSBY
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Reversed
GARY ANTHONY DAVIS vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
MADONIA, III, THE FAMILY FARM ON 41, LLC, et al v. MADONIA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
TEDDY BALTIMORE SMITH vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Hallermeier v. Perez, U-Haul Co. Of Florida
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
JOSHUA RASHEEN BATTLES vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
PEDRO ARMANDO WALTON vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
VBK Santoshi, LLC v. Jai Hanuman, Inc., Makanji, et al
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
GARY A. DAVIS vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
ANTOINE WINSLETTE vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
EVELYN SHERRYAL WILLIAMS vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JENNIFER MARY DONLEY YORK vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
STATE OF FLORIDA vs BRANDON THOMAS WATLINGTON
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Reversed
ALLINGTON DANTE DOTTIN vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
WIENDL v. HUGHES, WIENDL
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Authored Opinion
FRANKIE LEE ANDERSON vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
McNally v. AAA Scholarship Foundation, Fl, LLC
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
JOE N. PEREZ vs KIMBERLY ANN PEREZ MOORE, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS CO-PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY M. PEREZ, DECEASED, ET AL.
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
ZAHAV REFI, LLC, ZAHAV FLORIDA, LLC, ZAHAV REFI I I, LLC, SP POOL 7 ZAHAV FL, LLC, VS WHITE HAWK ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Authored Opinion
MATTHEW SCOTT WHITE vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
DARRELL DARRON BURNSIDE vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
LAVALLEE v. CHRONISTER, SHERIFF OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
Navas Bar & Grill, Inc., d/b/a 1701 Restaurant & Lounge v. Tapias
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Authored Opinion
RYAN LEVERNE BUXTON vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JESSOUS CONSTANTINE WEBB vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
JEFFREY R. VIVERETTE vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
MITCHELL v. STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
WILLIAM DUVAL vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
DABBS POSTMA vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
HEATHER BENNETT VS SEA WORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT, LLC, ET AL.
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
PAYLAN v. TIMES PUBLISHING COMPANY
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
THE FAMILY FARM ON 41, LLC, MADONIA, et al v. MADONIA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
ZAHAV REFI, LLC, ZAHAV FLORIDA, LLC, et al v. WHITE HAWK ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Authored Opinion
Nguyen, Nguyen v. Williams
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Authored Opinion
PROGRESSIVE SELECT INSURANCE COMPANY VS LLOYD'S OF SHELTON AUTO GLASS, L L C, A/A/O BRUCE FARLOW
Second District Court of Appeal · Writ of Certiorari to the Circuit Court for Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Petition - Authored Opinion
ISAIAH JOEL DUPREE vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
ASHANDA FINEGAN AND MARCIA HUFF VS US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Authored Opinion
CONCORDIA LUTHERAN MINISTRIES vs THE ESTATE OF LINDA SCHUMER, BY AND THROUGH LARA DANIELLE WILLS, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE, ET AL
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
THE FAMILY FARM ON 41, LLC, MADONIA, et al v. MADONIA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
HEMANT N. SHAH AND MADHVI H. SHAH VS REGIONS BANK, ET AL
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Per Curiam Affirmed
ANTONIO MAURICE NEAL vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
GARY ALAN WAYNE ZURLINE vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Navas Bar & Grill, Inc., d/b/a 1701 Restaurant & Lounge v. Tapias
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Appeal - Authored Opinion
DANIEL ARTHUR WHITE vs STATE OF FLORIDA
Second District Court of Appeal · Hillsborough County
Disposition (court’s label): Affirmed
Answer three quick questions. The platform pulls Melissa M. Polo's full public case-law record from the source, newest first — your matter never narrows the pull; it directs the relevance ranking and the dual-AI analysis. Every hit comes back Bluebook-cited with the opinion's own words quoted verbatim. The scan takes the time precision takes.
Case-law search
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Monitor: content changed at 13th Cir. — Hearing Officers directory. Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 13th Cir. — Hearing Officers directory
Monitor: content changed at 13th Cir. — Judge Polo (Civ C) Procedures & Preferences. Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 13th Cir. — Judge Polo (Civ C) Procedures & Preferences
Monitor: content changed at 13th Cir. — Hearing Officers directory. Review before republishing dependent rules.
via 13th Cir. — Hearing Officers directory