Guy P. Coburn Information

Guy P. Coburn has practiced law since 1984, both in small firms and large firms. He has handled hundreds of trials in Small Claims, County Court and Circuit Court, including jury trials. His first position after law school was a high volume commercial collections practice. He then worked for a large multi-state firm focused on a wide range of consumer-oriented legal services, including Bankruptcy, Family Law, Wills and Estates. He then spent many years in a high volume Consumer and Commercial Collections practice, but also handled other Commercial Litigation matters including counterclaims and cross-claims against creditors. At this position, he built his experience with more difficult judgment enforcement matters. He has also worked for a firm focused on Community Associations, providing collections, analysis and interpretation of Association documents for Condominium Associations, Homeowners' Associations and Cooperative Associations. Before opening his own office, Mr. Coburn most recently was "Special Counsel" for a large multi-state law firm where he had a wide range of practice. In addition to complex judgment enforcement and creditor's right matters, he continued to build his experience by representing Creditors who had been sued under Consumer Collections Practices laws, and then represented some Consumers under these same laws. He has also handled a number of litigation matters involving Real Property, including Landlord & Tenant, disputes over sales contracts, and Defense of Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaims in Foreclosure actions. Guy P. Coburn has participated with the Florida Bar and the St. Petersburg Bar Association in leadership positions. He served as the Chair of the Business Law Section of the St. Petersburg Bar Association for 2009-2012. This Section provides additional education and networking for attorneys in a wide range of legal areas for attorneys who serve business clients. Guy P. Coburn was previously a member of the Florida Bar's Small Claims Rules Committee for ten years, becoming Chair of that committee in 1999-2000. The Small Claims Rules Committee writes and revises the rules for Small Claims Court, which is the Court that handle cases involving less than $5,000 and which is intended to have simpler rules so that individuals can more easily represent themselves. "In 1990, I became frustrated about a problem with the Small Claims Rules being used by the courts. Rather than simply complain, I decided to get involved to find a solution. I was appointed by the Florida Bar to the Small Claims Rules Committee, where I was able to make the change I felt was needed. I was fortunate to serve on that Committee for ten years, and was the Chair of Small Claims Rules Committee in 1999-2000. I drafted or participated in drafting many of the improvements to those rules which are designed to allow citizens to handle their own cases while still maintaining the proper rules and procedures needed for "due process" in our court system. One of my proudest achievements on that Committee was revising the Fact Information Sheet - I replaced the existing form and used a variation of the form I had created for our collections cases. I also formulated the procedure for enforcement of the Fact Information Sheet which was incorporated into the Rules. The Florida Supreme Court not only approved the form for use in Small Claims cases, but also added the form into the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure where the same form (with small differences) can be used in all County Court and Circuit Court cases." While Mr. Coburn has "large firm" experience, his rates are far more reasonable than those "large firms. One of the reasons he has opened his own office is the opportunity to serve those clients who don't want to pay those "large firm" rates and still get quality representation with the highest of ethical standards.