Legal Matters

Lawsuits, Legal Claims & Subpoenas

IMPORTANT: All process servers must deliver legal documents directly to the Office of the General Counsel. University faculty and staff are not authorized to accept service of process on behalf of the University.

The Office of the General Counsel provides legal representation for the University in lawsuits, administrative proceedings, and other legal matters. We also provide guidance on responding to subpoenas, summonses, and court orders. When legal action is filed against the University, the plaintiff must serve notice by delivering the complaint and summons through a process server. To ensure proper handling, all such documents must be delivered to our office where authorized staff will accept service and assign the matter appropriately.

If process is not served on our office, please follow the procedures below based on the type of document received.

Subpoenas
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When the University is a party: If you receive a subpoena in a matter where the University or its Board of Trustees is a party, immediately hand-deliver the original document to the Office of the General Counsel. Please note the date you received it on the document.

When the University is not a party: If you receive a subpoena in a matter where the University is not a party, the Office of the General Counsel is available to provide guidance on how to respond.

Important: The University must comply with federal and state privacy and confidentiality laws before releasing or disclosing records. Contact our office before providing any documents in response to a subpoena.
Court Orders/Summonses
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If you receive a court order, summons, or lawsuit notification related to your University employment, immediately hand-deliver the original document to the Office of the General Counsel. Please note the date you received it on the document.
Written Communications
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If you receive letters or other written communications from lawyers, court officials, or the general public regarding legal matters:
- Acknowledge receipt
- Inform the sender that the matter will be forwarded to the Office of the General Counsel for response
- Forward the communication to our office
Note: Requests for employment information or records about current or former employees should be directed to Human Resources or submitted as a public records request.

Additional Legal Information

Contract Review

All contracts must receive legal review before signing. Learn about the contract review process and requirements:

Learn More

Attorney-Client Privilege

Understanding attorney-client privilege helps protect confidential communications. Learn about this important legal protection:

Learn More

Governance

Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees is a public body corporate established by Florida law with all the powers of a corporation. These powers include adopting a corporate seal, contracting, suing and being sued, and giving and receiving donations.

The formal legal name of the University is The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees, a public body corporate of the State of Florida. This name should be used on all legal documents.

As a public instrumentality of the State of Florida, the University enjoys sovereign immunity except to the extent expressly waived by the Florida Legislature. The University's colleges, schools, centers, institutes, departments, offices, and committees are not separate legal entities from the University and should not be described as such on legal documents.

Board of Trustees
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The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees is the governing body of the University, consisting of thirteen members:
- Six appointed by the Governor (subject to Senate confirmation)
- Five appointed by the Board of Governors (subject to Senate confirmation)
- President of the FGCU Faculty Senate
- President of the FGCU Student Government
The University President serves as the Board's chief executive officer and corporate secretary.

For information about Board meetings and governance documents, visit https://www.fgcu.edu/about/leadership/fgcuboardoftrustees/.
Florida Board of Governors
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The Florida Board of Governors governs the State University System and is established by Article IX, Section 7 of the Florida Constitution. The Board consists of seventeen members:
- Fourteen appointed by the Governor (confirmed by the Florida Senate)
- Chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates
- Commissioner of Education
- Chair of the Florida Student Association
For more information, visit www.flbog.edu.
Direct Support Organizations
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The Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, Inc., and the Florida Gulf Coast University Financing Corporation are direct support organizations (DSOs) of the University. The DSOs are formed as not-for-profit corporations under the Florida Not for Profit Corporation Act, Chapter 617, Florida Statutes. The Internal Revenue Service has recognized the DSOs as tax-exempt charitable organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Gifts made through the Foundation or the Financing Corporation are generally exempt from federal income, gift, and estate taxes.

While a DSO is a legal entity separate from a state university, Florida law authorizes a state university board of trustees to certify such an organization to operate for the benefit of a university. This certification empowers a DSO to receive, hold, invest, and administer property, and to make expenditures to or for the benefit of its university or for the benefit of a research and development park or authority affiliated with the university. Florida law requires that a DSO operate in a manner consistent with the goals of its university and in the best interests of the State of Florida, as determined by the university president and board of trustees.

For more information about the FGCU Foundation, visit https://fgcufoundation.org/.

For more information about the FGCU Financing Corporation, visit https://www.fgcu.edu/financecorp/.
Faculty Senate
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The purpose of faculty governance at Florida Gulf Coast University is to safeguard academic quality, promote effective and open communication, uphold academic integrity, emphasize rights and shared responsibilities of students, staff, community, faculty, and administration, and sustain a dynamic learning environment.

For more information, visit https://www.fgcu.edu/facultysenate/.
Student Government
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The mission of Student Government is to provide an intellectual, social, and cultural environment that maximizes student potential and enhances student success. The purpose of Student Government is to provide equal representation for all students at Florida Gulf Coast University.

For more information, visit https://www.fgcu.edu/sg/.