What Does Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Mean in a Florida Criminal Case? A motion claiming ineffective assistance of counsel must be filed within 20 days of the date the court entered the written order terminating parental rights.Free Consultation - Call 954.928. Florida courts recognize three such exceptions: fundamental error, ineffective assistance of trial counsel, and cumulative error. Florida - INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE of COUNSEL (and Right to Counsel). In Florida, individuals convicted in state or federal courts can file motions claiming ineffective assistance of counsel. Note that claiming ineffective assistance of counsel means that you give up some of your attorney-client confidentiality privileges with that attorney. Counsel was ineffective in failing to object to the miscalculation of defendant's base level under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. Sometimes a defendant may only bring a 3.850 motion after a direct appeal is complete. Many Florida criminal appeals are based on allegations of "ineffective assistance of counsel.