Alachua Lake Corporation v. N. W. Jacobs

In actions of this character the burden of proving actionable negligence is on the plaintiff. Jones on Evidence, 4th Ed.,
1938, Vol. 1, page 315. Florida Motor Transportation Co. v. Hillman, 87 Fla. 512, 101 So. 31. It is quite true that defendant
must bear the burden of proving his plea of contributory negligence or any other pleas in the nature of an affirmative defense.
See Hainlin v. Budge, 56 Fla. 342, 47 So. 825. The defendant's plea of not guilty burdens the plaintiff with proving his case
by a preponderance of the evidence an this burden remains with plaintiff throughout the entire trial.