Free Rent Ends When New Marriage Begins: Fourth DCA Makes Clear That Awards of Exclusive Possession of Marital Home Must Provide for Termination Upon Remarriage

Fisher v. Fisher Case No. 4D10-383 The Fourth District Court of Appeal (“Fourth DCA”) addressed a direct appeal from a final judgment of dissolution of marriage. The trial court’s final judgment provided that the former wife and minor children would have exclusive use and possession of the marital home until the youngest child reached the age...

Rip Van Winkle and Default Judgments: Fourth Reverses Order Granting Motion To Vacate Eighteen Year Old Default Judgment

Block v. Tosun Case No. 4D11-1594 The Fourth District Court of Appeal (“DCA”) reviewed a trial court order granting a motion to vacate an eighteen year old default judgment without an evidentiary hearing. The plaintiff trustees had obtained a default judgment against Tosun in 1992. Eighteen years later, with no record activity having occurred, the trustees...

Bresky Law Obtains Per Curiam Affirmance of Order Dismissing Former Husband’s Petition For Modification of Alimony

Rice v. Rice Case No. 4D10-2523 We represented a former wife whose trial counsel succeeded in getting her former husband’s petition for modification of alimony dismissed, as well as attorney’s fees as a sanction. The parties had divorced in 2005 and entered into a Marital Settlement Agreement whereby the former husband paid the former wife alimony....

Fourth DCA Affirms Judgment for Homeowners Association Where Enforcement of Declaration Left to Association’s Discretion

Heath v. Bear Island Homeowners Association, Inc. Case No. 4D10-3779 The Fourth District Court of Appeal (“DCA”) reviewed a trial court’s final judgment in favor of the defendant homeowners association (“HOA”) and the HOA’s board member. Heath, the plaintiff, had filed suit against the defendants for injunctive relief to compel them to enforce the terms of...

Saved by Sloppy Filing: Fourth DCA Reverses Summary Judgment of Foreclosure Where Bank Failed to Attach Assignment

Duke v. HSBC Mortgage Services, LLC, Case No. 4D09-5183 The Fourth District Court of Appeal (“DCA”) reviewed a trial court order granting summary judgment of foreclosure against the homeowners, who were husband and wife. At the time HSBC filed its complaint in the trial court, it attached a mortgage showing the Dukes as the borrowers and...

State Taxation of Gasoline Sales Outside of Indian Lands Does Not Violate Indian Commerce Clause of U.S. Constitution

Florida Dep’t of Revenue v. Seminole Tribe of Florida, 4D10-456 June 22, 2011 The issue of the taxability of gasoline sales to the Seminole Tribe made off the reservation was presented to the Fourth District Court of Appeal. The trial court granted the Seminole Tribe’s motion for summary judgment while denying the Department of Revenue’s (“DOR”)...

Monetary Damages Not Available to Plaintiffs Under Firefighter’s Bill of Rights

Curtis v. City of West Palm Beach, 4D10-876 June 22, 2011 The Fourth District Court of Appeal addressed the issue of whether a firefighter could claim monetary damages under the Firefighter’s Bill of Rights (“FBR”). The firefighter sought monetary relief for alleged violations of the FBR by the City of West Palm Beach in imposing disciplinary...