Insureds’ Entitlement to Attorney’s Fees Resolved – Win at the Fourth District Court of Appeal

Rahabi v. FIGA Case No. 4D10-846* The issue on appeal was whether our clients were entitled to an award of attorney’s fees because FIGA affirmatively denied our clients’ claim under the insurance policy prior to paying the appraisal award. Our clients’ roof was damaged by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Our clients sought coverage under the...

Tuition Tales on Trial

Fourth DCA: Trial Court Erred in Holding Mother in Contempt Without Finding of Ability to Comply With Order Harris v. Hampton Case No. 4D11-966 The Fourth District Court of Appeal wrote to address an appeal of a non-final order of contempt entered after a final order in a post-dissolution of marriage case. The trial court had...

U.S. Court of Appeals Reverses Summary Judgment Where Disputed Issue of Material Fact Exists – Win in Federal Appellate Court

VOIS, Inc. v. Michael Spindel and Edward Spindel, Case No. 10-15668-D We represented a corporation that had gone through multiple changes of ownership since issuing promissory notes to two of its investors and former directors, the Spindels. The corporation sued the Spindels for corporate wrongdoing, and the Spindels countersued claiming they were never paid under...

Inequitable Distribution of Assets Resolved – Win at the Fourth District Court of Appeal:

Bell v. Bell This was a divorce case involving several issues regarding the parties’ marital and non-marital assets. Our client appealed and the opposing party cross appealed. Our client’s main issues were the trial court’s failure to (1) award her half of the husband’s accounts receivable from loans he made to his businesses; and (2)...

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”)...

Available Income is the Proper Basis for an Alimony Award; A Marital Lifestyle That Exceeds the Parties’ Earnings is not a Proper Guide for Awarding Alimony

Cissel v. Cissel, 4D09-3029 & 4D10-1324 June 22, 2011 The Fourth District wrote to address an appeal of an alimony award and child support. The court below found the former husband, appellant, to have a gross monthly income of $18,109. The figure was based on his average earnings during the preceding fourteen months of trial. The...

Finding of Contempt for Failure to Pay Medical Expenses Improper Where Good Faith Dispute Existed as to Whether Procedure Was Reasonable and Necessary

Lustgarten v. Lustgarten, 4D09-4404 June 22, 2011 The parties entered into a settlement agreement that required the former husband, who is a physician, to pay former wife’s Medicare insurance premiums and medical expenses not covered by Medicare. Former wife later brought a motion for contempt, alleging that the former husband refused to pay for a medically...

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...

A Motion for New Trial in a Small Claims Action Must Be Filed Within Ten Days and Such a Motion Tolls the Rendition of the Order of the Trial Court Until Disposition of the Motion.

Arafat v. U-Haul Center Margate, 4D10-1179 June 22, 2011 The Fourth District addressed a writ of certiorari challenging a circuit court’s dismissal of an appeal as untimely. Arafat filed a complaint in small claims county court for $5,000 based on a statement of claim for items that were removed from her storage unit. The court entered...

A Parent’s Efforts to Assume Parental Duties While Incarcerated is Relevant and Admissible in a Proceeding for Termination of Parental Rights.

L.K. v. Department of Children and Families, 4D10 – 5124 June 15, 2011 The Fourth District Court of Appeal addressed a final order terminating L.K.’s parental rights as to her daughter, G.B. The Department initiated dependency proceedings regarding G.B and took her into the Department’s custody. Shortly thereafter, L.K. was incarcerated for narcotics. The evidence showed...