HOUSING INVESTMENT CORPORATION OF FLORIDA, APPELLANT,
v.
AMERICAN BANCSHARES MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC., APPELLEE
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Housing Investment Corporation appealed a trial court's dismissal of its action for specific performance against American Bancshares Mortgage Company and an award of attorneys' fees to the defendant. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the trial judge properly considered only plaintiff's evidence in granting the dismissal and that the defendant was not required to particularize all alleged defaults in its termination letter.
The court affirmed the dismissal and attorneys' fees award. The trial judge properly based his ruling on plaintiff's evidence alone, and the defendant was not required by law to specify all defaults in its termination letter when the plaintiff's action was for specific performance and the issue was plaintiff's performance under the contract.
[1] A trial court's ruling on a motion for involuntary dismissal will be affirmed if the record does not support the contention that the judgment could only be sustained upon…
[2] A party who gives a reason for conduct in a controversy cannot later change that ground to a different consideration after litigation has started.
Previewing 2 of 6 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The evidence presented by the Plaintiff with all inferences deduced therefrom and being viewed in a light most favorable to said Plaintiff, does not establish the causes of action set forth in Plaintiffs complaint”
The trial judge's basis for granting the involuntary dismissal, focusing solely on plaintiff's evidence
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceHousing Investment Corporation, a construction lender, sued American Bancshares Mortgage Company seeking specific performance of a contract. The defen…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
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PER CURIAM.
The appellant, Housing Investment Corporation of Florida, a lender of money for the construction industry, was the plaintiff in the trial court. It brings these consolidated appeals from (1) a final judgment entered upon the defendant’s motion for an involuntary dismissal pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.420(b), and (2) a subsequent order allowing attorneys’ fees to the defendant. We affirm in each case for the reasons which follow.
The first point, directed to the final judgment, urges that the trial judge improperly considered some of defendant’s evidence, which was taken out of turn, upon defendant’s motion in the nature of a motion for directed verdict. The trial judge specifically stated in his judgment that he based his ruling on plaintiff’s evidence only.1 Additionally, it should be noted that the plaintiff did not object to the procedure employed by the court and that the record does not support the plaintiff’s contention that the judgment could be sustained only upon one or more of the affirmative defenses. See Fidelity & Casualty Company of New York v. Tiedtke, 207 So. 2d 40 (Fla.4th DCA 1968); and Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.120. See also United Bonding Insurance Company v. Dura-Stress, Inc., 243 So. 2d 244 (Fla.2d DCA 1971).
The second point claims reversal under the holding in O’Bryan v. Linton, 41 So. 2d 169 (Fla.1949), where the court stated that:
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“. . .a party who gives a reason for his conduct on anything involved in a controversy cannot, after litigation has started, change his ground and put his conduct upon a different consideration
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“So it is our conclusion that the defendant in this case could not plant his defense on objections which occurred to him after the suit was impending or brought, or which, if they had occurred to him, were not offered at the time the defendant refused to enter into the contract which had already been signed by the purchasers.
“If any such exceptions to the sale were taken by the seller at the first opportunity they might then be obviated and the sale consummated so that the broker would not lose compensation for the services he had performed or be forced to sue for it.”
We think that the rule stated is inapplicable here where the defendant, in its letter of termination of an agreement for plaintiff’s failure to perform, was not required by law to particularize all of the plaintiff’s de faults. The letter was couched in general terms. The issue was not the sufficiency of the letter, inasmuch as it was not necessary for the defendant to “terminate the agreement.” The plaintiff’s action was in the nature of a prayer for specific performance and the issue was plaintiff’s performance under the contract.
The interlocutory appeal from the order allowing attorneys’ fees and costs to the defendant fails to show the abuse of discretion claimed. See Central Hardware Co. v. Stampler, 180 So. 2d 205 (Fla.3d DCA 1965), and authorities therein, cited for the rule that it is for the trial court to determine whether or not a witness offered as an expert or skilled witness has been shown to possess the requisite qualifications and special knowledge to authorize his testimony.
Affirmed.
. “The evidence presented by the Plaintiff with all inferences deduced therefrom and being viewed in a light most favorable to said Plaintiff, does not establish the causes of action set forth in Plaintiffs complaint, it is therefore
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Cited By
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Creative Choice Homes Xxxi, LLC v. Mg Affordable Master, LLC (11th Cir. 2025)…ter's language, the district court's finding that Creative Choice XXXI was formally notified of its default involving the affiliate ad- vances before May 3, 2019, is not clearly erroneous. See generally Hous. Inv. Corp. v. Am. Bancshares Mortg. Co., 367 So. 2d 645, 646 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979) (a default letter may explain default in general terms and is not required to particularize all defaults). Additionally, the district court's factual findings regarding the nature and impact of the general partners' breaches…
Authorities Cited
- United Bonding Ins. Co. v. Dura-Stress, Inc., 243 So. 2d 244 (Fla. 2d DCA 1971)
- Cent. Hardware Co. v. Sydelle Stampler, 180 So. 2d 205 (Fla. 3d DCA 1965)
- O'Bryan v. Linton, 41 So. 2d 169 (Fla. 1949)
- The Fid. & Cas. Co. OF NEW York v. Tiedtke, 207 So. 2d 40 (Fla. 4th DCA 1968)
- Jimenez v. John B. Reid & Assocs., Inc., 207 So. 2d 40 (Fla. 3d DCA 1968)