ERNEST A. PRINCE, APPELLANT,
v.
T.P. MCLAUGHLIN, JR., AND LORRAINE L. MCLAUGHLIN, HUSBAND AND WIFE, APPELLEES
AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.
Prince appealed a summary judgment denying him equitable relief and damages for his neighbor's dock encroaching on his riparian rights. The Fifth District Court of Appeal reversed, finding material issues of fact regarding damages that precluded summary judgment.
Summary judgment was improper because material issues of fact existed regarding damages, even if the court could have properly determined that Prince was not entitled to equitable relief. The case was reversed and remanded for determination of damages by jury or court as trier of fact.
[1] A summary judgment is improper when genuine issues of material fact exist regarding damages.
[2] A court may grant summary judgment on equitable relief even if damages remain disputed.
Previewing 2 of 4 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“Although we think the court could have determined on the basis of this record, by summary judgment, that Prince was not entitled to equitable relief, it was improper' at this stage to find that Prince suffered no damages.”
Establishes that summary judgment may be appropriate for equitable relief but not for damages when material facts are in dispute.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligencePrince and the McLaughlins owned abutting riverfront lots on the St. Johns River. The McLaughlins built a dock that encroached on Prince's riparian ri…
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SHARP, Judge.
Prince appeals from a final summary judgment which denied him both equitable relief and damages for the encroachment of his neighbors’ (the McLaughlins’) dock on his riparian rights. We reverse because we think the record shows there were genuine issues of material fact regarding damages, which were improperly determined by summary judgment.
The record established that Prince and the McLaughlins were neighbors with abutting river-front lots on the St. Johns River. The trial court found that the McLaughlins’ dock, which was built largely in front of Prince’s lot, did encroach on Prince’s riparian rights. The only survey in the record clearly supports this finding.
The record shows only one motion for summary judgment filed by Prince on March 9, 1981. The court withheld ruling on this motion until all of the depositions were filed, and the parties filed memoranda of law with the court. The issue before us is whether a summary judgment for the McLaughlins can be sustained on this record.1 It is clear the court relied solely upon memoranda and depositions. No testimony was taken, and the record does not indicate Prince waived his right to trial on any issues of material fact.
Although we think the court could have determined on the basis of this record, by summary judgment, that Prince was not entitled to equitable relief, it was improper' at this stage to find that Prince suffered no damages. Prince estimated his damages at thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) and the McLaughlins’ property appraiser estimated Prince’s damages at two thousand dollars ($2,000.00). There was an issue of material fact as to damages, which on remand should be determined by a jury, assuming Prince so requested and preserved his right to trial by jury, or by the court as a trier of fact.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
COWART, J., concurs.
DAUKSCH, J., concurs specially with opinion.
. Carpineta v. Shields, 70 So. 2d 573 (Fla.1954); Opler v. Wynne, 402 So. 2d 1309, 1311 n. 1 (Fla. sel DCA 1981).
DAUKSCH, Judge, concurring specially;
I agree this case should be sent back for further hearings and trial in order to fully establish a record to support judgment for one party or the other. I cannot agree with the statement that Prince is (or is not) entitled to any equitable relief. I think we should reverse the summary judgment for the usual reasons and send the case back for the completion of the proceedings.
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Citator
Cited By
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R & L Constr., Inc. v. Cullen, 557 So. 2d 931 (Fla. 5th DCA 1990)…nd W. SHARP, J., concur. . Cf. Maccorone v. Rinker Materials Corp., 453 So. 2d 509 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984); see also, 2 Florida Mechanics’ Lien Manual, § 23.01(B)(1). . See Carpineta v. Shields, 70 So. 2d 573 (Fla.1954). See also Prince v. McLaughlin, 431 So. 2d 276 (Fla. 5th DCA 1983); Trawick Florida Practice and Procedure, § 25-6, "Summary Judgment Procedure", n. 8 (1989), Annotation, Summary Judgment Against Movant, 48 A.L.R.2d 1188 (1956); Comment, Procedure: Summary Judgment for Nonmoving Party, 7 U.Fla.L…
Authorities Cited
- Carpineta v. Shields, 70 So. 2d 573 (Fla. 1954)
- Opler v. Wynne, 402 So. 2d 1309 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981)