NORMANDY B. CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC., AND SOL GORDON, APPELLANTS,
v.
NORMANDY C. ASSOCIATION, INC., APPELLEE

Fla. 4th DCA | 1989-03-15
No. 87-2655
Garrett, J., Carney, Robert B., Associate Judge, Letts, J.
541 So. 2d 1263 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fourth District (1989) Positive Treatment
Cited by 2 cases

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Synopsis

Florida appellate court reversed denial of injunction against speed bumps placed on common roadway, holding that willful encroachment on an easement cannot be justified by balancing conveniences when the encroachment is intentional.


Holding

When an encroachment on a condominium easement is willful and intentional, the doctrine of balancing conveniences is inapplicable and the encroaching party cannot defend removal by citing mere inconvenience.


Headnotes

[1] When an encroachment on a condominium easement is willful and intentional, the doctrine of balancing conveniences does not apply and the encroaching party cannot defend r…

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Key Quotes

“when the encroachment on an easement is willful and intentional the doctrine of balancing conveniences is inappropriate and the party so encroaching may not use mere inconvenience as a defense to a demand for removal”

Court's statement of applicable law from Monell precedent

Facts & Procedural History

Residents of Normandy C Condominium placed speed bumps on Normandy Lane, a roadway between their units and Normandy B Condominium units. Residents of …

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

An easement exists in favor of every owner of a condominium unit in Kings Point Community (Kings Point) “for passage over and across” the roads within the community.

Appellees, residents of Normandy C Condominium of Kings Point, placed “speed bumps” on Normandy Lane, a roadway located between their units and the units of Normandy B Condominium.

Appellants, residents of Normandy B Condominium and a resident of Normandy F Condominium, filed a complaint seeking an injunction for the removal of the “speed bumps.” The trial court finding “the plaintiff failed to prove ... irreparable injury ... if the defendant is allowed to retain the speed bumps” denied the relief sought.

Much of the testimony below dealt with the effect on traffic safety and the extent of any inconvenience with or without the “speed bumps.”

Monell v. Golfview Road Association, 359 So. 2d 2 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978) stands for the proposition that when the encroachment on an easement is willful and intentional the doctrine of balancing conveniences is inappropriate and the party so encroaching may not use mere inconvenience as a defense to a demand for removal.

While we sympathize with the plight of the trial judge to remedy the traffic hazards found to exist, under the facts of this case, the permissible legal solution cannot be the derogation of the rights of other common owners, and accordingly, we reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent herewith.

GARRETT, J., and CARNEY, ROBERT B., Associate Judge, concur. LETTS, J., concurs specially with opinion.

Concurrence
LETTS, Judge,

LETTS, Judge,

concurring specially.

I reluctantly concur because I believe Monell, a decision out of this court, controls the outcome. However, under the facts of this case, I have sympathy for the result reached by the trial judge.


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Citator

Cited By

  • …f. Monell v. Golfview Road Ass’n, 359 So. 2d 2 (Fla. 4th DCA 1978)(placement of speed bumps across road is a substantial violation of an easement holder’s meaningful right to use road); Normandy B. Condominium Ass’n, Inc. v. Normandy C. Ass’n, Inc., 541 So. 2d 1263 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989)(same). Such an interference is impermissible. Accordingly, we affirm the order. Affirmed. . The Association consists of 33 Bonefish Yacht Club condominium owners. . The judgment in the prior lawsuit which created the easement…

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