INTERNATIONAL MAIL ORDER, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, APPELLANT.
v.
CAPITAL NATIONAL BANK OF MIAMI, FORMERLY D/B/A METROPOLITAN BANK OF MIAMI, APPELLEE
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.
International Mail Order, Inc. appeals from a summary judgment dismissing its conversion action against Capital National Bank on statute of limitations grounds. The court held that actions for conversion of personal property are governed by Florida's three-year statute of limitations under § 95.11(5)(c), rather than the four-year catch-all provision, and affirmed the judgment.
An action for conversion of goods is governed by the three-year statute of limitations under Florida Statute § 95.11(5)(c), not the four-year catch-all provision. Conversion is an action for the wrongful deprivation of property and falls within the class of actions enumerated in subsection (5)(c).
“The gist of an action for conversion of goods is "interference with legal rights which are incident to ownership or the wrongful deprivation of the property of the owner."”
Defines the nature of conversion claims and establishes why they fall under the specific statute of limitations for taking of goods.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceInternational Mail Order pledged property to Capital National Bank to secure a loan, with the property stored in a warehouse and evidenced by a non-ne…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.
Explore caselaw by topic → Browse Conversion Of Personal Property cases and more on FLexlaw
The point on appeal is whether or not an action for conversion of personal property is governed by the three-year statute of limitation. The question is presented upon an appeal by the plaintiff, International Mail Order, Inc. from a summary final judgment for the defendant, Capital National Bank 'Of Miami, formerly conducting business as Metropolitan Bank of Miami. This judgment was entered expressly upon the ground that the three-year statute of limitation was applicable to appellant’s cause of action.
The briefs do not question the nature of appellant’s complaint. The complaint alleged the conversion of property which had "been pledged to secure a loan. The property had been stored in a warehouse, and is described upon a non-negotiable warehouse receipt which was in the possession of the defendant. The receipt states that the property was received for the account of the defendant, for the account of the plaintiff. After default, the defendant obtained possession of the property and sold it. The plaintiff alleges that no loan was made and that the defendant had no authority to take possession and sell the property.
The Florida Statute, for the limitation of actions, contains two provisions which have been urged as applicable to appellant’s cause of action; both of the provisions are a part of § 95.11 Fla.Stat., F.S.A. .The appellee urges the applicability of subsection (5) (c), which provides a limitation of three years upon an “action for taking, detaining or in-jurying any goods or chattels, including actions for the specific recovery of personal property.” The appellant urges the applicability of subsection (4), which provides a limitation of four years upon any “action for relief not specifically provided for in this chapter.” The trial judge held that appellant’s action for conversion fell under subsection (5) (c) as an action for taking of goods or chattels. Appellant contends that its action is for a tort not specifically mentioned in the statute and that therefore the catch-all subsection (4) should apply.
The appellant has cited Milteer v. Seaboard Air Line Ry. Co., 66 Fla. 17, 62 So. 831 (1913), as authority for its position. An examination of that case will reveal that damages were sought for an “injury” to goods, but the action was based upon the common law liability of a carrier for delays in transportation. There is a distinction between actions for the injury to goods and actions for damages occasioned by negligent delay in the transportation and delivery goods. Florida East Coast Ry. Co. v. Peters, 72 Fla. 311, 73 So. 151, 167 (1916). The tort in the Milteer case was not within the class of actions now enumerated in subsection (5) (c), Fla.Stat. § 95.11, F.S.A., and the plaintiff was held to be barred from prosecuting the action by the provision now codified in section 95.11(4), Fla.Stat., F.S. A.
The gist of an action for conversion of goods is “interference with legal rights which are incident to ownership or the wrongful deprivation of the property of the owner.” General Finance Corp. of Jacksonville, Inc. v. Sexton, Fla.App.1963, 155 So.2d 159, 161. See also Star Fruit Co. v. Eagle Lake Growers, 160 Fla. 130, 33 So.2d 858, 860 (1948).
An action for conversion is governed by the three year statute of limitations; *289i. e., Fla.Stat, § 95.11(5) (c), F.S.A. Cf. Metcalf v. Johnson, Fla.App.1959, 113 So. 2d 864.
Affirmed.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
-
Senfeld v. The Bank of Nova Scotia Tr. Co. (cayman) Ltd., 450 So. 2d 1157 (Fla. 3d DCA 1984)…253, 58 So. 840 (1912); King v. Saucier, 356 So. 2d 930 (Fla. 2d DCA 1978); Charter Air Center, Inc. v. Miller, 348 So. 2d 614 (Fla. 2d DCA), cert. denied, 354 So. 2d 983 (Fla.1977); International Mail Order, Inc. v. Capital National Bank of Miami, 192 So. 2d 287 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966); Goodrich v. Malowney, 157 So. 2d 829 (Fla. 2d DCA 1963); General Finance Corp. of Jacksonville v. Sexton, 155 So. 2d 159 (Fla. 1st DCA 1963); Armored Car Service, Inc. v. First National Bank of Miami, 114 So. 2d 431 (Fla. 3d DCA…
Authorities Cited
- Star Fruit Co. v. Eagle Lake Growers, Inc., 160 Fla. 130 (Fla. 1948)
- Fla. E. Coast Ry. Co. v. Peters, 72 Fla. 311 (Fla. 1916)
- Gen. Fin. Corp. OF Jacksonville, Inc. v. Sexton, 155 So. 2d 159 (Fla. 1st DCA 1963)
- Metcalf v. Johnson, 113 So. 2d 864 (Fla. 2d DCA 1959)
- Milteer v. Seaboard Air Line Ry. Co., 66 Fla. 17 (Fla. 1913)