STATE EX REL. F. L. REVELL
v.
CITY OF WAUCHULA, S. E. AUSLEY, AS MAYOR, AND L. M. MOSELEY, AS CITY CLERK
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This case concerns a dispute over the payment of city bonds and interest coupons. The relator, F. L. Revell, initially obtained a peremptory writ of mandamus to receive funds from the City of Wauchula. However, another bondholder, C. T. Ratliff, intervened, revealing that some of the funds had been impounded in his own prior action. The lower court vacated the writ, ordered Revell to return a portion of the funds, and ultimately denied Revell's claim to those funds. The appellate court affirmed the lower court's decision.
No, the court did not err. Intervention was permissible as the "petition to intervene" was merely an informational affidavit, and the court has the power to order restitution after a judgment is legally vacated. The lower court correctly determined that the relator was not entitled to the impounded funds.
“the court could require a restitution after execution of the judgment, which was legally vacated and set aside by the court issuing the judgment.”
Explains the court's authority to order the return of funds after the original writ was vacated.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceF. L. Revell filed mandamus petitions to compel the City of Wauchula to pay him money for interest coupons on refunding bonds. After consolidation and…
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On July 8, 1936, F. L. Revell (hereinafter referred to as relator) filed two petitions for alternative writs of mandamus praying that respondents be required to pay relator any money in the City treasury applicable to the payment of certain interest coupons attached to refunding bonds of the City. On July 13, 1936, relator filed his third petition for alternative writ of mandamus based on other interest coupons.
On July 9, 1936, C. T. Ratliff filed a mandamus' action *185to compel the City of Wauchula to pay him certain funds then on hand to satisfy certain bonds which he owned. A similar action was also filed by Ratliff on July 14, 1936.
On September 4, 1936, relator Revell and respondents filed a stipulation for consolidation of the three suits filed by Revell, and an order of consolidation based on said stipulation was enteredi on the same day. A peremptory writ was issued in the consolidated cases on September 4, 1936, commanding the City of Wauchula to deliver a warrant for $5,441.34 then in the City treasury to relator. On September 28, 1936, the City Clerk’s return to the peremptory writ was filed, alleging that on September 4, 1936, he paid the required sum.to relator.
After the rendition of the judgment and the satisfaction of the peremptory writ C. T. Ratliff filed a petition for leave to intervene. Intervention was allowed by the court and Ratliff filed motions' to vacate the order consolidating the suits of Revell and to vacate the peremptory writ therein, because the court was misled in entering said peremptory writ for it was not aware of the fact that Ratliff had filed a suit in the same court impounding the funds which the peremptory writ attempted to adjudicate. An order was then entered by the court granting the motions to Ratliff. Thereafter Ratliff filed a motion to require Revell to return to the City all of the funds that had been paid to him by virtue of the peremptory writ previously issued. The court ordered Revell to pay back to the City $2,000.16 of the $5,441.34 on the ground that this sum had been impounded by Ratliff in his' mandamus suits.
When Revell refused to pay, the court entered an order declaring him in contempt of court and directing that he be arrested and imprisoned for a period of ninety days or until he had paid the City $2,000.16 in compliance with the previous order. Habeas corpus proceeding was then insti*186tuted in this Court by Revell. A return to the writ was held sufficient and Revell was remanded to the custody of the sheriff. Revell v. Dishong, 129 Fla. 9, 175 So. 905. The $2,000.16 was then returned to respondents and respondents filed a separate answer in each of the three cases. Replications were filed by relator and, after hearing the evidence, the court adjudged that the sums theretofore paid to relator by respondents should be retained by relator save and except the sum of $2,000.16 which relator had returned to respondents under the order for restitution previously issued, and that the relator was not entitled to any further sum or sums by his writs of mandamus. Relator has appealed from this judgment and has proposed three questions for our consideration:
“Did the court commit reversible error by allowing a party to intervene in mandamus after the judgment and peremptory writ and after the satisfaction of said judgment and compliance with writ, who had not been a party to the proceedings prior to said judgment?”
“Did the court commit reversible error, having required the respondents in a mandamus case to pay to plaintiff in error certain sums under and by virtue of his writs of mandamus, by requiring plaintiff in error to repay to said respondents the sums' so paid without the request and over protest of respondents? ”
“Did the court commit reversible error in denying peremptory writs upon said alternative writs after said cause was reopened?”
The first two- questions' are without merit for we have previously decided (Revell v. Dishong, supra) that the “Petition to Intervene” interposed by Ratliff was a mero affidavit of information filed by a friend of the court to advise the court of the true condition of the record, and that the court could require a restitution after execution of *187the judgment, which was legally vacated and set aside by the court issuing the judgment.
Relator is now attempting to obtain the $2,000.16 which he was forced to return to respondents’. The record shows that this money had been impounded by Ratliff, and that respondents have no further sums in their hands applicable to the payment of relator’s obligations. Furthermore, in Revell v. Dishong, supra, it was held that the lower court could not have properly entered the original peremptory writ (directing the City to pay Revell the $2,000.16 in controversy) had it been cognizant of the real facts as they existed.
We find no errors harmful to plaintiff in error. It follows' that the judgment of the lower court should be affirmed.
Terrell, C. J., and Whitfield, Brown, Buford, Chap-, man and Thomas, J. J., concur.
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United States Secret Serv. Special Agent John Mrha v. Cir. Court, 537 So. 2d 182 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989)…waste the time of this court. We begin our analysis of this matter by quoting from our Supreme Court which held that in criminal contempt proceedings, the offense must be “met and proven beyond a reasonable doubt.” Williams v. Scott, 138 Fla. 239, 189 So. 274, 275 (1939). Such is a higher standard of proof than is required in civil contempt proceedings in which latter, a preponderance of the evidence will suffice. 11 Fla.Jur.2d Contempt § 61 (1979). In the case at bar, the only evidence presented was exc…
Authorities Cited
- Revell v. Hon. C. S. Dishong, 129 Fla. 9 (Fla. 1937)