Gehman v. Gravis

39 Fla. Supp. 2d 126
CourtCircuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida
DecidedJanuary 8, 1990
DocketCase No. 84-1008CA
StatusPublished

This text of 39 Fla. Supp. 2d 126 (Gehman v. Gravis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Circuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gehman v. Gravis, 39 Fla. Supp. 2d 126 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1990).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

JAMES R. THOMPSON, Circuit Judge.

PARTIAL FINAL JUDGMENT

THIS ACTION was tried before the Court on the claims of plaintiff, Edwin V. Hagen. On the evidence presented the Court denies all claims except that for the water and sewer charges for 1984. It is therefore

ADJUDGED that plaintiff, Edwin V. Hagen, recover from defendant, R.Harold Graviss, the sum of $185.52 that shall bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum and for which let execution issue. It is further

ADJUDGED that plaintiff, Edwin V. Hagen, recover from defendant, The National Trust Company, as trustee for trust number 5238, [127]*127the sum of $112.53, that shall bear interest at the rate of 12% per annum and for which let execution issue. It is further

ADJUDGED that the Court shall reserve jurisdiction for purposes of assessing costs and determining all issues relevant to attorneys’ fees and assessments, for the purpose of hearing the claims of the other plaintiffs and for all other matters necessary to a final resolution of this cause.

DONE AND ORDERED in Fort Myers, Lee County, Florida, this 8th day of January, 1990.

EXPLANATION OF PARTIAL FINAL JUDGMENT

The principal issue presented by this case, whether the rents being charged for the lots in a mobile home park are unconscionable, is complex, the statutory and the decisional law is evolving and the existing precedent may not have fully addressed the more subtle aspects of the issue. The court, although confident that it has resolved the matter correctly under existing law, recognizes both the increased possibility of error and the likelihood of the further evolution of the law under such circumstances; therefore, to facilitate review, should either party seek it, the facts of the case and the reasons for the result are set forth in some detail.

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. This action was originally filed March 7, 1984 and tried on the claims in the Third Amended Complaint filed May 30, 1986 and the Supplemental Complaint filed July 21, 1987. Count I is a claim that the rents charged by the defendant owners of the mobile home park are unconscionable in violation of Section 723.033, Florida Statutes (1984 Supp.) and its predecessors and request a broad spectrum of relief. At trial the period for which this issue was litigated was for the rents beginning January 1, 1983 through trial (September 1987). Count II is a claim for improper and illegal assessments in violation of Section 723.041(1)(b) Florida Statutes (1984 Supp), (formerly Fla. Stat. 83.764(3) & (4). Count III is a claim for Declaratory Relief requesting the court to determine the rights and obligations of the parties as “to water and sewer charges, unconscionability and the rights and obligations of the owner”. Count IV is a claim for damages. This action was originally begun as a class action; however, as a result of the rulings of this court, it was ultimately replied to name approximately 350 of the park residents as individual plaintiffs. As a result of perceived problems with this the cases of all plaintiffs, except Mr. Edwin Hagens, were severed and the action was tried only to his claims. Mr. Hagens is [128]*128president of the homeowner’s association. Appellate Court decisions rendered, subsequent to the trial of this case, have resolved these procedural problems in a manner favorable to the plaintiff. See Lanca Home Owners, Inc. v Lantana Cascade of Palm Beach Ltd. 13 FLW 568 (9/23/88); B. J. Pearce v Doral Mobile Home Villas, Inc. 521 So.2d 282 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988). Therefore, if the parties wish to do so, they may apply to have the Court consider whether the Partial Final Judgment should, with modifications, be entered as the Final Judgment in the case.

2. Poinsettia Manufactured Home Rental Park (“the Park”) is a typical mobile home park. It opened for the sale of mobile homes and the leasing of spaces in 1972 and reached full occupancy in 1983. It has 322 developed spaces of an average size of 48’ by 89’.

3. The park was owned by defendant R. Harold Gravis from December, 1978 when he purchased it from the Elan Corp. for $1,100,000 until September 19, 1984 when it was sold effective that date to defendant, The National Trust Company, as trustee for Trust Number 5238 for $4,100,000.

4. Mr. Hagens purchased a mobile home from the park owner and moved into the park in September, 1979. He was first offered a lease in October, 1979, approximately one month after his occupancy. He signed yearly leases for 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, but has chosen not to sign the leases offered for 1984 to date.

5. Water and sewer service was originally provided to Mr. Hagens by the park owner as part of the rent. He paid a monthly rental charge for his lot and there was no separate charge for water and sewer. Mr. Hagens, understood this arrangement prior to his moving into the Park; however, it was never specifically disclosed to him, prior to his moving in, that there would ever be a separate charge for water and sewer or that it would not continue to be provided by the owner in return for the monthly rental. These circumstances are the same for the other parties entering the Park prior to October 1983. In November and december of 1983 Mr. Graviss paid for and had installed individual water meters (total cost roughly $150,000) and effective January 1, 1984 the City billed Mr. Hagens and the other tenants directly for their water and sewer services. This was done in lieu of a rent increase for 1984, there was no rent reduction, it was done without the consent of the residents and the effect was to transfer this charge directly to the residents. Mr. Hagens additionally paid a $35 deposit to the City for this service and a $15 turn on charge. If the bills for the service are not paid the City will turn off the water. He is a full time resident of the park and testified his bills have since [129]*129averaged $17.60 a month. PX #30 which consist of the actual bills reflects a slightly different figure; for 1984, a total of $178.15 (math on exhibit corrected), plus $35 deposit, plus $15 turn on charge; for 1985 a total of $194.22; for 1986 a total of $182.06; for the seven months shown in 1987 a total of $93.63. The actual monthly figures become significant in later analysis; therefore, they are computed as follows. The $35 deposit is still Mr. Hagens. What should be factored in is the loss of its use while it is held by the City. The court applies the legal rate of interest, 12%, to the $35 to give a yearly factor of $4.20. Therefore, for 1984 the average monthly charge is ($178.15+ $15 + $4.20)/12 months or $16.45 a month. For 1985 the average monthly charge is ($194.22+ $4.20)/12 months or $16.54 a month. For 1986 the average monthly charge is ($182.06+ $4.20)/12 months or $15.52 a month. For 1987 ($93.63+ $2.45)/7 months or $13.73 a month. It is also noteworthy that a part time resident, apparently a significant number, see paragraph 4a of the supplemental complaint, will probably have his cost increased by a lessor amount as his usage will be lower over the year.

6. The water and sewer charge is not address in the park rules either before or after the change. The leases offered before the change contain wording protecting the owner from “increases in the utility rates (for utilities furnished by the LANDLORD)”, see for example PX #24, the 1983 lease, and which by implication, if not more directly, obligate the landlord/owner to provide these services.

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Bluebook (online)
39 Fla. Supp. 2d 126, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gehman-v-gravis-flacirct-1990.