Gore v. News-Journal Corp.

1 So. 2d 559, 146 Fla. 552, 1941 Fla. LEXIS 1188
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedApril 8, 1941
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 1 So. 2d 559 (Gore v. News-Journal Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gore v. News-Journal Corp., 1 So. 2d 559, 146 Fla. 552, 1941 Fla. LEXIS 1188 (Fla. 1941).

Opinion

Per Curiam.

This case is before the Court on writ of error to a final judgment in behalf of the defendant below entered by the Circuit Court of Volusia County, Florida. Suit was brought to recover certain enumerated items for the alleged breach of a supersedeas bond. The lower court sustained a demurrer to the declaration and the plaintiff below refused to amend the original declaration, and a final *554 judgment for the defendant below was entered and this ruling is alleged to be erroneous on writ of error to this Court.

The material allegations of the declaration are that R. H. Gore was the owner of 40 % of the stock of the News-Journal Corporation, which published two daily newspapers at Daytona Beach and was the largest individual stockholder thereof; that he requested permission to examine the corporate books and records in order that he might determine the value of his stock. Mr. Gore was likewise interested in a rival afternoon newspaper published at Daytona Beach. The officers of the News-Journal Corporation declined permission to examine the corporate books and records, when he instituted mandamus proceedings in the Circuit Court of Volusia County and a peremptory writ was awarded, ordering the officers of the News-Journal Corporation to grant Mr. Gore, a stockholder, the right to examine the corporate books and records. From the order entered by the Circuit Court of Volusia County awarding the peremptory writ of mandamus against the News-Journal Corporation and its officers, writ of error was sued out and an appeal perfected to the Supreme Court of Florida, and an application was made for an order fixing the terms and conditions of the supersedeas order staying the execution of the peremptory writ of mandamus. An order was entered by the circuit court fixing the terms and conditions of the supersedeas. The News-Journal Corporation, in order to stay the execution of the peremptory writ of mandamus, was required to post a bond with approved surities in the principal sum of $5,000.00, payable to R. H. Gore, conditioned for the payment of all costs and damages which R. H. Gore may sustain if the said peremptory writ of mandamus shall be affirmed or the writ of error quashed.

On March 10, 1939, the Supreme Court of Florida filed *555 an opinion in the case of News-Journal Corporation, et al., v. Gore, 136 Fla. 620, 187 So. 271.

The declaration states further that R. H. Gore had to expend the sum of $90.00 for printing the original brief filed in the Supreme Court; $47.50 for printing the supplemental Supreme Court brief; $31.50 in traveling to Tallahassee in attending the oral argument before the Supreme Court; and was required to pay attorneys’ fees in the sum of $5,000.00 for services rendered in the Supreme Court of Florida in defending the case of News-Journal Corporation, et al., v. Gore, supra.

The items sought to be recovered are fully described in the declaration, and the supersedeas order dated March 29, 1938, entered by the circuit court and a copy of the supersedeas bond and the mandate of the Supreme Court in the mandamus proceedings are identified as exhibits and attached to the declaration.

The grounds of the demurrer as sustained by the circuit court are viz: (a) the declaration states no cause of action; (b) the several items of damages claimed are not recoverable under the averments of the declaration; (c) counsel fees in the sum of $5,000.00 are not alleged to be reasonable for the services rendered; (d) the damages claimed are not alleged to have accrued solely and exclusively in connection with the supersedeas or stay of the execution of the peremptory writ; (e) it is not alleged that the items of cost were incurred in connection with the supersedeas order or bond.; (f) the opinion of the Supreme Court does not affirm the judgment of the lower court but is an original and different judgment rendered by the Supreme Court of Florida, and there was not a breach of the supersedeas bond.

In the case of News-Journal Corporation, et al., v. Gore supra (136 Fla. text pages 624-5), the Court said:

“The judgment below is therefore affirmed but with direc *556 tions to the trial court to amend the peremptory writ by designating some one entirely neutral between the parties to examine the records and books of respondents and make report of such matters and findings as will enable relator to ascertain the value of his stock, such investigation to be made under the restrictions here stated and with due reference to the rights of relator and respondents.”

It is our conclusion that the judgment of the lower court so entered and assigned was on appeal to this Court duly affirmed. While it is true that additional directions to be adopted by way of amendment of the peremptory writ so as to designate a competent individual impartial to the parties and controversy to examine the records and books of the News-Journal Corporation and to report the result thereof so that R. H. Gore would be advised as to the value of his stock therein were given, it is our conclusion that such additional instructions in the order of affirmance in no manner affected the merits but that the instructions were designed only to promote impartiality and efficiency in the ex•amination of the books and records. See 4 C. J. 1274-1276, pars. 3362-3367, inclusive.

Counsel for plaintiff in error pose the question, viz.: Where there is a breach of the terms of a supersedeas bond conditioned for the payment of all costs and damages which ■relator might sustain if an order of the circuit court granting a peremptory writ of mandamus be affirmed, may relator in a suit at law on the bond recover as items of cost 'and damage: (1) the cost of printing the original Supreme Corut brief; (2) the cost of printing the supplemental Supreme Court brief; (3) traveling expenses of counsel for relator in attending the oral argument before the Supreme Court; and' (4) counsel fees incurred by relator for services of counsel during the appeal ?

An action on a supersedeas bond was involved in the case *557 of Vestel v. Eagerton, 92 Fla. 215, 109 So. 456. The bond was posted in a quo warranto proceedings over the office of chief of police in the City of Orlando. The bond had the same conditions as involved in the case at bar. The appeal was dismissed in this court and Eagerton was thereby entitled to the office and emoluments thereof. The two months’ salary at the rate of $225.00 per month, or a total sum of $450.00, and court costs in the two suits, were held recoverable but not attorney’s fees.

In the case of State ex rel. Haley v. Taylor, 77 Fla. 607, 82 So. 604, the items of liability on a supersedeas bond were before this Court and it was held that court costs were collectible, but while the supersedeas order required the supersedeas bond to contain a condition that “the plaintiff in error should pay all damages and costs, including reasonable solicitor’s fees that the defendant below might be put to in consequence of suing out the said writ of error,” they were “nugatory and unauthorized by law.”

In the case of Lawson v. Board of Public Instruction, 114 Fla. 153, 154 So.

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Bluebook (online)
1 So. 2d 559, 146 Fla. 552, 1941 Fla. LEXIS 1188, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gore-v-news-journal-corp-fla-1941.