Gulf Fertilizer Co. v. Walden

163 So. 2d 269, 1964 Fla. LEXIS 2941
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedApril 22, 1964
DocketNos. 32668, 32676
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 163 So. 2d 269 (Gulf Fertilizer Co. v. Walden) 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
Gulf Fertilizer Co. v. Walden, 163 So. 2d 269, 1964 Fla. LEXIS 2941 (Fla. 1964).

Opinion

O’CONNELL, Justice.

The Gulf Fertilizer Company, appellant here, filed a complaint in the trial court [271]*271seeking refund of 1962 intangible personal property taxes paid by it, as agent for its stockholders, on its outstanding capital stock. The principal ground for the relief sought was that the assessment and levy of the taxes was made pursuant to the formula prescribed by Chapter 61-159, Laws of Florida, 1961, which statute was alleged to be unconstitutional.

The appellees filed a motion to strike significant allegations of the complaint. The Chancellor treated the motion to strike as a motion to dismiss and in the order here involved he held the subject statute to be constitutional and dismissed the complaint with leave to amend.

Appellant, because of uncertainty as to the procedure to be followed in obtaining review by this Court of the Chancellor’s order of dismissal, has filed both a petition for writ of certiorari and an interlocutory appeal.

This uncertainty as to whether to proceed by petition for writ of certiorari or interlocutory appeal is understandable. It should be settled now in order to avoid in future litigation duplication of effort caused the appellant here.

Although the subject order was interlocutory in nature, it was rendered in a cause which in final decree would be directly appealable to this Court. Such an •order is reviewable by this Court under that provision of Article V, Section 4(2), Florida Constitution, F.S.A., which reads:

“The supreme court may directly review by certiorari interlocutory orders or decrees passing upon chancery matters which upon a final decree would be directly appealable to the supreme court.” (emphasis added)

However, while the constitution authorizes review of such an order by certiorari F.A.R. 4.2, 31 F.S.A., governing interlocutory appeals, provides for review by interlocutory appeal.

Thus, while the right of review in such a case is not uncertain the method or procedure to be followed in prosecuting the review is not clearly defined. It would in fact appear that one would have a choice of proceeding either by petition for writ of certiorari, as provided in the constitution, or by interlocutory appeal in accordance with F.A.R. 4.2. This was not intended nor is it the result which should prevail.

In adopting F.A.R. 4.2 this Court intended to establish one procedure for .review of interlocutory orders, whether the review be in this Court or the district courts of appeal.

Although the rule authorizes review of such orders in this Court by interlocutory appeal the scope of the review is as in cer-tiorari. Actually, in practical effect there is little if any difference in the scope of review in this type certiorari and in an interlocutory appeal.

This Court has consistently followed F.A.R. 4.2 by entertaining interlocutory appeals from such orders. City of Miami v. Aronovitz, Fla.1959, 114 So.2d 784; Cramp v. Board of Public Instruction, Fla.1960, 118 So.2d 541; Odham v. Foremost Dairies, Inc., Fla.1961, 128 So.2d 586, and Wilson v. Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, Fla.1962, 138 So.2d 65.

We therefore consider this cause on the interlocutory appeal filed herein rather than on the petition for writ of certiorari which is dismissed.

In the future where review is sought by this Court of interlocutory orders in chancery under the authority of the above quoted constitutional provision the review should be prosecuted as an interlocutory appeal under F.A.R. 4.2.

Appellant presents only one question for decision, i.e., is Chapter 61-159, Laws of Florida, 1961 constitutional.

Appellees agree that this is the principal issue but also contend that the appellant [272]*272taxpayer has not shown that its rights will be adversely affected by the operation of the statute and therefore argue that it cannot question its constitutionality. This contention is without merit. The allegations of the complaint adequately demonstrate that appellant’s rights are sufficiently affected to give it the right to bring this action.

The facts alleged in the complaint necessary to be stated here are simple.

In February 1962, the appellant, as agent for all its stockholders, filed an intangible personal property tax return in which it reported and returned its outstanding capital stock owned by Florida shareholders. The return listed 3,842 shares of stock at a value of $200.00 per share for a total value of $768,400. The return showed that the stock was held by only ten individuals.

Subsequently, appellant was advised by a deputy assessor that the State Comptroller had determined that, as of March 31, 1961 the end of appellant’s fiscal year, its records reflected a capital stock account of $390,000 and earned surplus and undivided profits of $903,202.91 resulting in a total “book value” of $1,293,202.91, or $331.59 per share. Appellant’s stock was assessed on this basis pursuant to Section 199.02 as amended by Chapter 61-159.

Following unsuccessful administrative appeals appellant paid, under protest, the tax levied on the stock and filed requisition for refund pursuant to Section 215.26, F.S.A., which was denied. Thereupon appellant filed its complaint in which it prayed that the increased valuation of said stock be declared void insofar as the valuation on the so called “book value” exceeded the true or full cash value thereof. It also asked that respondents be required to refund any sums found due.

The basic ground alleged for the relief sought was that the portion of Chapter 61-159, supra, which provides the formula for determining value of closely held stock is discriminatory, unconstitutional and void.

As stated earlier, the Chancellor held the statute valid and dismissed the complaint with leave to amend. This appeal followed.

Section 199.02, F.S.A., divides intangible personal property into four classes. Corporate stocks fall into Class B.

Prior to enactment of Chapter 61-159, supra, the only statutory direction as to valuation found in Chapter 199, F.S.A. was that “The tax assessor shall assess all intangible personal property at its full cash value.” Section 199.05, F.S.1959, F.S.A.

Chapter 61-159, supra, as pertinent here, left Section 199.05 undisturbed but amended Section 199.02(2), which deals with Class B intangible property, by adding the following:

“All such Class B intangible personal property shall be taxed at its true taxable value hereinafter set forth, as of January 1 of each year, or as hereinafter provided.
“(a) Valuation of stock, shares or interest.—
“1. Shares of stock of corporations regularly listed on any stock exchange or regularly traded over the counter shall be taxed at the value per share published as the closing value of the previous year.
“2. Shares of stock not listed on any stock exchange or not regularly traded over the counter, which are closely-held and for which no open market exists, shall be taxed at full book-value arrived at by addition of
a. Capital stock,
b. Paid-in or capital surplus,
c. Earned surplus and undivided profits.

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163 So. 2d 269, 1964 Fla. LEXIS 2941, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gulf-fertilizer-co-v-walden-fla-1964.