Hammer v. Knott

511 So. 2d 708, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 2048, 1987 Fla. App. LEXIS 9924
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedAugust 19, 1987
DocketNos. 4-86-1554, 4-86-1584
StatusPublished

This text of 511 So. 2d 708 (Hammer v. Knott) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hammer v. Knott, 511 So. 2d 708, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 2048, 1987 Fla. App. LEXIS 9924 (Fla. Ct. App. 1987).

Opinions

GLICKSTEIN, Judge.

This is a consolidation of appeals from two related but separate proceedings. Case No. 4-86-1554 arises out of probate proceedings in the estate of decedent Victor J. Hammer. Case No. 4-86-1584 was a civil action, of appellant Armand Hammer, decedent’s brother, on promissory notes and money lent, against James R. Knott as administrator ad litem of decedent’s estate. There is also a separate appeal before this court, case no. 4-86-1250, by Nancy Eilan, decedent’s daughter, of a court order deny[709]*709ing her petition to have Armand Hammer and James Nemec removed as decedent’s personal representatives.

The appeals which we consider here are from dismissal with prejudice of Armand Hammer’s independent civil action, for failure to file a notice of the independent action in the probate proceeding — which we reverse — and from the probate court’s order denying appellant’s motion for a nunc pro tunc extension of time within which to file notice of the independent action — which we affirm.

Victor J. Hammer died July 21, 1985, a resident of Palm Beach county. His principal beneficiary is his 84 year old wife, Irene Wicker Hammer, who is physically and mentally disabled and resides at a local institution for elderly patients. Other survivors are a daughter, Nancy D. Eilan, and a son, Armand V. Hammer.

Appellant, Dr. Armand Hammer, filed his claim, based on four unpaid promissory notes and other loans to decedent, in the probate proceeding. The judge appointed James R. Knott as administrator ad litem to act for the estate in matters relating to that claim. Dr. Hammer had petitioned for such an appointment, because Dr. Hammer is also a co-personal representative of the estate, together with James Nemec, a local attorney.

Knott filed an objection to Dr. Hammer’s claim. Dr. Hammer then commenced an independent civil action in the circuit court. Knott, the administrator ad litem, filed a notice of the civil action in the probate proceeding, pursuant to Florida Probate and Guardianship Rule 5.065. Knott then moved to dismiss Dr. Hammer’s complaint in the independent action, on the ground that Dr. Hammer had failed to file a notice of that action in the probate proceeding.

Dr. Hammer filed a motion in the probate court for a nunc pro tunc extension of time within which to file a notice of the independent action. The probate judge heard argument on the motion, and on January 28, 1986 entered an order denying that motion saying no good cause had been alleged or shown for granting the motion. Dr. Hammer moved for rehearing on February 7, 1986. This motion was denied by order of June 4, 1986.

In the meantime, Nancy Eilan had sought and obtained leave to intervene in the independent action on Dr. Hammer’s claim as a creditor, and to file a motion to dismiss on the ground that Dr. Hammer had failed to file a notice of the independent civil action in the probate proceeding.

Both the administrator ad litem’s motion and the intervenor’s motion requested that the court dismiss the complaint; they did not request dismissal of the complaint with prejudice or dismissal of the action. Judge Lupo, a civil division judge, heard both motions on June 27, 1986. Dr. Hammer’s attorney requested leave to amend in the event the motions were granted. By order of the same date, the judge granted the motions to dismiss and dismissed the action with prejudice.

Dr. Hammer noticed his appeal of the probate court order, denying his motion for an extension, on July 3, 1986, and his appeal of Judge Lupo’s order, dismissing his independent civil action, on July 10, 1986. This court has consolidated these appeals on appellant’s motions.

Appellant points out that on the day the administrator ad litem through his resident agent was served with process respecting the independent civil action — December 18, 1985 — appellant’s counsel mailed a copy of the original process to the administrator ad litem, with a cover letter advising that a notice of the independent action required by Florida Probate and Guardianship Rule 5.065(a) had to be filed in the probate proceeding, and that it was up to the administrator ad litem to do it; and requesting that he be advised if the administrator ad litem disagreed. The administrator ad li-tem filed such a notice and served appellant with a copy.

While we believe the probate division did not abuse its discretion in denying the continuance, we conclude the civil division erred in dismissing the complaint and limit our first discussion to the latter.

[710]*710Appellant’s initial arguments are that only if the basis of the defense appears on the face of the complaint, Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.110(d), or if the defense is one of the seven defenses specified in rule 1.140(b), may an affirmative defense be raised by motion. A defense must otherwise be raised in one’s responsive pleading. We agree.

Appellee relies on Golden v. Atlantic National Bank of Jacksonville, 481 So.2d 16 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985). The facts in Golden are somewhat similar to those here. The plaintiff/appellant there was the decedent’s son. When the personal representative, Atlantic National Bank of Jacksonville, objected to Golden’s filed claim in the probate proceeding, Golden filed an independent action. Subsequently the bank moved to dismiss the complaint for Golden’s failure to file the written notice in the probate proceeding required by section 738.705(3), Florida Statutes. Golden then filed a petition for extension of time nunc pro tunc so he could file the required notice. The circuit judge granted the bank’s motion to dismiss and dismissed the cause with prejudice. Golden filed the petition for extension of time in the circuit court, not the probate court. Golden appealed the dismissal of his independent action and also the denial of his petition for extension of time. The appellate court affirmed.

Appellant Golden’s grounds for extension of time were that the legal library he had used for more than 25 years failed to have an update showing the thirty day limit under section 733.705(3) for notice of the filing of the independent action. The appellate court held that ignorance of the law, hardship on the petitioner and reliance on another’s advice were not “good cause” to authorize an extension of time. It said there needs to be a substantial reason — one that affords a legal excuse or cause, not arbitrary or contrary to all the evidence, moving the court to its conclusion to extend the time for filing.

It is apparent, as appellant says, that there was not directly raised, in Golden, the question of whether one may raise by motion the defense of failure to give the notice required by statute, if the basis for the defense does not appear on the face of the complaint.

Furthermore, at the time the trial court entered its order here, the only appellate decision which seemed close in point was Golden. Since then, the Third District Court of Appeal has rendered two decisions which have raised serious reasons to question the correctness of Golden as authority for the proposition that dismissal would be proper in this case. See Ricciardelli v. Faske, 505 So.2d 487 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987), and Arky v. Harris, 504 So.2d 813 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987).

Appellee next argues from Poincier v. State, Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, 284 So.2d 463 (Fla.

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Related

Golden v. Atlantic Nat. Bank of Jacksonville
481 So. 2d 16 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1985)
Barnett Bank v. Estate of Read
493 So. 2d 447 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1986)
In Re Estate of Oxford
372 So. 2d 1129 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1979)
Poncier v. STATE, DEPT. OF HEALTH & REHAB. SERV. ETC.
284 So. 2d 463 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1973)
Ricciardelli v. Faske
505 So. 2d 487 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1987)
Campbell v. Estate of Schleusener
504 So. 2d 417 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1987)
Arky v. Harris
504 So. 2d 813 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1987)

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Bluebook (online)
511 So. 2d 708, 12 Fla. L. Weekly 2048, 1987 Fla. App. LEXIS 9924, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hammer-v-knott-fladistctapp-1987.