Hemispheres Condominium Ass'n v. Levin

33 Fla. Supp. 2d 1
CourtCircuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida
DecidedJanuary 23, 1989
DocketCase No. 86-11627 CK
StatusPublished

This text of 33 Fla. Supp. 2d 1 (Hemispheres Condominium Ass'n v. Levin) 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
Hemispheres Condominium Ass'n v. Levin, 33 Fla. Supp. 2d 1 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1989).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

JOHN T. LUZZO, Circuit Judge.

PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT

THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Motions for Summary Judgment filed by all parties, as follows:

1. Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment, dated April 18, 1988;
[2]*22. Plaintiffs Memorandum of Law on the Issues Raised by the Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment, dated August 15, 1988;
3. Plaintiff’s Memorandum and Reply to LIEBERMAN’s Summary Judgment Memorandum, dated September 30, 1988;
4. Joint Motion of Defendants JACK LEVIN, DENNIS P. LEVIN, RICHARD LEVIN, and SUSAN J. LEVIN, in the Alternative for Summary Judgment, dated November 6, 1987 (this motion was subsequently joined in by Defendants STANLEY A. BOGOFF and BRENDA BOGOFF, his wife, and DONALD KRONER and CAROL KRONER, his wife;
5. A Supplement to Defendants LEVIN, BOGOFF and KRONER’S Motion for Summary Judgment, dated July 29, 1988;
6. Defendants LIEBERMAN’s Motion for Summary Judgment, dated April 27, 1988; and
7. Defendants LIEBERMAN’s Memorandum in Support of their Motion for Summary Judgment, dated September 7, 1988.

The issues to be determined by the Court are raised in the following pleadings at issue:

1. Fourth Amended Complaint, dated June 29, 1987;
2. Answer, Affirmative Defenses and Counterclaim of Defendants LIEBERMAN, dated February 22, 1988;
3. Amended Joint Answer and Affirmative Defenses of Defendants LEVIN, et al., dated March 28, 1988;
4. Plaintiff’s Reply to Defendant LIEBERMANS’ Affirmative Defenses, dated March 14, 1988;
5. Plaintiff’s Reply to Affirmative Defenses of Defendants LEVIN, KRONER and BOGOFF, dated March 14, 1988; and
6. Plaintiffs Reply to Amended Affirmative Defenses of Defendants LEVIN, BOGOFF and KRONER, dated April 18, 1988.

Approximately two hours of oral argument was conducted on August 15, 1988. Also heard at that time, were certain motions filed by the Plaintiff seeking discovery with regard to the ownership of the boat alleged to be owned by Defendant JACK LEVIN. At the hearing, DENNIS J. LEVIN, ESQ., representing the Defendants LEVIN, represented to the Court, as an officer of the Court, that the subject boat was owned by CAROL J. LEVIN. As a result, upon motion and order, JACK LEVIN was dropped as a Defendant and added, in his place as a Defendant, was CAROL J. LEVIN.

[3]*3The following proofs have been submitted by the parties in support of their motions:

1. Admissions contained in the Answers filed by the Defendants to the Fourth Amended Complaint;
2. Depositions taken of the Defendants JACK LEVIN, DONALD KRONER, STANLEY A. BOGOFF, and ISADORE LIEBERMAN, June 24, 1988;
3. Affidavit of Stanley E. Kessler (then-President of THE HEMISPHERES), dated and served March 17, 1988;
4. Affidavit of Mark Braun (Manager of THE HEMISPHERES), dated March 3, 1988, served March 4, 1988;
5. Affidavits of Dennis P. Levin, Richard L. Levin, and Susan J. Levin, dated November 6, 1987, attached to Joint Motion of Defendants Jack Levin, et al., Alternative Motion for Summary Judgment of November, 1987;
6. Affidavits of Donald and Carol Kroner, dated November 20, 1987; and
7. Affidavit of Isadore Lieberman, dated April 27, 1988.

Multiple issues of fact and law are raised by the Motions for Summary Judgment. It appears clear to the Court that the issues regarding liability may properly be resolved by summary judgment at this time, as there are no genuine issues of material fact, and judgment may be entered as a matter of law. It is also clear to the Court that the damages issues require a. trial on the merits, because questions of fact remain. Therefore, this Partial Summary Judgment is entered in accordance with the provisions of Rule 1.510(a) and (d), Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, disposing of certain issues of law and fact, while providing that other issues of law and fact remain for trial.

A. Findings of Fact

The Court finds that the following material facts are uncontroverted, and are sufficient to establish the entry of summary judgment at this time.

THE HEMISPHERES is the Condominium Association formed to operate a 1308 unit condominium of the same name, located on State Road A1A in Hallandale, Florida. Created in the early 1970’s, the condominium structure included, as an exhibit to the Declaration of Condominium, a long-term lease, entitled Club Lease, between the Association and the developer for recreational facilities, including a yacht club and marina facilities.

[4]*4In the Summer of 1980, THE HEMISPHERES CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC., entered into an agreement with THE HEMISPHERES DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, that provided for, in part, the acquisition of the Club Lease, and the property leased pursuant to the Lease, which property includes the yacht club and boat docks that are involved in this case.

On September 8, 1980, the membership of THE HEMISPHERES approved the agreement, and authorized the Association to close the transaction contemplated by the contract. Of 1308 units, 1108 voted. 994 (75.99%) voted “yes,” 114 (8.72%) voted “no,” and 71 abstained. This was more than the 66-%% then required by the Florida Condominium Act, § 718.111(12), Florida Statutes.

Each of the Defendants was involved with THE HEMISPHERES in 1980 at the time of the rec lease buyout. The LIEBERMANS were unit owners, and voted “no.” However they paid their assessment, and took no action to in any way contest the transaction.

The LEVIN family was in residence. They paid their assessment. They took no action to challenge the transaction.

The KRONERS were also unit owners in residence. They too thought the price was too high, but do not recall whether they voted. They paid the assessment, without taking action to contest the transaction.

The BOGOFFS were in residence, but did not own a unit. Mr. Bogoff held the proxy for the unit then owned by his mother-in-law. He testified in deposition that he voted “no.” However, the assessment was paid, and no action was taken to contest the transaction.

On or about October 31, 1980, a Special Warranty Deed was delivered and recorded, conveying the Lease and leasehold property, including the yacht club and boat docks, to the Association. The funds necessary to acquire the property was assessed as a matter of common expense, and paid by all units.

On or about September 12, 1982, amendments to Sections 2.05 and 2.08, and Article XIV of the Declaration of Condominium for THE HEMISPHERES were approved by the membership, clarifying the ownership by the Association of the subject property. These amendments further clarified the right of the Association to operate, maintain, and assess, with respect to the subject property.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Head v. Lane
495 So. 2d 821 (District Court of Appeal of Florida, 1986)
Brown v. Marion Mortgage Co.
145 So. 413 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1932)
Hitchcolk v. Mortgage Securities Corp.
116 So. 244 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1928)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
33 Fla. Supp. 2d 1, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hemispheres-condominium-assn-v-levin-flacirct-1989.