McCulley Ford, Inc. v. Calvin

308 So. 2d 189
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedDecember 31, 1974
DocketU-452
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 308 So. 2d 189 (McCulley Ford, Inc. v. Calvin) 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
McCulley Ford, Inc. v. Calvin, 308 So. 2d 189 (Fla. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinion

308 So.2d 189 (1974)

McCulley FORD, INC., a Florida Corporation, Petitioner,
v.
John D. CALVIN, Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of the State of Florida, Respondent.

No. U-452.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.

December 31, 1974.
Rehearing Denied March 6, 1975.

*190 Ronald Sales, Sales & Christiansen, Palm Beach, and Joseph P. Metzger, Walton, Lantaff, Schroeder, Carson & Wahl, West Palm Beach, for petitioner.

John D. Calvin, and Charles Knott, Tallahassee, for respondent.

John B. Kent, Fred H. Kent, Kent, Sears, Durden & Kent, William R. Frazier, Jacksonville, and David R. Larrouy, Dearborn, for amicus curiae.

BOYER, Judge.

Bev Smith Ford, Inc. ("Smith") filed an application, pursuant to F.S. 320.27, for a license to engage in business as a Ford franchised motor vehicle dealer in Lake Park, Palm Beach County, Florida on March 23, 1973. Two of the three existing Ford dealers in the territory, Wayne Akers Ford, Inc. and Earl Wallace Ford, Inc., did not protest Smith's application. McCulley Ford, Inc. ("McCulley"), Petitioner here, the third existing Ford dealer, filed a written objection. John D. Calvin, Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of the State of Florida, Respondent here, entered an order on July 13, 1973 setting Smith's application for hearing at his offices in Tallahassee at 10:00 a.m. on July 25, 1973. That hearing was subsequently postponed by oral agreement of the parties. Respondent then entered an order on July 20, 1973 setting Smith's application for hearing at his offices in Tallahassee at 10:00 a.m. on August 16, 1973. The hearing was completed on September 7, 1973.

The evidence presented related primarily to one basic issue: Were Ford's licensed franchised motor vehicle dealers providing adequate representation in the subject community or territory? (See F.S. 320.642). The burden of proof in showing inadequate representation is placed by F.S. 320.642 on the "licensee".

Ford adduced evidence seeking to prove that its licensed franchised dealers in the community were not providing adequate service for Ford vehicles or sale of Ford parts. McCulley's witnesses testified that the closest Ford dealer, McCulley, was located approximately 7.1 miles south of the location of the proposed additional dealer and that the next closest dealer, Wayne Akers Ford, Inc., was another 6.2 miles farther south. McCulley conceded in testimony presented by it that its facilities were inadequate but urged that upon moving into its proposed new facility it would more than adequately represent Ford in its area of responsibility.

*191 On November 29, 1973, Respondent entered an order, which provided in material part as follows:

"* * * the Director finds from the facts presented that while the presently licensed franchised dealers have complied with licensee's agreements they are not providing adequate representation in the community or territory for such licensee, and that it would be unreasonable and arbitrary to deny a license to the applicant.
"Therefore, under the circumstances it would appear just to grant the applicant a license to act as a Ford franchised dealer.
"It is accordingly
"ORDERED that the license applied for shall be issued upon compliance by the applicant with all requirements as provided in Section 320.27, Florida Statutes."

Motion for rehearing was filed by Petitioner which was denied by Respondent's order dated December 17, 1973. Petition for Writ of Certiorari was thereupon (on December 26, 1973) filed in this Court.

Several points are raised for our consideration. We will consider the most vexing one first. It may be succinctly stated thusly: Was the procedure to be followed in considering the application for license by Smith governed by Chapter 70-424, Laws of Florida, enacted by the 1970 session of the Legislature, or by F.S. 320.642 as printed in the 1971 compilation of the Florida Statutes? Framed another way, was the Respondent (Director) authorized to hold hearings and pass upon the application for the license or was such the prerogative of the Department?

Respondent is the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles. The Division of Motor Vehicles is a division of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The "head" of the Department is the Governor and the Cabinet. (F.S. 20.24)

The heads of the various departments of government are granted powers and duties by F.S. 20.05. One of those powers is to employ an "executive director". (F.S. 20.05(7).

It is apparent from a reading of the above mentioned statutes (and others) that the designations "Director" and "Department" are not synonymous.

F.S. 320.642, Florida Statutes 1971, provides as follows:

"The department shall deny an application for a motor vehicle dealer license in any community or territory where the licensee's presently licensed franchised motor vehicle dealer or dealers have complied with licensee's agreements and are providing adequate representation in the community or territory for such licensee. The burden of proof in showing inadequate representation shall be on the licensee." (Emphasis added)

F.S. 320.665, Florida Statutes 1971, provides as follows:

"(1) In the event the department shall conduct any hearing pursuant to the provisions of §§ 320.60-320.70, the hearing shall be conducted pursuant to chapter 120, the administrative procedure act, and the department shall have the power to conduct hearings pursuant to that act. The department shall have the further power in hearings arising under §§ 320.60-320.70 to:
"(a) Determine the place in the state where they shall be held;
"(b) Issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and for the production of documentary evidence;
"(c) Take depositions of witnesses residing within or without the state, in the manner provided for in civil actions in circuit courts of this state; and
"(d) Pay such witnesses such fees and mileage for their attendance as is *192 provided for witnesses in civil actions in circuit courts of this state.
"(2) Whenever such a hearing is held by the department or a hearing examiner, the same shall be recorded; and when a hearing is held by a hearing examiner, he shall report his findings in writing to the department which shall thereupon make its rulings and orders. Any information obtained from a hearing may not be used against such licensee as the basis for a criminal prosecution under the laws of this state." (Emphasis added)

F.S. 320.60(7), Florida Statutes 1971, defines "Department" to mean "the department of highway safety and motor vehicles".

It is agreed by all parties to this proceeding that no action at all has been taken relative to the license, the granting of which is here challenged, by the "Department"; but rather that all hearings have been conducted by, and all other relevant action taken by, the Respondent "Director".

Petitioner therefore contends that since the "Department", as referred to in the hereinabove quoted statutes, has not acted, the challenged license could not have been validly issued by Respondent.

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308 So. 2d 189, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcculley-ford-inc-v-calvin-fladistctapp-1974.