Sorrentino v. River Run Condominium Ass'n

925 So. 2d 1060, 2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 2992, 2006 WL 503292
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedMarch 3, 2006
Docket5D05-836
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 925 So. 2d 1060 (Sorrentino v. River Run Condominium Ass'n) 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
Sorrentino v. River Run Condominium Ass'n, 925 So. 2d 1060, 2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 2992, 2006 WL 503292 (Fla. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

925 So.2d 1060 (2006)

Jerome SORRENTINO and Rita Sorrentino, Appellants,
v.
RIVER RUN CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, etc., Appellee.

No. 5D05-836.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.

March 3, 2006.
Rehearing Denied April 18, 2006.

*1061 Robert B. Snow of Robert Bruce Snow, P.A., Brooksville, for Appellant.

Kimberly A. Ashby, of Akerman Senterfitt, Orlando, for Appellee.

SHARP, W., J.

Jerome and Rita Sorrentino appeal from a final order in a lawsuit brought against them by the River Run Condominium Association, a Condominium Homeowners Association. The Association sought to enforce the provisions and restrictions of the Condominium Declaration by requiring the Sorrentinos to remove two tubular skylights[1] they installed in the roof and ceiling of their condominium unit in River Run, without the prior written approval of the Association. The Sorrentinos defended *1062 and counterclaimed for an injunction prohibiting the Association from requiring them to remove the skylights. Both parties requested an award of attorney's fees, should they prevail. After conducting a bench trial, the court granted the relief requested by the Sorrentinos, denied the relief requested by the Association, and denied an award of attorney's fees to the Sorrentinos.

On appeal, the Sorrentinos argue that they are entitled to a reasonable attorney's fee award as the prevailing party, and that the trial court breached its discretion in failing to make an award pursuant to sections 718.303, and 163.04(3), as well as provision 18.2 of the Declaration of Condominium. We agree and reverse.

This record consists solely of pleadings filed before trial and the order containing findings of fact found by the court following the trial. There is no transcript. Thus, we base our opinion on that record and accept as true and established the fact findings by the trial court.[2]

This controversy arose when the Sorrentinos sought permission from the Association to install two tubular skylights, "similar to the one installed in our building # 8 at 6693 and various other units in the community," in their unit. The letter is dated August 19, 2002. It stated that the work would be done by a reputable company and it attached specifications and a description sheet, although they are missing from the record. The letter further stated that a representative from the company was prepared to answer any and all questions the Board members might have and that a representative of the company would make a presentation to the Board, if requested. The letter also gave the name and telephone number of the company and a representative.

The application was discussed at a Board meeting, but was tabled because Board members thought more information was needed. The President of the Association contacted the company who the Sorrentinos had proposed to install the skylights, and asked that a representative of the company appear at the next Board meeting to answer questions of its members. However, the company replied that it did not have a representative available to attend an evening meeting, which was apparently when the Board met.

The President made no further effort to obtain information from the company and she did not request additional information from the Sorrentinos. Because no additional information was provided regarding the application, the application was denied at the next Board meeting. The President informed the Sorrentinos of the denial.

Even though their application had been denied by the Board, the Sorrentinos proceeded to install the tubular skylights on the roof of their unit. Clearly the roof was a common element of the condominium and under at least two provisions of the Declaration, prior written approval of the Board was required before such a structural alteration of the unit and or common element could be made.[3]

When the Board learned that the skylights had been installed, the Board sent the Sorrentinos a letter dated November 22, 2002, requesting that the skylights be removed at their expense by a licensed and bonded roofer. It stated that the Board's denial was based on the Association's concern that the skylights would place the *1063 roof in jeopardy and the exercise of the Association's responsibility for the roof as a common element.

The Sorrentinos responded with a letter to the Board dated December 2, 2002. Apparently, for the first time, they informed the Board that the skylights were solar collectors and that pursuant to section 163.04 they did not need the Board's approval to install them. The letter enclosed a copy of the statute. It provides in part:

163.04. Energy devices based on renewable resources.
(2) No deed restrictions, covenants, or similar binding agreements running with the land shall prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy devices based on renewable resources from being installed on buildings erected on the lots or parcels covered by the deed restrictions, covenants, or binding agreements. A property owner may not be denied permission to install solar collectors or other energy devices based on renewable resources by any entity granted the owner or right in any deed restriction, covenant, or similar binding agreement to approve, forbid, control or direct alteration of property with respect to residential dwellings not exceeding three stories in height. For purposes or this subsection, such entity may determine the specific location where solar collectors may be installed on the roof within an orientation to the south or within 45 east or west of due south provided that such determination does not impair the effective operation of the solar collectors.
(3) In any litigation arising under the provisions of this section, the prevailing party shall be entitled to costs and reasonable attorney fees.

Seemingly unimpressed with section 163.04 and not addressing it, the attorney for the Association sent a letter to the Sorrentinos dated December 31, 2002. He informed them the Board had directed him to make a formal demand that they remove the skylights. He gave them thirty days in which to remove them via a licensed and bonded roof contractor. If they did not comply, he warned that the Association had authorized him to file a civil action to seek removal of the skylights, and that they would bear the expense of the removal and attorney's fees and court costs.

The Sorrentinos did not remove the skylights and on March 13, 2003 the Association filed this lawsuit alleging breach of the provisions of the Condominium Declaration and seeking a mandatory injunction to have the skylight removed. The Sorrentinos' pleadings in response to the complaint are not in the record, but they filed a motion for summary judgment, apparently based on them. They asserted that the skylights are solar collectors and thus constitute an "energy saving device based on renewable resources," pursuant to section 163.04(2). Thus, the Association could not prohibit their installation under the statute. Attached to the motion were affidavits from experts that establish the two skylights are protected devices and that their installation had had no negative effect on the building where the unit is located.

The Association deposed one of the Sorrentinos' experts and presented the court with a legal memorandum asserting that section 163.04 is unconstitutional.

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Bluebook (online)
925 So. 2d 1060, 2006 Fla. App. LEXIS 2992, 2006 WL 503292, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sorrentino-v-river-run-condominium-assn-fladistctapp-2006.