Villa Sorrento, Inc. v. Elden

District Court of Appeal of Florida

Villa Sorrento, Inc. v. Elden

458 So. 2d 1177, 9 Fla. L. Weekly 2321, 1984 Fla. App. LEXIS 15713

CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida

DecidedNovember 7, 1984

DocketNo. 84-425

StatusPublished

Cited by2 cases

This text of 458 So. 2d 1177 (Villa Sorrento, Inc. v. Elden) 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.

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Villa Sorrento, Inc. v. Elden, 458 So. 2d 1177, 9 Fla. L. Weekly 2321, 1984 Fla. App. LEXIS 15713 (Fla. Ct. App. 1984).

Pincite

Opinions

BARKETT, Judge.

This appeal arises from an action between a cooperative association and a unit owner. The cooperative association prevailed on the merits. The lower court failed to award attorney’s fees in accordance with section 719.303, Florida Statutes (1983). We reverse.

Appellees suggest that the statutory language in question, “[t]he prevailing party is entitled to attorney’s fees,” is not mandatory. Appellee suggests that the trial courts have discretion to determine whether to award fees. We disagree. The statutory language is mandatory. The discretion of the trial court exists only to the extent of determining the reasonableness of the amount in light of the circumstances.

Accordingly, we reverse and remand for the assessment of a reasonable fee.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

HURLEY, J., concurs. GLICKSTEIN, J., concurs specially with opinion.

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