William Thomas Ficka, III v. Karla Lynn Brown, F/K/A Karla Lynn Ficka

• Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida
• Decided: March 27, 2026
• Docket: 6D2023-4157
• Status: Published

Opinion

SIXTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL STATE OF FLORIDA _____________________________

Case No. 6D2023-4157 Lower Tribunal No. 2022-DR-002424 _____________________________

WILLIAM THOMAS FICKA, III,

Appellant/Cross-Appellee,

v.

KARLA LYNN BROWN, f/k/a KARLA LYNN FICKA,

Appellee/Cross-Appellant. _____________________________

Appeal from the Circuit Court for Orange County. Eric H. DuBois, Judge.

March 27, 2026

MIZE, J.

In this dissolution of marriage case, both parties appeal the trial court’s final

judgment of dissolution. Each party argues that the trial court committed a number

of errors, but we find only one. Appellee/Cross-Appellant Karla Lynn Brown

argues that the trial court’s valuation of the parties’ marital furniture was not

supported by competent, substantial evidence. See Reese v. Reese, 363 So. 3d

1202, 1208 (Fla. 6th DCA 2023) (“[T]he valuation of an asset must be based on

competent, substantial evidence.” (citing § 61.075(3), Fla. Stat. (2018))). Having

reviewed the record, we agree with her. Therefore, we reverse the portion of the final judgment pertaining to the valuation of the marital furniture, and remand with

instructions to adjust the equitable distribution of the parties’ marital estate

accordingly. On remand, the trial court may determine whether it requires an

additional evidentiary hearing to comply with this opinion. In all other respects,

the final judgment is affirmed.

AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED in part; and REMANDED with

instructions.

NARDELLA and WOZNIAK, JJ., concur.

Nikie Popovich, of Popovich Law Firm, P.A., Orlando, for Appellant/Cross- Appellee.

Christian D. Smed, of Christian D. Smed, P.A., Winter Park, for Appellee/Cross- Appellant.

NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND DISPOSITION THEREOF IF TIMELY FILED