Southernmost Humane Society, Inc. v. City of Key West
Southernmost Humane Society, Inc. v. City of Key West
Opinion of the Court
This appeal arose out of two separate suits between the parties. In the first suit,
“(a) That the SOUTHERNMOST HUMANE SOCIETY, INC. has failed to prove that the CITY should be estopped from evicting the SOUTHERNMOST HUMANE SOCIETY, INC. or otherwise remain in possession of the property described in the City’s Complaint.
“(b) That the improvements constructed by the SOUTHERNMOST HUMANE SOCIETY, INC. on the subject real property were constructed prior to the expiration of the license agreement and said improvements have been conducted by other persons for the benefit of both parties and that the value of said improvements is negligible due to depreciation and normal wear and tear, with the exception of the mobile home and the cabana attached thereto.
“(c) That the mobile home and cabana attached thereto are personal property owned by the SOUTHERNMOST HUMANE SOCIETY, INC. which said Society is entitled to remove from the premises, therefore, it is . . . ”
The factual basis for the Humane Society’s claim that the City should be estopped from taking possession of the property is that in 1952 the City entered into a ten year lease with the Society for a certain parcel of land; that after expiration of the lease, the Humane Society remained in possession of the land; that in 1970, the parties entered into a lease ending on December 1, 1973; that after that date, the Society continued to operate its pound and facilities there, and continued to invest time and money in improvements to the property; that in 1975, the Society requested a new lease; that the Society was led to believe by the City’s silence and inaction that it could continue to occupy the premises and to make further expenditures and improvements, which the City knew about; that no response was made to the request for a new lease, but that in 1977, the City commenced eviction proceedings. Thereupon, the Society alleged that due to the City’s representations, declarations, actions, conduct and inaction in permitting substantial sums to be spent on the property, equitable estoppel should prevent the eviction. Further, it is alleged that this situation would result in unjust enrichment to the City, that the City should be enjoined from evicting the Humane Society and that damages should be awarded for services performed for the City.
We recognize the fact that:
“An equitable estoppel, as affecting land titles, is a doctrine by which a party is prevented from setting up his legal title because he has through his acts, words, or silence [led] another to take a position in which the assertion of the legal title would be contrary to equity and good conscience.” Florida Land Inv. Co. v. Williams, 98 Fla. 1258, 116 So. 642, 643 (1928).
See also Coram v. Palmer, 63 Fla. 116, 58 So. 721 (1912). However, the record in our present case supports the trial judge’s finding that the actions of the City were not sufficient to pass title to the Humane Society or to allow it to remain indefinitely without a lease. Cf. Blackiston v. Smith, 73 Fla. 25, 73 So. 839 (1917).
Further, the Humane Society failed to prove circumstances under which its eviction should be enjoined. We find, however, that the trial judge’s finding that the improvements constructed by the Society were
Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SOUTHERNMOST HUMANE SOCIETY, INC., a non-profit corporation v. CITY OF KEY WEST, Florida
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published