Florida District Courts of Appeal, 1985

Lamar v. Universal Supply Co.

Lamar v. Universal Supply Co.
Florida District Courts of Appeal · Decided June 6, 1985 · Church, Cobb, Dauksch, Frank
471 So. 2d 137; 10 Fla. L. Weekly 1390; 1985 Fla. App. LEXIS 14614 (Southern Reporter, Second Series)

Lamar v. Universal Supply Co.

Opinion of the Court

DAUKSCH, Judge.

This is an appeal from an order denying forfeiture of an automobile. Appellee was in the automobile and waved a firearm at another person in a manner alleged by the state to be an aggravated assault. The trial judge found there was insufficient proof of the assault to support the allegation. Maybe so, but that is not the reason we affirm the judgment. We affirm it because the automobile was not the instrumentality of the crime and was thus not subject to forfeiture. Pheil v. Griffin, 452 So.2d 627 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985); City of Indian Harbour Beach v. Damron, 465 So.2d 1382 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985). The firearm was the instrumentality of this crime — not the car. This was one of those common roadside disputes where two drivers got mad at each other and pulled over to vent their emotions, or fight or force a backdown. The one with the gun won. Not with his car, though; it was his gun which was the instrumentality of the alleged assault.

AFFIRMED.

COBB, C.J., and FRANK D. UP-CHURCH, Jr., J., concur.

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