Florida District Courts of Appeal, 1992

Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Smith

Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Smith
Florida District Courts of Appeal · Decided February 14, 1992 · Cobb, Cowart, Goshorn
592 So. 2d 1277; 1992 Fla. App. LEXIS 1132; 1992 WL 24480 (Southern Reporter, Second Series)

Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. Smith

Opinion of the Court

COBB, Judge.

In the instant appeal the trial court awarded the appellee attorney’s fees in an attempt to sanction HRS for not negotiating in regard to a petition for modification of child support. The appellee recognizes that this was no basis for the award and argues instead that authority for the award is found within Chapter 61, Florida Statutes (1989). This rationale must fail, however, based on Stockman v. Downs, 573 So.2d 835 (Fla. 1991), wherein the Florida Supreme Court held that an award of attorney’s fees based upon a statute or contract must be included in the pleadings..

Accordingly, the post-judgment order awarding attorney’s fees to the appellee is hereby reversed.

REVERSED.

GOSHORN, C.J., and COWART, J., concur.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.