Broward County v. Rhodes

Florida District Courts of Appeal
Broward County v. Rhodes, 624 So. 2d 319 (1993)
1993 Fla. App. LEXIS 8893; 1993 WL 331410
Dell, Downey, James, Stone

Broward County v. Rhodes

Opinion of the Court

STONE, Judge.

We reverse a partial summary judgment in an action for inverse condemnation holding the county liable for damages incident to the destruction of Plaintiffs’ bees in executing a mosquito control spray program. There is evidence that the mosquito spraying was an emergency measure designed to control an encephalitis crisis.

Appellees correctly assert that inverse condemnation applies to personal property. See State, Dep’t of Agric. and Consumer Servs. v. Mid-Florida Growers, Inc., 541 So.2d 1243 (Fla.2d DCA 1989), decision *320approved, in part, 570 So.2d 892 (Fla. 1990); In re: Forfeiture of 1976 Kenworth Tractor Trailer Truck, Altered VIN 2433 40 M, 576 So.2d 261 (Fla. 1990). However, we deem these authorities inapposite as each involved a willful seizure or “taking.” Here, there is no demonstrated willful taking. Cf. Conner v. Reed Bros., Inc., 567 So.2d 515 (Fla.2d DCA 1990).

On the record before the court, the Plaintiffs’ loss, if proved, appears to be accidental. There is no indication that if the county killed the bees, it did so intentionally, or that it even knew of their existence. Unless Plaintiffs can demonstrate that a taking of constitutional dimension has occurred, any recovery would be limited to Plaintiffs’ companion claim of negligence. See Rabin v. Lake Worth Drainage Dist., 82 So.2d 353 (Fla. 1955), cert. denied, 350 U.S. 958, 76 S.Ct. 348, 100 L.Ed. 833 (1956).

Therefore, the partial summary judgment is reversed and the case remanded for further proceedings.

DELL, C.J., and DOWNEY, JAMES C., Senior Judge, concur.

Reference

Full Case Name
BROWARD COUNTY, Florida v. William RHODES, Jr., Horace Bell, Delbert Kreul, Michael Blocker, and William Hurd
Cited By
7 cases
Status
Published