Guarantee Insurance Co. v. Worker's Temporary Staffing, Inc.
Guarantee Insurance Co. v. Worker's Temporary Staffing, Inc.
Opinion of the Court
Appellant challenges the judgment awarding attorney’s fees and costs to Ap-pellee, pursuant to section 627.428, Florida Statutes (2006), after Appellant voluntarily dismissed (without prejudice) its action for unpaid premiums. Because the voluntary dismissal was neither a judgment nor the functional equivalent of a confession of judgment — a precondition to an award under section 627.428 — we reverse.
Appellant filed a one-count breach of contract complaint against Appellee for alleged failure to pay additional premiums owed under a worker’s compensation policy. Although Appellant attached the original policy to its complaint, it failed to attach the policy renewals. The lower court, upon Appellee’s motion, entered an order dismissing the complaint for failure to attach the policy renewals, and affording Appellant twenty days to file an amended complaint. Before the time period to file the amendment lapsed, Appellant filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice. Appellee then filed a motion for attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to section 627.428, Florida Statutes (2006),
(1) Upon the rendition of a judgment or decree by any of the courts of this state against an insurer and in favor of any named or omnibus insured or the named beneficiary under a policy or contract executed by the insurer, the trial court or, in the event of an appeal in which the insured or beneficiary prevails, the appellate court shall adjudge or decree against the insurer and in favor of the insured or beneficiary a reasonable sum as fees or compensation for the insured’s or beneficiary’s attorney prosecuting the suit in which the recovery is had.
Despite Appellant’s assertion that section 627.428 did not apply because there was no “rendition of a judgment or decree” entered against it, the lower court entered an order awarding Appellee attorney’s fees and costs.
Appellee urges this Court to hold otherwise. It relies upon Wollard v. Lloyd’s & Companies of Lloyd’s, 439 So.2d 217 (Fla. 1983), to argue that Appellant’s voluntary dismissal was the “functional equivalent” of a judgment.
When the insurance company has agreed to settle a disputed case, it has, in effect, declined to defend its position in the pending suit. Thus, the payment of the claim is, indeed, the functional equivalent of a confession of judgment or a verdict in favor of the insured. Requiring the plaintiff to continue litigation in spite of an acceptable offer of settlement merely to avoid having to offset attorney’s fees against compensation for the loss puts an unnecessary burden on the judicial system, fails to protect any interest — the insured’s, the insurer’s or the public’s — and discourages any attempt at settlement.
Id. (emphasis supplied).
We think O.A.G. was correct and governs here. This case is distinguishable from Wollard. Here, Appellant did not make a concession on the merits. Rather, it merely dismissed without prejudice to refile its lawsuit. The fact that it had not refiled suit prior to the date on which the motion for fees was filed is of no consequence. Legal entitlement to fees must be based upon the events preceding the filing of the motion.
REVERSED.
. Appellee argues entitlement to costs only pursuant to section 627.428. Accordingly, we address only Appellee's entitlement to costs under that statutory provision.
. Appellee makes the alternative argument that the order of dismissal is a "decree." We reject this contention. A "decree" is the counterpart to a judgment entered in a court of equity. Black’s Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009); see also Henry P. Trawick, Jr., Trawick’s Fla. Prac. & Proc. § 25:1 (2011 ed.) (“With the consolidation of law and chancery procedure, the term decree, formerly used in equity, became obsolete.”).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- GUARANTEE INSURANCE COMPANY v. WORKER'S TEMPORARY STAFFING, INC.
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published