MALCOLME N. NEWKIRK, APPELLANT,
v.
BALBOA INSURANCE COMPANY, APPELLEE

Fla. 3d DCA | 1981-04-07
No. 80-2073
Before DANIEL S. PEARSON and FERGUSON, JJ., and PEARSON, TILLMAN (Ret.), Associate Judge.
397 So. 2d 937 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (1981)

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Synopsis

Newkirk appeals summary judgment dismissing his action against Balboa Insurance Company, the surety for an automobile dealership. The court affirmed dismissal of claims based solely on a federal Consumer Credit Protection Act judgment but reversed the final judgment to allow Newkirk an opportunity to amend his complaint to allege violations of Florida law requiring affirmative misrepresentation or fraud.


Holding

A plaintiff cannot recover from a surety based solely on a federal Consumer Credit Protection Act violation, as the Florida statute requires an affirmative act of misrepresentation or fraud. However, if a plaintiff may have a viable cause of action under state law, though not properly pleaded, he should be given an opportunity to amend his complaint.


Headnotes

[1] A surety bond posted to protect motor vehicle purchasers against loss or damage resulting from violations of Florida Statutes Chapters 319 and 320 does not, in and of its…

[2] A violation of Florida Statute § 320.27(9)(e) requires an affirmative act of misrepresentation or fraud in the sale or financing of motor vehicles.

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Key Quotes

“the trial judge correctly determined, as a matter of law, that such failure in and of itself was not sufficient to show a violation of Section 320.27, Florida Statutes (1975). This is so because the Florida statute requires an affirmative act of misrepresentation or fraud.”

Establishes that federal disclosure violations alone do not satisfy Florida's surety bond statute requirement for affirmative misrepresentation or fraud

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Facts & Procedural History

Newkirk purchased a used automobile from Florida City Auto Sales, Inc., which was bonded by Balboa Insurance Company. Balboa had posted a surety bond …

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

Plaintiff Malcolme Newkirk appeals from a summary final judgment entered in favor of defendant Balboa Insurance Company. Balboa was the surety for an automobile dealership, Florida City Auto Sales, Inc., from whom plaintiff Newkirk purchased a used automobile. Balboa had posted a surety bond on behalf of Florida City with the Florida Division of Motor Vehicles to protect Florida City’s motor vehicle purchasers against loss or damage resulting from violations of Chapters 319 and 320 of the Florida Statutes.

In an action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, brought prior to the present action, plaintiff Newkirk recovered a judgment against Florida City for a violation of the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq. (1976). The specific violation in that action concerned the failure of Florida City to disclose certain credit terms to the plaintiff. The thrust of the plaintiff’s present action against Balboa, Florida City’s surety, was to recover the liquidated damages, costs and attorney’s fees awarded in the federal action. The complaint, in general terms, does allege a violation of the Florida Statutes and contains a prayer for damages.

Insofar as the present complaint sought recovery on the federal judgment with regard to the failure to disclose under the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, the trial .judge correctly determined, as a matter of law, that such failure in and of itself was not sufficient to show a violation of Section 320.27, Florida Statutes (1975). This is so because the Florida statute requires an affirmative act of misrepresentation or fraud.1 Nevertheless, the issue of the plaintiff’s right to recover for such an alleged act has not been determined. On a motion for summary judgment, where it appears from the pleadings that the plaintiff may have a cause of action, although not properly pleaded, he should be given an opportunity to plead further. See Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Thompson Air craft Tire Corp., 353 So. 2d 137 (Fla.3d DCA 1977); and Heinlein v. Metropolitan Dade County, 216 So. 2d 473 (Fla.3d DCA 1968).

Accordingly, we affirm that portion of the appealed order which denies the plaintiff’s right to recovery solely upon the United States District Court’s judgment against Florida City, we reverse that portion of the appealed order which enters a final judgment and we direct the trial court to enter an order granting the plaintiff a reasonable time to amend his complaint in accordance with the views expressed herein.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part and remanded.

. § 320.27(9)(e), Fla.Stat. (1975) prohibits: “Misrepresentation or false, deceptive, or misleading statements with regard to the sale or financing of motor vehicles which any motor vehicle dealer has, or causes to have, advertised, printed, displayed, published, distributed, broadcast, televised, or made in any manner with regard to the sale or financing of motor vehicles.”


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