THEODORE PARNELL, A/K/A TED PARNELL, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
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Theodore Parnell appeals the denial of his request for a copy of an order denying postconviction relief and a belated appeal of that order. The court dismisses the appeal because the trial court failed to render proper written orders, instead using only rubber-stamped denials that violated procedural requirements.
The court dismissed the appeal because the trial court failed to render proper orders on either motion, as rubber-stamped denials that were not reduced to writing and filed with the clerk do not constitute valid orders. The case was remanded for the trial court to render appropriate written orders on both motions.
[1] A rubber-stamped order on a document that has already been filed is insufficient to establish that the order has been rendered.
[2] An order is rendered when it is reduced to writing, signed, and filed with the clerk of the trial court.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“An order is rendered when it is reduced to writing, signed, and filed with the clerk of the trial court. A rubber-stamped order on a document that has already been filed is, at best, confusing.”
Establishes the legal standard for what constitutes a valid rendered order and criticizes the use of rubber stamps.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceParnell was sentenced as a habitual offender on November 13, 1991, and filed a motion for postconviction relief on November 25, 1991. The trial court …
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ALTENBERND, Judge.
Theodore Parnell appeals an order that denied his request for a copy of an earlier order denying postconviction relief. He also appeals tile denial of his request for a belated appeal of the earlier order. The documents provided to this court do not include an order on either the earlier motion for postconviction relief or the subsequent motion. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal and instruct the trial court to render appropriate orders on remand.
Mr. Parnell was sentenced as a habitual offender on November 13, 1991. He filed a motion for posteonviction relief on November 25, 1991. The trial court has not provided this court with a copy of that motion, and the attorney general has provided only the cover page. Thus, we do not know what grounds were raised in that motion.
The trial court rubber-stamped the cover page as follows: “ORDER 'Motion/Petition heard, considered and _, this - day of_, 19_” The rubber stamp was filled in with the date, December 9,1991, and signed by Judge Bob Anderson Mitcham. There is no date stamped on the cover sheet to indicate that this rubber-stamped order was ever filed with the clerk of circuit court. There is no indication that a copy of this “order” was ever served on Mr. Parnell. On its face, the order violates Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850(g) because it does not inform the prisoner of his right to appeal within thirty days. We have received a copy of a docket sheet on which the only relevant entry is an ambiguous entry concerning both the motion and its denial on December 10, 1991.
On March 22, 1994, Mr. Parnell filed a motion requesting a copy of any order denying postconviction relief and requesting a belated appeal of such an order. In the motion, he explained that he had recently learned of the December 10, 1991, docket entry, but had never received the order. Because the trial court never prepared an order, other than the rubber-stamped denial, Mr. Parnell’s allegation may be correct. Nevertheless, the same trial judge denied the motion on April 10, 1994, using the same rubber stamp. On the face of the motion, someone has indicated “copies sent to SAO [State Attorney’s office] and PD [Public Defender].” It is unclear whether these offices received copies of the motion or the order. Mr. Parnell apparently received this order, because he filed an appeal within thirty days, even though the order did not comply with rule 3.850(g).
Appellate courts have previously discouraged the use of rubber stamps to rule upon such motions. Smith v. State, 582 So. 2d 796 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991); State v. Moore, 563 So. 2d 115 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990); State v. Green, 527 So. 2d 941 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988). An order is rendered when it is reduced to writing, signed, and filed with the clerk of the trial court. A rubber-stamped order on a document that has already been filed is, at best, confusing. When the document does not receive a second date stamp from the clerk, there is nothing on the face of the appellate record to establish that the order has ever been rendered. See Johnson v. State, 573 So. 2d 1021 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991); cf. State v. Sullivan, 640 So. 2d 77 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994) (dismissing appeal from “order” that trial court rubber-stamped on face of motion where record did not reveal that such “order” was ever rendered by filing with clerk’s office).
We recognize that the rubber stamp may save a few moments of the trial court’s time, but it frequently wastes time for others. The trial court must often attach documents to explain the basis for its denial of a post-conviction motion. The rubber stamp results in orders that must be reversed for lack of attachments. The failure to advise a prisoner of his right to appeal also causes this court to grant belated review by way of a petition for habeas corpus. See Scalf v. Singletary, 589 So. 2d 986 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991). Rubber stamps may have some use for pretrial motions, but they are usually inappropriate for motions filed under rules 3.800 and 3.850.
Because this record does not establish that either “order” was ever rendered, we dismiss the appeal with instructions to the trial court to render orders on both motions.
DANAHY, A.C.J., and LAZZARA, J., concur.
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Citator
Cited By (12 total)
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Gibson v. State, 642 So. 2d 43 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994)…. Sullivan, 640 So. 2d 77 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994) (dismissing appeal from “order” that trial court rubber-stamped on face of motion where record did not reveal that such “order” was ever rendered by filing with clerk’s office); see also Parnell v. State, 642 So. 2d 1092 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994) (“Rubber stamps may have some use for pretrial motions, but they are usually inappropriate for motions filed under rules 3.800 and 3.850.”) Once again, we discourage the use of rubber-stamped orders to rule on motions when it is e…
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Sibley v. State, 876 So. 2d 1278 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004)…endition, the order is not appealable. Rubber stamped orders might find some limited use in less consequential pretrial orders, but they are usually inappropriate for the disposition of motions filed under Rules 3.800 or 3.850. See Parnell v. State, 642 So. 2d 1092 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994). They should never be used when it is essential to fix a point from which crucial time periods are to be calculated. Accordingly, we dismiss the appeal and remand this matter to the trial court for reconsideration of Mr. Sibley’…
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Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Lupica, 17 So. 3d 864 (Fla. 5th DCA 2009)…nt from which crucial time periods are to be calculated for purposes of rendition .... ” State v. Sullivan, 640 So. 2d 77, 78 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994). As a result, appellate courts discourage the use of rubber stamps to rule on motions. Parnell v. State, 642 So. 2d 1092, 1093 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994). We also have concerns about the summary disposition of Wells Fargo’s motions.1 We are mindful of the significant workload faced by Florida’s trial judges, particularly with the flood of foreclosures inundating the court sy…
Previewing 3 of 12 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Scalf v. Singletary, 589 So. 2d 986 (Fla. 2d DCA 1991)
- State v. Sullivan, 640 So. 2d 77 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994)
- State v. Moore, 563 So. 2d 115 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990)
- State v. Green, 527 So. 2d 941 (Fla. 2d DCA 1988)
- Smith v. State, 582 So. 2d 796 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991)
- Johnson v. State, 573 So. 2d 1021 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991)