MERCEDES HOMES, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION, APPELLANT,
v.
JOE M. OSBORNE AND DORIS H. OSBORNE, HUSBAND AND WIFE, APPELLEES
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A venue provision in a construction contract applies to claims arising from or related to that contract, even if those claims are based on a subsequent modification or agreement related to the construction.
[1] Parties to an agreement may contractually agree to a specific venue for any action arising from or related to that agreement.
[2] A subsequent agreement that modifies a prior contract does not abrogate the venue provision of the original contract unless the modification expressly states otherwise.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceMercedes Homes, Inc. (appellant) and the Osbornes (appellees) entered into a construction contract with a venue clause specifying Brevard County. Afte…
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SCHOONOVER, Acting Chief Judge.
The appellant, Mercedes Homes, Inc., a Florida corporation, challenges a nonfinal order which denied its motion to have the action brought against it by the appellees, Joe M. Osborne and his wife Doris H. Osborne, decided in Brevard County, Florida. We reverse.
Mr. and Mrs. Osborne and Mercedes Homes, Inc., entered into a written contract (the construction contract) whereby Mercedes Homes, Inc., agreed to construct a home for the Osbornes in Hillsborough County, Florida. The contract provided, among other things, that: “Venue for any action arising herein or related hereto shall be in Brevard County, Florida.”
After a dispute arose between the parties, the Osbornes filed a three count complaint against the appellant in Hillsborough County, Florida. The first count alleged that the appellant breached its one year express warranty by failing to correct a problem caused by defectively installed ceramic tile. The second count alleged that the appellant had breached a presettlement agreement whereby the appellant was required to reinstall the ceramic tile in the Osbornes’ home. The last count was based upon negligence. The Os-bornes alleged that they had purchased an extended warranty on their home from Preferred Builders Warranty Corporation but the appellant negligently failed to either for ward the warranty application to the company or to inform the company of the Osbornes’ address. The construction contract which was in writing was not attached to the complaint.
The appellant filed a motion entitled “Motion to Abate.” This motion alleged that the action arose out of and related to the construction contract and that its venue provision provided the exclusive venue for determination of the controversy. The trial court denied the appellant’s motion, and this timely interlocutory appeal followed.
The appellant contends that the construction contract provides that any action arising out of, or related to, the contract be brought in Brevard County, Florida, and since all causes of action set forth in the Osbornes’ complaint arose out of or were related to the contract, the case must be transferred to Brevard County.
The Osbornes do not contest the validity of the venue provision in the construction contract, but contend that they are not proceeding on that contract. They contend that even if one of their causes of action arose from or related to the construction contract, the action should proceed in Hillsborough County, pursuant to section 47.041, Florida Statutes (1993), because at least one of the causes of actions did not arise out of or relate to the construction contract. We reject both of these contentions and agree with the appellant.
Parties to an agreement may provide therein where an action must be brought to enforce it. Southeastern Office Supply & Furniture Co., Inc. v. Barley, 427 So. 2d 1139 (Fla. 5th DCA 1983). In this case, the parties entered into the construction contract, and the agreement provided that any action arising from the contract or related to it had to be brought in Brevard County, Florida. After the home was completed, the appellant leased it back from the Osbornes. Prior to the Osbornes occupying the home, the parties entered into a pre-settlement agreement whereby the appellant was to replace what the Osbornes contended was defectively installed ceramic tile. The Osbornes argue that count II of their complaint was based upon this written agreement and not the construction contract and therefore, pursuant to section 47.041, they could elect to bring the entire action in Hillsborough County. We disagree.
We find that count II of the Os-bornes’ complaint arose out of or was related to the construction contract which contained the venue provision. Therefore, it is not necessary for us to consider whether the entire action could be brought in Hillsbor-ough County if one count of the complaint was not based upon, or related to the construction contract with the venue provision. But see Derrick & Assocs. Pathology, P.A v. Kuehl, 617 So. 2d 866 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993).
Count II of the Osbornes’ complaint was based upon a “Pre-Settlement Inspection Report.” This instrument was executed as a result of the construction of the Osbornes’ home pursuant to the construction contract which contained a valid venue provision. Accordingly, a cause of action based upon the “report” arose out of, or was related to, the construction contract. Although the instrument modified the rights and responsibilities of the parties to the construction contract, it did not attempt to void the venue provision, and all terms of an original contract not abrogated by a modification remain in effect. Franz Tractor Co. v. J.I. Case Co., 566 So. 2d 524 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990). We, accordingly, reverse and remand for proceedings consistent herewith.
Reversed and remanded.
FRANK and QUINCE, JJ., concur.
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Mgmt. Computer Controls, Inc. v. Charles Perry Constr., Inc., 743 So. 2d 627 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999)…case turns on an issue of law, we must review the order by the de novo standard. The parties to a contract may include a provision that establishes venue in a particular forum in the event of a contract dispute. See Mercedes Homes, Inc. v. Osborne, 687 So. 2d 840, 841 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996); Hughes Supply, Inc. v. Lupton, 487 So. 2d 429, 430 (Fla. 5th DCA [*631] 1986). Whether a venue clause is binding on the parties depends on its language. If the clause merely authorizes the filing of the suit in a particular…
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DiMASE v. Aquamar 176, Inc., 835 So. 2d 1150 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002)…stating that "[ijtems such as [floor coverings] will not be included in the Unit unless specifically provided for in a Rider or Schedule to this Agreement signed by both Buyer and Seller.” . The majority also cites Mercedes Homes, Inc. v. Osborne, 687 So. 2d 840 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996), but that case involved the interpretation of two different contracts which both sides agreed were enforceable, hardly our situation.…1 / 2
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Regal Kitchens, Inc. v. O'Connor & Taylor Condo. Constr., Inc., 894 So. 2d 288 (Fla. 3d DCA 2005)…., Inc. v. Sunshine Staff Leasing, Inc., 695 So. 2d 883, 884 (Fla. 5th DCA 1997) (provision where parties “agreed that venue and jurisdiction shall be the Circuit Court, County of Highlands, Florida” held mandatory); Mercedes Homes, Inc. v. Osborne, 687 So. 2d 840, 840 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996) (court held mandatory clause providing “Venue for any action arising herein or related hereto shall be in Bre-vard County, Florida.”). Permissive venue clauses, on the other hand, constitute nothing more than a consent to ju…
Previewing 3 of 5 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Se. Off. Supply & Furniture Co., Inc. v. Barley, 427 So. 2d 1139 (Fla. 5th DCA 1983)
- Franz Tractor Co. v. J.I. Case Co., 566 So. 2d 524 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990)
- Milisav Kutlesic v. Guardianship OF Katia Kutlesic, 566 So. 2d 524 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990)
- Derrick & Assocs. Pathology, P.A. v. Gary V. Kuehl, M.D., 617 So. 2d 866 (Fla. 5th DCA 1993)