GENE STEVENS, APPELLANT,
v.
CRICKET CLUB CONDOMINIUM, INC., APPELLEE
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Gene Stevens appealed from a bench trial judgment in a class action lawsuit against Cricket Club Condominium regarding alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. The trial court found in favor of the condominium on claims of misleading cable television statements but found misapplication of special assessment funds while awarding only $1 in nominal damages. The appellate court affirmed, holding that the evidence supported the trial court's findings and that nominal damages were appropriate where a legal wrong was proven but no actual damages were sustained.
The trial court's findings were supported by competent and substantial evidence. On the cable television count, the Board did not mislead unit owners but provided full disclosure allowing them to draw their own conclusions. On the special assessment count, although the Board misapplied funds by using them for a purpose outside the stated notice, nominal damages of $1 were proper because Stevens failed to prove actual damages, particularly since the Board later returned the funds and properly reassessed for the south terrace repair.
[1] An appellate court will affirm a trial court's findings if the record contains competent and substantial evidence to support the conclusions of the trier of fact.
[2] Findings of the trial court are presumed correct upon appellate review.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“As an appellate court, it is not our function to reweigh the evidence but, rather, to view the record to determine if it contains competent and substantial evidence to support the conclusions of the trier of fact.”
Establishes the deferential standard of appellate review applied in this case
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceStevens, as class representative for unit owners, brought a five-count complaint against Cricket Club Condominium. By trial, only Counts III and V rem…
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PER CURIAM.
Gene Stevens, plaintiff below, appeals from a final judgment entered following a non-jury trial. Because there is sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s findings, we affirm.
At the time of the non-jury trial, only Counts III and V of the five count complaint remained. In Count III, Stevens, as class representative for the unit owners of Cricket Club Condominium, Inc., sought compensatory damages for breach of fiduciary duty against Cricket Club. Stevens claimed that the Cricket Club Board of Directors made false statements concerning new wiring and price savings in regard to cable television service.
In Count V, Stevens, again as class representative, sought compensatory damages against Cricket Club for breach of fiduciary duty concerning various financial misdeeds. Specifically, Stevens alleged that the Board of Directors spent funds from a 1992 special assessment on items other than those set forth in the Notice of Special Assessment. With regard to the 1992 special assessment, $50,000 was assessed to repair and resurface the pool area. However, the Board of Directors had the pool area cleaned rather than resurfaced, and only $2,005 was actually used for that purpose. The remaining funds were used to repair the south terrace, an area that leads to the pool.
The trial court found in favor of Cricket Club on Count III. With regard to Count V, the trial court found that Stevens had sustained his burden of proof on the misapplication of the 1992 special assessment by the Board of Directors, but that he had not proven any damages. As a result, the trial court awarded nominal damages in the amount of $1.00. Stevens appeals the trial court’s findings as to Count III and the award of only nominal damages for Count V. Cricket Club cross-appeals the trial court’s finding as to Count V.
“As an appellate court, it is not our function to reweigh the evidence but, rather, to view the record to determine if it contains competent and substantial evidence to support the conclusions of the trier of fact.” GNB, Inc. v. United Danco Batteries, Inc., 627 So. 2d 492, 493 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993). “Upon appellate review, the findings of the trial court are presumed correct.” Citibank, N.A. v. Julien J. Studley, Inc., 580 So. 2d 784, 785 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991). The record here supports the trial court’s conclusions.
Before voting on and signing the cable contract, the Board of Directors held a “town meeting” at which two competing vendors explained what they were offering. All engineering reports, references, and contracts were made available for inspection by the unit owners. Thus, the Board of Directors did not mislead the unit owners, but instead allowed them to draw their own conclusions as to which cable company should be chosen.
With regard to the 1992 special assessment, the Board of Directors decided to use the funds to repair the south terrace rather than use the funds to repair and resurface the pool area. Stevens presented evidence that the south terrace was not considered part of the pool area. Consequently, the 1992 special assessment funds were misapplied, as they were not used for their stated purpose.
“[N]ominal damages can be awarded when a legal wrong has been proven, but the aggrieved party has suffered no damages ... or where ... recoverable damages were not proven.” Continuum Condo. Ass’n v. Continuum VI, Inc., 549 So. 2d 1125, 1127 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989). When Stevens charged the Board of Directors with misapplying funds, the Board of Directors returned the 1992 special assessment funds to the unit owners and then specially assessed the funds necessary to repair the south terrace. Although Cricket Club did misapply funds, supporting a judgment for Stevens, Stevens failed to prove that he suffered any damages due to that misapplication, and thus an award of nominal damages was proper. Therefore, both Stevens’ appeal and Cricket Club’s cross-appeal are affirmed.
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Gracey v. Eaker, 837 So. 2d 348 (Fla. 2002)…atutes (1997), discussed infra, requires psychotherapists to keep confidential the substance of patient communications. . See Londono v. Turkey Creek, Inc., 609 So. 2d 14, 19 n. 4 (Fla.1992). . See, e.g., Stevens v. Cricket Club Condominium, Inc., 784 So. 2d 517 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001) (examining damages as element in claim); Jacobs v. Vaillancourt, 634 So. 2d 667, 670 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994) (examining duty and breach of duty as elements in claim); Bernstein v. True, 636 So. 2d 1364, 1367 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994) (examin…
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Paul v. Minotty, M.D., 42 So. 3d 824 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010)…(3) damages proximately caused by the breach. See Gracey v. Eaker, 837 So. 2d 348, 353 (Fla.2002). Where a breach of fiduciary duty is shown but no actual damages are proved, nominal damages may be awarded. See Stevens v. Cricket Club Condo., Inc., 784 So. 2d 517, 519 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001). Because the jury found that a breach of fiduciary duty occurred and awarded nominal damages, no error occurred. VI. Cross-Appeal On cross-appeal, FEI and the doctors maintain that the trial court erred in denying their mot…
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Rocco v. Glenn, Rasmussen, Fogarty & Hooker, P.A., 32 So. 3d 111 (Fla. 2d DCA 2009)…caused by the breach. Gracey v. Eaker, 837 So. 2d 348, 353 (Fla.2002). However, a defendant may be liable for nominal damages for a breach of fiduciary duty even if the plaintiff cannot prove actual damages. See Stevens v. Cricket Club Condo., Inc., 784 So. 2d 517, 519 (Fla. 3d DCA 2001). Accordingly, Appellees may arguably have been liable for at least nominal damages in the cause of action for the breach of fiduciary duty upon the delivery of the documents to the sons' attorney in Hillsborough County. Howev…
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
- State v. In the Interest of M.J., 627 So. 2d 492 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993)
- Citibank, N.A. v. Judien J. Studley, Inc., 580 So. 2d 784 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991)
- GNB, Inc. v. United Danco Batteries, Inc., 627 So. 2d 492 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993)
- Moeller v. Brandy Invs., Inc., 549 So. 2d 1125 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989)
- Continuum Condo. Ass'n, Inc. v. Continuum VI, Inc., 549 So. 2d 1125 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989)