MARCIA SORIN, APPELLANT,
v.
SUZANNE C. COLE, APPELLEE
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The court held that the trial court erred in issuing an injunction for protection against repeat violence because the petition failed to allege two incidents of violence as defined by statute.
[1] An injunction for protection against repeat violence requires allegations of two incidents of violence as defined by statute.
[2] A petition for an injunction against repeat violence is deficient if it fails to allege at least one act of violence as defined by statute.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceA neighbor filed a petition for an injunction against repeat violence, alleging the respondent cursed at her and made vague threats. The trial court e…
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SHAHOOD, J.
Appellant, Marcia Sorin (Sorin), seeks review of a Final Judgment of Injunction for Protection Against Repeat Violence entered against her. We reverse.
The issue in this case is whether the trial court erred in issuing a final judgment for protection against repeat violence, pursuant to section 784.046(l)(a) & (b), Florida Statutes (2004), when the petition failed to allege violence and no testimony or evidence of violence or “repeat violence” was presented.
Suzanne Cole (Cole) filed a Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Repeat Violence. In the petition, she asserted that she and her neighbor, Sorin, had had a falling out and that Sorin cursed at Cole and told her that she “would be back for more” and “was not finished” with Cole and her husband. As a result, Cole claimed that Sorin “has mental problems” and that Cole, who has multiple sclerosis, and her husband, who has had a stroke, “are afraid of bodily harm.” A temporary injunction was issued and a hearing scheduled.
Following a hearing, which was attended by Cole and her attorney, but not Sorin and her attorney, the court entered the final judgment of injunction which is the subject of this appeal. The court granted the petition for an injunction against repeat violence for a period of one year. In addition to prohibiting any contact between the parties, the injunction also prohibited the following types of violence by Sorin or any other person on her behalf:
[A]ny acts of violence against Petitioner, including assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, or false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death. Respondent shall not commit any other violation of the injunction through an intentional unlawful threat, word or act to do violence to the Petitioner. Sorin argues that the petition for an injunction was erroneously granted without an evidentiary hearing. Even though she failed to attend the hearing, our review of the record shows there was one. Thus, there is no merit to this argument. She also argues that the petition was deficient pursuant to section 784.046, Florida Statutes, because it did not allege two incidents of violence. This argument has merit.
Section 784.046 creates a cause of action for an injunction for protection against repeat violence. See § 784.046(2), Fla. Stat. (2004). “Violence” and “repeat violence” are defined in the statute as follows:
(a) ‘Violence” means any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, or false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death, by a person against any other person.
(b) “Repeat violence” means two incidents of violence or stalking committed by the respondent, one of which must have been within 6 months of the filing of the petition, which are directed against the petitioner or the petitioner’s immediate family member. § 784.046(l)(a) & (b), Fla. Stat. (2004). To support an injunction against repeat violence, each incident of violence must be proven by competent, substantial evidence. See Santiago v. Towle, 917 So. 2d 909 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005).
Mere shouting and obscene hand gestures, without ah overt act that places the victim in fear, does not constitute the type of violence required for an injunction. Id. at 910-11. Even a representation that the offender owns a gun and is not afraid of using it is insufficient to support an injunction absent an overt act indicating an ability to carry out the threat or justifying a belief that violence is imminent. Id. at 911.
In this case, Cole alleged that Sorin said “f — you and your mother for having you.” This is not an assault or any other form of violence contemplated in the statute. The second allegation, that Sorin said, “I am not finished with you and will be back for more,” is also not sufficient. While it may have placed Cole and her husband in fear, there was no overt act, ability to carry out the threat, or justifiable threat of imminent harm. See Gagnard v. Sticht, 886 So. 2d 321, 322 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004) (holding that one man’s threat to “f” up another man and kill him was insufficient to support an injunction because a mere threat to commit an assault is not enough).
The law requires two acts of violence to justify an injunction against repeat violence. See Delopa v. Cohen, 873 So. 2d 530 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004). Because Cole did not allege even one act of violence, as it is defined in the statute, it was error to grant the petition for an injunction.
Reversed.
POLEN and KLEIN, JJ., concur.
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Cited By (15 total)
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Power v. Boyle, 60 So. 3d 496 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011)…itioner, even after a previous battery by respondent against petitioner, was not sufficient for a finding of “repeat violence” without evidence that respondent took an action creating a “well-founded fear that violence was imminent”); Sorin v. Cole, 929 So. 2d 1092, 1094 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006) (“Mere shouting and obscene hand gestures, without an overt act that places the victim in fear, does not constitute the type of violence required for an injunction.”); Perez v. Siegel, 857 So. 2d 353, 355 (Fla. 3d DCA 2003)…
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Smith v. Melcher, 975 So. 2d 500 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007)…aggravated assault against Ms. Melcher. To support an injunction against repeat violence, each incident of violence must be proven by competent, substantial evidence. See Terrell v. Thompson, 935 So. 2d 592, 592 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006); Sorin v. Cole, 929 So. 2d 1092, 1094-95 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006); Ravitch v. Whelan, 851 So. 2d 271, 273 (Fla. 5th DCA 2003). Although there was competent, substantial evidence to support the trial court’s determination that the first incident was an act of violence against Ms. Melche…
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Russell v. Deidra L. Doughty, 28 So. 3d 169 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010)…-founded fear in such other person that such violence is imminent.”). “Mere shouting and obscene hand gestures, without an overt act that places the victim in fear, does not constitute the type of violence required for an injunction.” Sorin v. Cole, 929 So. 2d 1092, 1094 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006); accord Santiago, 917 So. 2d at 911; Johnson v. Brooks, 567 So. 2d 34, 35 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990). Neighbors should explore and exhaust a variety of alternatives to litigation before bringing a claim under section 748.046 for…
Previewing 3 of 15 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Santiago v. Towle, 917 So. 2d 909 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005)
- Ramon Berenguer, M.D. v. Pub. Health Tr. OF Dade Cnty., 886 So. 2d 321 (Fla. 3d DCA 2004)
- Delopa v. Cohen, 873 So. 2d 530 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004)