ESTHER ASH, APPELLANT,
v.
JOHN CAMPION, APPELLEE.

Fla. 1st DCA | 2018-06-28
No. 1D15–4165
248 So. 3d 1274 Florida District Court of Appeal, First District (2018)

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Synopsis

The First District Court of Appeal reversed a contempt order and remanded for further proceedings, clarifying that the trial court should properly establish actual damages and tailor sanctions for civil contempt rather than proceeding on alternative theories without adequate findings.


Holding

The contempt order is reversed and remanded to the trial court to make proper findings as to actual damages and enter an order tailoring any sanctions accordingly, allowing for a civil contempt remedy payable to the non-violating party rather than to the state.


Headnotes

[1] An order of contempt may be reversed and remanded for further proceedings when insufficient notice was provided.

[2] An order of civil contempt may be reversed and remanded for findings as to actual damages and entry of an order tailoring sanctions accordingly.

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Key Quotes

“reversing and remanding order of civil contempt for "findings as to actual damages and entry of an order tailoring any sanctions accordingly"”

Establishes that civil contempt orders require specific findings about actual damages and must have sanctions tailored to the harm caused

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Facts & Procedural History

Appellant Esther Ash was held in contempt, apparently for violating a mutual injunction. The trial court issued a contempt order, but the appellate co…

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Opinion of the Court
Per Curiam.

Per Curiam.

*1275We deny Appellee's alternative motion for rehearing, but grant clarification of our prior opinion. The order of contempt is reversed, and the cause is remanded to the trial court for further proceedings. See Young v. Wood-Cohan , 727 So.2d 322 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999) (reversing and remanding criminal contempt for further proceedings where insufficient notice was provided); H.K. Dev., LLC v. Greer , 32 So.3d 178, 186 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010) (reversing and remanding order of civil contempt for "findings as to actual damages and entry of an order tailoring any sanctions accordingly").

Makar, J., concurring in result.

I concur as to the relief granted, which is to remand and allow for the remedy of compensatory damages for civil contempt as initially contemplated and ordered by the trial court, payable to the husband due to the wife's violations of the mutual injunction. H.K. Dev., LLC v. Greer , 32 So.3d 178, 184 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010) (noting that monetary sanctions cannot be construed as criminal in nature if "the moneys are ordered to be paid, not to the fisc, but to a private party"). A remand is appropriate for cases in this procedural posture, where an appellate panel cannot agree on whether actual damages were established thereby allowing for an evidentiary hearing. See id. at 186 (remanding "for findings as to actual damages and entry of an order tailoring any sanctions accordingly"). To that extent, I concur in a remand consistent with Greer . Double jeopardy principles may prevent another criminal contempt charge for the same conduct, but nothing prevents the pursuit of a compensatory, civil contempt order under the circumstances.

Bilbrey, J., concurring.

I fully concur in granting clarification but not rehearing. Had I been on the initial panel in the case, I might have decided differently. The original majority and dissenting opinions both raise good points and I agree that this is a close call. But I believe my predecessor's opinion in this case is entitled to deference, and since I do not perceive the decision to reverse as a "substantial departure from established law," I do not think rehearing is appropriate. See Gretna Racing, LLC v. Dep't of Bus. and Prof'l Reg. , 178 So.3d 15, 31 n. 10 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015) (on motion for rehearing) (Bilbrey, J., concurring). Clarification is appropriate, however, because the original opinion would have reversed without providing either a possible remedy for Appellee to be compensated for his actual losses, including attorney's fees, if a finding of civil contempt was contemplated by the trial court, or an opportunity by the trial court to punish Appellant for her outrageous conduct if a finding of criminal contempt was intended.

Concurrence
Bilbrey, J., concurring.

Bilbrey, J., concurring.

I fully concur in granting clarification but not rehearing. Had I been on the initial panel in the case, I might have decided differently. The original majority and dissenting opinions both raise good points and I agree that this is a close call. But I believe my predecessor's opinion in this case is entitled to deference, and since I do not perceive the decision to reverse as a "substantial departure from established law," I do not think rehearing is appropriate. See Gretna Racing, LLC v. Dep't of Bus. and Prof'l Reg. , 178 So. 3d 15, 31 n. 10 (Fla. 1st DCA 2015) (on motion for rehearing) (Bilbrey, J., concurring).

Clarification is appropriate, however, because the original opinion would have reversed without providing either a possible remedy for Appellee to be compensated for his actual losses, including attorney's fees, if a finding of civil contempt was contemplated by the trial court, or an opportunity by the trial court to punish Appellant for her outrageous conduct if a finding of criminal contempt was intended.


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