RICHARD CALHOUN, SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE, AND JOHN MARINI, P. D. KENNEDY, JOHN FERRIS AND LARRY DUANE, AS THE CANVASSING BOARD, APPELLANTS,
v.
R. H. EPSTEIN, APPELLEE
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In this election contest, the Florida District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court's denial of a motion to dismiss, holding that the complaint stated a viable claim for relief under Florida's election contest statute based on allegations that unqualified voters cast ballots for the winning candidate.
The court held that the complaint stated a sufficient claim for relief. The allegations that unqualified voters cast ballots for the winning candidate, if eliminated, would change the election result, rendering the complaint invulnerable to a motion to dismiss despite its imperfect pleading.
“The complaint is not a model pleading, but it does set forth that "persons" (at least two individuals) voted for Calhoun who were not qualified under Sec. 16, Chapter 31007, to vote in the election. The elimination of such votes would render Epstein the high man by at least one vote.”
Establishes the court's holding that the complaint stated sufficient allegations of illegal voting to survive a motion to dismiss
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceIn a January 19, 1960 mayoral election in Miramar, Richard Calhoun was certified as the winner over R.H. Epstein by one vote. The Canvassing Board not…
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The chancellor denied appellant-defendants’ motion to dismiss the appellee-plaintiff’s complaint, and an interlocutory appeal has been taken to this court. The sole question which was before the trial court and is now before this court is whether or not the complaint set forth a claim upon which relief may be granted. The suit is brought as an election contest pursuant to section 99.192, Florida Statutes, F.S.A.
The complaint sets forth substantially the following facts and allegations:
(1) Plaintiff Epstein and defendant Calhoun were candidates for the office of Mayor of the City of Miramar in an election held January 19, 1960;
(2) Calhoun was certified by “the Canvassing Board” 1 at a meeting held January 22, 1960, to be the successful candidate by a one vote margin over Epstein;
(3) The “Canvassing Board” noted in their certificate that there was a discrepancy of two votes between the total ballots supposedly cast and the total ballots cast;
(4) There were “persons” who voted for Calhoun who were not qualified electors under the city charter and laws of Florida because they had not been residents of Broward County for a period of six months prior' to registration;
(5) A certain absentee ballot was personally handed by the City Clerk to a named elector who took the ballot from the city hall, and two days later it was received by mail at the city hall, and that said ballot was cast for Richard Calhoun;
(6) That the City Council did wrongfully delegate its power to judge said election.
The appellant contends that the allegations of the complaint wholly fail to set forth circumstances which would render the results of the election different from the result that has been certified. The appellants assert that the allegations concerning the discrepancy between the number of votes supposedly cast and those that were actually cast, plus the allegations regarding the absentee ballot,2 and the allegation charging a wrongful delegation of power to judge the election are all insufficient to call into play any rights in the appellee which may be enforced under section; 99.192. We will not comment on thost *830features for we feel that the allegations summarized in (4) above, relating to “persons” who were not qualified electors casting votes for Calhoun, render the complaint invulnerable to a motion to dismiss. The complaint is not a model pleading, but it does set forth that “persons” (at least two individuals) voted for Calhoun who were not qualified under Sec. 16, Chapter 31007, to vote in the election. The elimination of such votes would render Epstein the high man by at least one vote. We deem this a sufficient allegation that the votes claimed to have been illegally cast would change the result of the election.
A motion to dismiss a complaint for failure to state a cause of action does not reach the defects of vague and ambiguous pleading, nor does it reach redundant, immaterial, impertinent or scandalous matter. A motion for more definite statement is appropriate for dissipation of vagueness and ambiguity and a motion to strike is proper for purging immaterial, impertinent, etc., matter. F.R.C.P. 1.11(e) and (f).
For the reasons given the order of the trial court denying the motion to dismiss the complaint should be and is hereby affirmed.
Affirmed.
KANNER, Acting Chief Judge, and SHANNON, J., concur.
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Wilson v. Clark, 414 So. 2d 526 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982)…undue influence. He could have filed a motion for a more definite statement pursuant to Rule 1.140(e), Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, in an effort to seek a clarification of vague and ambiguous allegations of undue influence. Calhoun v. Epstein, 121 So. 2d 828, 830 (Fla. 2d DCA 1960); Beck, supra, at 50. Alternatively, he could have filed a motion to strike the allegations of undue influence. Rule 1.140(f), Fla.R. Civ.P.; Beck, supra, at 50. Appellant filed [*529] neither of these motions, and denial of t…
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Raoul Vienneau v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 548 So. 2d 856 (Fla. 4th DCA 1989)…a cause of action does not reach the defects of vague and ambiguous pleading. Fontainebleau Hotel Corp. v. Walters, 246 So. 2d 563 (Fla.1971); Sheppard v. Inverness Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 322 So. 2d 583, 584 (Fla. 2d DCA 1975); Calhoun v. Epstein, 121 So. 2d 828 (Fla. 2d DCA 1960). Rather, the trial court was required to view the recitals in the complaint, together with exhibits attached, in the light most favorable to Vienneau and draw all reasonable inferences from their contents in Vienneau’s favor. Unde…
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Fontainebleau Hotel Corp. v. Walters, 246 So. 2d 563 (Fla. 1971)…y, (Fla.App.1968) 218 So. 2d 787, certiorari denied by this court at 225 So. 2d 911. A motion to dismiss a complaint for failure to state a cause of action does not reach the defects of vague and ambiguous pleading. Calhoun v. Epstein (Fla.App.1960) 121 So. 2d 828; Smith v. Platt Motors Inc. (Fla.App.1962) 137 So. 2d 239; Frisch v. Kelly (Fla.App.1962) 137 So. 2d 252; Plowden & Roberts, Inc. v. Conway (Fla.App.1966) 192 So. 2d 528. Likewise, under our rules of procedure, it is not necessary for the plaintiff…
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