MARIE SPRIGG MULLEN, APPELLANT,
v.
F. O. MULLEN, RUTH, VIRGINIA MULLEN, GEORGE L. FORGUS AND ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION OF FLORIDA, A CORPORATION, APPELLEES
AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.
This appeal concerns whether a trial court properly dismissed an equitable complaint with prejudice after the plaintiff had obtained a favorable judgment in a concurrent law action. The court reversed, holding that dismissal with prejudice was an abuse of discretion and that the cause should have been dismissed without prejudice.
The court reversed, holding that the chancellor abused its discretion in dismissing with prejudice. The defendants had not acquired any substantial right entitling them to a prejudicial dismissal, and such a dismissal would materially prejudice the plaintiff and confuse enforcement of the judgment already obtained at law.
“as to motions by a complainant for the dismissal of his bill without prejudice, this court has held that, while the court may grant such a motion, made at any time during the progress of the cause, when the dismissal would not materially prejudice the right of the defendant, yet if the defendant has entitled himself to affirmative relief, or to a hearing and disposition of the case on the merits, or has acquired some substantial right in the cause, or would be seriously prejudiced by a dismissal, or where unnecessary and prolonged litigation is apparent, or an agreement would be violated, or where it is otherwise inequitable, the cause should not be dismissed without prejudice”
Establishes the legal standard from Demos v. Walker governing when dismissal with prejudice is appropriate versus without prejudice
Previewing 1 of 2 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceThe plaintiff filed both a law suit seeking a money judgment and a simultaneous equitable creditor's bill. While the law case proceeded, the time for …
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.
Explore caselaw by topic → Browse Creditor'S Bill cases and more on FLexlaw
This is an appeal from a final decree dismissing the cause with prejudice.
The plaintiff filed at law for a money judgment, and simultaneously filed a suit in the nature of a creditor’s bill in equity. While the law case was in process, the time for taking testimony expired in the equity action, and the defendants successfully moved for a decree on bill and answer. The granting of this motion was the subject of a previous appeal in this case, as reported in 109 So.2d 798, wherein we affirmed the chancellor per curiam.
After the plaintiff obtained judgment in the law case, the chancellor dismissed the equitable complaint with prejudice. It is the prejudicial aspect of this dismissal which now concern’s us. Although the appellants have raised three points, we find that the first two were ruled upon in the previous appeal. Therefore they will not be considered at this time, leaving appellant’s third point as to whether or not the chancellor erred in dismissing the cause with prejudice.
This is a matter of judicial discretion, and reversal will only lie upon a showing that the chancellor abused this discretion. This is clearly set forth in Demos v. Walker, 99 Fla. 302, 126 So. 305, 306, where the Supreme Court said:
“ * * * as to motions by a complainant for the dismissal of his bill without prejudice, this court has held that, while the court may grant such a motion, made at any time during the progress of the cause, when the dismissal would not materially prejudice the right of the defendant, yet if the defendant has entitled himself to affirmative relief, or to a hearing and disposition of the case on the merits,, or has acquired some substantial right in the cause, or would be seriously prejudiced by a dismissal, or where unnecessary and prolonged litigation is apparent, or an agreement would be violated, or where it is otherwise inequitable, the cause should not be dismissed without prejudice; but that the mere burden, expense and annoyance to the defendant of another suit in the same controversy is not generally regarded as a sufficient ground for denying plaintiff’s application to dismiss without prejudice. * * * ”
We fail to see in the present case where the defendant has acquired any substantial right to a prejudicial dismissal On the other hand, such a dismissal would materially prejudice the plaintiff, and, at the *490very least, would confuse the enforcement of the judgment which plaintiff has recovered at law. We therefore must reverse, with directions to enter a decree dismissing this cause without prejudice.
Reversed.
ALLEN, C. J., and KANNER and SHANNON, JJ,, concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
-
Mullen v. Mullen, 125 So. 2d 879 (Fla. 1960)…Certiorari denied without opinion. 122 So. 2d 488.…
-
Wilmott v. Wilmott, 126 So. 2d 572 (Fla. 1960)…Appeal dismissed without opinion. 122 So. 2d 488.…
-
Laird v. The City OF Miami, 277 So. 2d 46 (Fla. 3d DCA 1973)…PER CURIAM. Affirmed. See Arnold v. Shumpert, Fla. 1968, 217 So. 2d 116, and 8 Fla.Jur. Courts § 222 (1956) and Mullen v. Mullen, Fla. App.1960, 122 So. 2d 488.…
Authorities Cited
- Demos v. Walker, 99 Fla. 302 (Fla. 1930)
- Gilstad v. Herschel King, 109 So. 2d 798 (Fla. 2d DCA 1959)
- Miami Fin. Corp. v. Stigliano, 109 So. 2d 798 (Fla. 3d DCA 1959)