JASMINE LONGWORTH AND JESSE LITTLE
v.
JONATHAN RICHMOND

Fla. 5th DCA | 2020-06-05
No. 19-3744
Weston, J., Evander, C.J., Lambert, J., Traver, J.
Florida District Court of Appeal, Fifth District (2020)

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Holding

When a complaint alleges a nexus to the property at issue, the trial court must hold an evidentiary hearing before discharging a lis pendens under Florida Statute § 48.23(3).


Headnotes

[1] When a complaint in a lis pendens action alleges a nexus between the property at issue and the litigation, the trial court must conduct an evidentiary hearing before disc…

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Facts & Procedural History

Petitioners paid Respondent $125,000 for a home in Volusia County, received a quitclaim deed, and later discovered they had been deeded a vacant lot w…

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Opinion of the Court
Order Quashed. Evander

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA

FIFTH DISTRICT

NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO

FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND

DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED

JASMINE LONGWORTH AND JESSE LITTLE,

Petitioners,

v. Case No. 5D19-3744

JONATHAN RICHMOND,

Respondent.

________________________________/

Opinion filed June 5, 2020

Petition for Certiorari Review of Order from the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Kathryn D. Weston, Judge.

Travis J. Stulz, of Boyette, Cummins & Nailos, PLLC, Clermont, for Petitioners.

Michael C. Huddleston, of Huddleston & Associates, P.A., DeLand, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM.

Jasmine Longworth and Jesse Little (“Petitioners”) seek certiorari review of an order discharging a lis pendens. We have jurisdiction. See Baghaffer v. Story, 515 So. 2d 1373, 1373 (Fla. 5th DCA 1987). Because Petitioners are entitled to an evidentiary hearing, we grant the petition and quash the order.

2 Petitioners allege that Jonathan Richmond (“Respondent”) approached them about purchasing a home in Volusia County. Respondent emailed them a title policy, and Petitioners had the property appraised. Petitioners then gave Respondent $125,000 for the property, and Respondent returned a quitclaim deed. Respondent thereafter rented the home on Petitioners’ behalf and sent them the rent money. Petitioners later determined Respondent had quitclaimed them a different property—a vacant lot worth $3000. Petitioners sued Respondent for specific performance, unjust enrichment, fraudulent inducement, and breach of oral contract. They also placed a lis pendens on the property they thought they had purchased. Respondent moved to discharge the lis pendens or set a bond. Without conducting an evidentiary hearing, the trial court discharged the lis pendens in an unelaborated order. Petitioners contend they were entitled to present evidence establishing a nexus between the property at issue and the litigation. We agree. The parties acknowledge Petitioners’ lis pendens is not founded on a duly recorded instrument or applicable lien. Accordingly, the trial court may discharge the lis pendens or impose a reasonable bond. See § 48.23(3), Fla. Stat. (2019). In this context, when a complaint alleges a nexus to the property at issue, the trial court must hold an evidentiary hearing. See Carollo v. Henderson, 290 So. 3d 1088, 1090 (Fla. 5th DCA 2020) (citing Chiusolo v. Kennedy, 589 So. 2d 420, 421 (Fla. 5th DCA 1991), approved in part and quashed on other grounds, 614 So. 2d 491 (Fla. 1993)). CERTIORARI GRANTED; ORDER QUASHED.

EVANDER, C.J., LAMBERT and TRAVER, JJ., concur.


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