WILLIAM H. GRONER, APPELLANT,
v.
UNDERWRITERS INSURANCE COMPANY AND MARGARET SISUNG, APPELLEES

Fla. 3d DCA | 1965-10-19
No. 65-118
Before HENDRY, C. J., and CARROLL and BARKDULL, JJ.
179 So. 2d 123 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (1965) Caution
Cited by 4 cases

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Synopsis

Groner appeals a final judgment on Underwriters' cross-claim against him, arising from a dispute over insurance proceeds for hurricane damage to property. The court reverses because the trial court's judgment on the cross-claim was premature, having been based on a summary judgment against Underwriters that was subsequently reversed.


Holding

The judgment on the cross-claim must be reversed because liability on the cross-claim had been prematurely resolved. The cross-claim sought judgment against Groner only if Underwriters was held liable to the Sisungs, but since the summary judgment against Underwriters was reversed, the cross-claim liability should not have been finally adjudicated.


Key Quotes

“Underwriters' cross-claim seeks judgment against Groner in the event that the Sisungs recover against Underwriters. Since the summary final judgment in favor of the Sisungs against Underwriters has been reversed, it follows then that liability on the cross-claim has been prematurely resolved.”

The court's explanation of why the cross-claim judgment was premature—it depended on liability to the Sisungs, which was reversed

Previewing 1 of 2 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.

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Facts & Procedural History

In 1960, Groner owned a home in the Keys mortgaged to the Sisungs and insured by Underwriters. A hurricane destroyed the premises in 1961. Groner sued…

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Opinion of the Court
HENDRY, Chief Judge.

HENDRY, Chief Judge.

This is an appeal by Groner, the cross-defendant, of a final judgment in favor of Underwriters, the cross-plaintiff.

Before reaching the merits of this appeal we deem it necessary to give a brief account of the somewhat involved background of this litigation. The parties to this law suit are as follows:

(1) Groner, owner of the premises, appellant in this appeal, cross-defendant in cross-claim and co-defendant in main action below, plaintiff in former litigation in federal court;
(2) Underwriters, insuror of the premises, appellee in this appeal, cross-plaintiff in cross-claim and co-defendant in main action below, defendant in former litigation in federal court;
(3) Sisung, mortgagee of the premises, nominal appellee in this appeal, plaintiff below in the main action, not *124a party to the former federal court litigation.

In 1960, Groner became the owner of a home in the Keys on which the Sisungs held the first mortgage. The premises were insured against damage by Underwriters, and the policy contained a standard mortgage clause. The premises were destroyed as a result of a hurricane, and, in 1961, Groner brought suit against Underwriters in the federal courts for the destruction of the said premises. Upon trial, final judgment was entered in favor of Groner which judgment was affirmed by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals,1 and satisfied. Two years later the Sisungs instituted this action in the Circuit Court of Dade County against Underwriters and Groner. Their complaint against Underwriters seeks to recover according to their interest, under the mortgagee clause of the policy, for the same damage to the premises. Underwriters then cross-claimed against Groner seeking judgment against him if Underwriters was held liable to the Sisungs.

The Sisungs were granted summary final judgment against Underwriters. However, that judgment was reversed for further proceedings by this court,2 the basis of the reversal being the existence of a genuine issue of material fact as to an affirmative defense asserted by Underwriters. Prior to our reversal in that case, the trial court, after final hearing, found in favor of Underwriters on its cross-claim against Groner.

From a reading of the record it becomes obvious that the trial court found as it did on the cross-claim because of its prior summary judgment in favor of the Sisungs against Underwriters in the main action.

As we have previously observed, Underwriters’ cross-claim seeks judgment against Groner in the event that the Sisungs recover against Underwriters. Since the summary final judgment in favor of the Sisungs against Underwriters has been reversed, it follows then that liability on the cross-claim has been prematurely resolved.

Accordingly, the judgment appealed is reversed without prejudice to the parties' rights to pursue such remedies, if any, as may hereafter accrue.

Reversed.


Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus


Citator

Cited By

  • …against American Home Insurance Company. . Since the matter has not been presented for our determination we do not determine here that a cross claim is authorized in the present posture of this case. . In Groner v. Underwriters Insurance Company, 179 So. 2d 123 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1965) a cross claim was decided after a summary final judgment was appealed. In reversing the summary judgment the appellate Court pointed out that the liability on the cross claim has been prematurely resolved. . American Mut. Liabil…
  • Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Sisung, 202 So. 2d 231 (Fla. 3d DCA 1967)
    …PER CURIAM. This case has previously been before the appellate courts. See: Underwriters Insurance Company v. Sisung, Fla.App.1965, 174 So. 2d 461; Groner v. Underwriters Insurance Company, Fla.App.1965, 179 So. 2d 123. Following the last opinion of this court, the matter came on for trial before the trial court, non-jury, on the issues as made by the pleadings. The appellant attempted to avoid liability upon the affirmative defense of estoppel by judgment or res…

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