HAROLD S. COHN, APPELLANT,
v.
FLORIDA-GEORGIA TELEVISION COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION, ALEXANDER BREST, JESSE CRIPE, RALPH NIMMONS, HAROLD BAKER, GEORGE FOLLIN, MITCHELL WOLFSON, LOUIS WOLFSON, II, RICHARD F. WOLFSON, SHERWOOD SMITH AND WOMETCO ENTERPRISES, INC., A CORPORATION, APPELLEES
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Harold Cohn appealed the dismissal of his amended complaint against Florida-Georgia Television Company and various corporate officers. The trial court dismissed the complaint for insufficient specificity, but the appellate court reversed, finding the allegations sufficiently detailed to inform defendants of the charges and permit the plaintiff to proceed given the fiduciary-like relationship between the parties.
The amended complaint contained sufficient allegations to acquaint defendants with the charges and permit Cohn to proceed. The court rejected the trial court's requirement for greater specificity in complaints of this nature than other complaint types. The plaintiff should be granted the opportunity to prove his claims given the fiduciary-like relationship between the parties.
“the amended complaint contains sufficient allegations to permit plaintiff to maintain this suit”
The trial court's own finding, which the appellate court affirmed and used to support reversal.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceCohn filed a complaint against Florida-Georgia Television Company and several named defendants (Brest, Cripe, Nimmons, Baker, Follin, Wolfson entities…
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This appeal is from a final judgment entered after the plaintiff failed to further amend his complaint as allowed by a previous order dismissing the amended complaint with leave to file a further amended complaint within twenty days thereafter.
In the order granting the defendants’ motion to dismiss the amended complaint, which preceded the final judgment of dismissal from which this appeal is taken, the trial judge stated, inter alia:
“ * * * and the court having heard the argument of counsel for the respective parties and being of the opinion that the amended complaint contains sufficient allegations to permit plaintiff to maintain this suit but is also of the opinion that the amended complaint consists mainly of conclusions rather than ultimate facts; and that in bills of complaint of this nature, more specific allegations are required than in most other type of complaint * * * ”
The record and briefs have been read, oral arguments heard and careful consideration given to each and we are of the opinion from our study that the trial court was correct in his determination that the amended complaint contained “sufficient allegations to permit plaintiff to maintain this suit,” but we do not agree with the trial court in holding that more specific allegations are required in complaints of this nature than other types of complaints. We are of the opinion that the amended complaint contains sufficient allegations to acquaint the defendants of the charges of wrong doings which constitute the real basis for the plaintiff’s action so that the defendants may intelligently answer the same.
The appellant herein may have difficulty establishing the wrong complained of, but because of the peculiar relationships existing between the parties, bordering on that of a trust or a fiduciary position, we feel and so hold, that the plaintiff should be granted the privilege of trying to do so.
Therefore, we hold that the trial court was in error in dismissing the complaint and the said judgment of dismissal and final judgment reversed, the amended complaint reinstated and this cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent herewith.
Reversed and remanded.
RAWLS, Acting Chief Judge, and JOHNSON and SPECTOR, JJ., concur.
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Fontainebleau Hotel Corp. v. Walters, 246 So. 2d 563 (Fla. 1971)…ith the plaintiff’s charge of wrongdoing so that the defendant can intelligently answer the same, it is error to dismiss the action on the ground that more specific allegations are required. Cohn v. Florida-Georgia Television Company, (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 M…
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Dawson v. Blue Cross Ass'n, 293 So. 2d 90 (Fla. 1st DCA 1974)…m the defendant of the charges of wrongdoing which constitutes the real basis for the plaintiff’s complaint so that the defendant may intelligently answer, it should be held sufficient. [Cohn v. Florida-Georgia Television Company, Fla.App. 1st 1969, 218 So. 2d 787.] The allegations must, of course, be sufficient to inform the defendant of the nature of the cause against him. [Naples Builders Supply Co. v. Clutter Constr. Corp., Fla.App. 3rd 1963, 152 So. 2d 478.] [*93] A motion to dismiss may not act as a sub…
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Thomas v. George Rollins et ux., 298 So. 2d 186 (Fla. 1st DCA 1974)…m the defendant of the charges of wrongdoing which constitutes the real basis for the plaintiff’s complaint so that the defendant may intelligently answer, it should be held sufficient. [Cohn v. Florida-Georgia Television Company, Fla.App. 1st 1969, 218 So. 2d 787.] The allegations must, of course, be sufficient to inform the defendant of the nature of the cause against him. [Naples Builders Supply Co. v. Clutter Constr. Corp., Fla.App. 3rd 1963, 152 So. 2d 478.] “A motion to dismiss may not act as a substit…
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