DUNHAM-BUSH, INC., APPELLANT,
v.
THERMO-AIR SERVICE, INC., AND BROWARD MARINE, INC., APPELLEES

Fla. 4th DCA | 1977-08-12
No. 76-1399
MAGER, J., and KANEY, FRANK N., Associate Judge, concur., ANSTEAD, J., concurs in conclusion only.
351 So. 2d 351 Florida District Court of Appeal, Fourth District (1977) Caution
Cited by 17 cases

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Synopsis

Dunham-Bush, Inc. appealed the denial of its motion to dismiss an amended third-party complaint filed by Broward Marine, Inc. seeking indemnification for repairs to chiller systems. The Florida District Court of Appeal reversed, holding that the complaint failed to allege sufficient facts to state a cause of action for indemnity based on breach of warranty.


Holding

The amended third-party complaint failed to allege the minimum factual allegations necessary to state a cause of action for indemnity based on breach of warranty. A complaint seeking indemnity must designate the basis for the right to indemnity and, when based on breach of warranty under the Florida Uniform Commercial Code, must include specific factual allegations regarding the sale, types of warranties, creation of the warranty, breach, notice of breach, and injuries sustained.


Headnotes

[1] A third-party complaint for indemnity must allege sufficient facts to establish the basis for indemnity, such as a contract, the existence and violation of a duty between…

[2] A complaint seeking indemnity based on breach of warranty under the Florida Uniform Commercial Code must include factual allegations regarding the sale of goods, the type…

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Key Quotes

“The complaint should set forth factual allegations designating the basis for the right to indemnity such as contract, either express or implied, or from the existence and violation of a duty as between tortfeasors.”

Establishes the fundamental requirement that indemnity complaints must allege a specific legal basis for the indemnification claim

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Facts & Procedural History

Thermo-Air Service, Inc. sued Broward Marine, Inc. on an open account for air conditioning repairs made to chiller systems on two yachts. Broward Mari…

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Opinion of the Court
DAUKSCH, Judge.

DAUKSCH, Judge.

Appellee-Broward Marine, Inc., a boat builder, was sued by Thermo-Air Service, Inc., an air conditioning contractor, on an open account for repairs made by Thermo-Air Service, Inc. to chiller systems located on two yachts owned by Broward Marine, Inc. Broward Marine, Inc. filed a third-party complaint for indemnification against Appellant Dunham-Bush, Inc., the manufacturer of the chiller systems.

The third-party complaint was dismissed with leave to amend. The amended version was substantially similar to the' original. Dunham-Bush, Inc. again moved to dismiss. The motion was denied.

A consent judgment in favor of Thermo-Air Service, Inc. was entered in the original action against Broward Marine, Inc. A non-jury trial was held on the third-party action and final judgment resulted in favor of Broward Marine, Inc. Dunham-Bush, Inc. raises six issues in this appeal. It first contends that the lower court erred in denying its motion to dismiss the amended third-party complaint. We agree and therefore we need not reach the remaining issues.

We find that the amended third-party complaint fails to allege sufficient facts to state a cause of action for indemnity based on breach of warranty because certain minimum allegations are absent. The complaint should set forth factual allegations designating the basis for the right to indemnity such as contract, either express or implied, or from the existence and violation of a duty as between tortfeasors. Florida Power Corporation v. Taylor, 332 So. 2d 687 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976). Or, equity may be applied to support a claim for indemnity as a result of the peculiar relation between the parties. Mims Crane Service, Inc. v. Insley Mfg. Corp., 226 So. 2d 836 (Fla. 2d DCA 1969). In the case sub judice, the amended third-party complaint merely stated that “this is an action for indemnity.” A factual allegation concerning the basis for this claim should have been stated.

In order to properly plead a cause of action for breach of warranties under the Florida Uniform Commercial Code a complaint should contain at least the following allegations:

1) Facts in respect to the sale of the goods;

2) Identification of the types of warranties created, i. e. express warranty (Section 672.313, Florida Statutes ); implied warranty of merchantability (Section 672.-314, Florida Statutes ); implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose (Section 672.315, Florida Statutes );

3) Facts in respect to the creation of the particular warranty. For example, in the case of an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, the complaint should allege that the seller had reason to know the particular purpose for which the goods were purchased by the buyer and that the buyer relied on the seller’s judgment in providing suitable goods. Section 672.315, Florida Statutes (1975);

4) Facts in respect to the breach of the warranty;

5) Notice to seller of breach. Section 672.607(3)(a), Florida Statutes (1975);

6) The injuries sustained by the buyer as a result of the breach of warranty.

The amended third-party complaint in the case sub judice does not include the above-stated essential allegations and therefore falls short of stating a cause of action.

REVERSED and REMANDED with instructions to dismiss the amended third-party complaint.

MAGER, J., and KANEY, FRANK N., Associate Judge, concur.

Other
DAUKSCH, Judge.

DAUKSCH, Judge.

The lower court was instructed by our opinion issued August 12, 1977, to dismiss the amended third-party complaint. Appel-lee now requests that the opinion direct that on remand Appellee be given the opportunity to amend its complaint. To avoid any question as to our intent, we clarify our opinion by instructing the lower court to dismiss the amended third-party complaint without prejudice to Appellee’s right to file an amended complaint, all of which could have been avoided had the trial court permitted Appellee to amend its pleadings to conform to the evidence at trial as permitted in Fla.R.Civ.P. 1.190.

KANEY, FRANK N., Associate Judge, concurs.

ANSTEAD, J., concurs in conclusion only.


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Citator

Cited By (12 total)

  • Gen. Matters, Inc. v. Paramount Canning Co., 382 So. 2d 1262 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980)
    …arred from any remedy.” This notice requirement is a valid precondition of imposing liability on a seller of goods.2 Eastern Airlines, Inc. v. McDonnell Douglas Corp., 532 F. 2d 957 (5th Cir. 1976); see Dunham-Bush, Inc. v. Thermo-Air Service, Inc., 351 So. 2d 351 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977); Redman Industries v. Binkey, 49 Ala.App. 595, 274 So. 2d 621 (1973); L. A. Green Seed Co. of Arkansas v. Williams, 246 Ark. 463, 438 S.W. 2d 717 (1969). Further, the burden is on the plaintiff to show that he gave the required n…
  • CSX Transp., Inc. v. Becker Sand & Gravel Co., 576 So. 2d 902 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991)
    …hose ultimate facts showing the relationship of the parties, the basis for the liability, and the damages incurred. Vermont Mutual Insurance Company v. Cummings, 372 So. 2d 990, 991 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979); Dunham-Busch, Inc. v. Thermo-Air Service, Inc., 351 So. 2d 351, 352 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977). CSX therefore had the burden to plead and prove that it entered into an indemnity agreement with Becker, that it incurred damages which were within the scope of the indemnity agreement (i.e., incurred attorney fees and cost…
  • Charolette A. Januse v. U-Haul Co., Inc., 399 So. 2d 402 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981)
    …for further proceedings. The Order Taxing Costs is reversed. Reversed and remanded. . The proper method of pleading a cause of action for breach of warranties under the Florida U.C.C. is described in Dunham-Bush, Inc. v. Thermo-Air Service, Inc., 351 So. 2d 351 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977). . The well-reasoned dissent by Justice Rizzi criticizes the majority for “pick[ing] up the discarded remnants of privity in personal injury actions. .. . ” Knox v. North American Car Corp., supra, 35 Ill.Dec. at 838, 399 N.E. 2…

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