Case ID: so2d_674/html/0921-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Donald G. CALLAWAY, Appellant, v. CITY OF WEST PALM BEACH, a municipal corporation, and West Palm Beach Golf Commission, an agency of the City of West Palm Beach, Appellees.
    No. 95-0049.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    June 5, 1996.
    James M. Adams of Gibson & Adams, P.A., West Palm Beach, and Marilyn Sher of Cho-nta, Sher & Navarrete, P.A., Coral Gables, for appellant.
    Elizabeth T. McBride, Deputy City Attorney, West Palm Beach, Frank A. Kreidler, Lake Worth, and Alan J. Miller of Miller & Miller, P.A., West Palm Beach, for appellees.
   PER CURIAM.

The appellee, successful in its defense, was awarded attorney’s fees in consolidated cases. The law governing the lawsuits permitted the successful litigant the award of fees. Although the plaintiff made an appropriate demand, the defendant did not. The failure of the defendant to plead entitlement to attorney’s fees precludes the award. Stockman v. Downs, 573 So.2d 835 (Fla.1991).

Although one of the cases here involved a claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1988, which might otherwise allow for attorney’s fees even though not requested until after judgment, see White v. New Hampshire Dept. of Employment Sec., 455 U.S. 445, 102 S.Ct. 1162, 71 L.Ed.2d 325 (1982), Florida procedure applies here. Under Florida procedure, Stockman is controlling.

REVERSED.

DELL and STONE, JJ., and KAHN, MARTIN D., Associate Judge, concur.