Case ID: so2d_439/html/0891-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM. PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ALLINGTON TOWERS NORTH, INC., et al., Appellants, v. S.A. WEISBERG and S.A. Weisberg, Inc., Appellees. ALLINGTON TOWERS CONDOMINIUM NORTH, INC., Appellant, v. ALLINGTON TOWERS NORTH, INC., Appellee. ALLINGTON TOWERS NORTH, INC., et al., Appellants, v. ALLINGTON TOWERS CONDOMINIUM NORTH, INC., Appellee.
    Nos. 82-338, 82-709 and 82-769.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    Aug. 10, 1983.
    Rehearing Denied Nov. 9, 1983.
    Alvin Capp of Capp, Reinstein, Kopelow-itz & Atlas, P.A., Ft. Lauderdale, for All-ington Towers North, Inc., et al.
    Steven A. Colsky of Martin D. Kahn, P.A., North Miami, for S.A. Weisberg and S.A. Weisberg, Inc.
    J. Bruce Hoffman and Henry J. Hunne-feld of Spencer, Hass-Perlman, Hoffmann, Bloom & Bernstein, Coral Gables, for Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    John R. Hargrove of McCune, Hiaasen, Crum, Ferris & Gardner, P.A., Ft. Lauder-dale, for The Ceco Corp.
    John A. Shughart, Jr., of Welbaum, Zook, Jones & Williams, Miami, for Aetna Drywall Contractors, Inc.
    Thomas M. Pflaum and Deborah J. Miller of Simon, Schindler & Hurst, P.A., Miami, for Allington Towers Condominium North, Inc.
   PER CURIAM.

These are consolidated appeals.

Upon survey of the record and consideration of the several briefs and arguments of counsel, we determine, with the exception hereafter noted, that no reversible error has been demonstrated.

In Case No. 82-709 the counterclaim of Allington Towers Condominium North, Inc., was dismissed with prejudice for the reason that its answers to interrogatories were deemed insufficient. There was no prior motion to compel. There was no prior order specifying the deficiencies and ordering the counterclaimant to file new answers. There was a verbal warning earlier given by the trial court at a hearing upon a motion that did not involve the counter-claimant. However, in view of the drastic action of here dismissing the claim with prejudice we are of the opinion that such warning was insufficient. We feel that the trial court as a condition precedent to such a dismissal would have to specifically point out the shortcoming in the answers thereby giving the counterclaimant an opportunity to remedy. Then, if the counterclaimant failed to file sufficient answers as ordered without good cause the trial court would be in position to invoke sanctions such as dismissal. We reverse and remand upon authority of State Road Department v. Hufford, 161 So.2d 35 (Fla. 1st DCA 1964) and Rashard v. Cappiali, 171 So.2d 581 (Fla. 3d DCA 1965). See also Swindle v. Reid, 242 So.2d 751 (Fla. 4th DCA 1970) and Herold v. Computer Components International, Inc., 252 So.2d 576 (Fla. 4th DCA 1971).

We affirm as to Case Nos. 82-338 and 82-769. We reverse and remand as to Case No. 82-709.

LETTS, BERANEK and WALDEN, JJ., concur.

UPON MOTION FOR REHEARING

PER CURIAM.

Appellants in Case No. 82-338 and appellee in Case No. 82-709 correctly point out in their Motion For Rehearing that this Court’s opinion filed August 10, 1983, was in error. While we reversed in Case No. 82-709, we affirmed in Case No. 82-338, even though the facts and situations were identical in the two cases. Accordingly, we harmonize our holdings by reversing Case No. 82-338 for the reasons stated in our initial opinion.

Having here corrected our opinion the Motion For Rehearing is

DENIED.

BERANEK, LETTS and WALDEN, JJ., concur.