Case ID: so2d_429/html/1287-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM. FERGUSON, Judge", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

ALLIED GENERAL, INC., a Florida corporation, and Joseph L. Greenwell, individually and on behalf of that class of persons constituting present and former owners of capital stock of Allied General, Inc., Appellants, v. HELLIWELL, MELROSE & DE WOLF, a Florida professional association, Truman A. Skinner, Bank of Perrine, a Florida banking corporation and William H. Losner, Appellees.
    No. 82-1434.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
    April 5, 1983.
    Rehearing Denied May 11, 1983.
    Donald E. Van Koughnet, Naples, Gary B. Sack, Miami, for appellants.
    Marlow, Shofi, Ortmayer, Smith, Connell & Valerius and Joseph H. Lowe; Myers, Kenin, Levinson, Ruffner, Frank & Richards and William M. Grodnick; McDonald & McDonald and David McDonald and Susan Silverman, Miami, for appellees.
    Before BARKDULL, NESBITT and FERGUSON, JJ.
   PER CURIAM.

Affirmed. Neida’s Boutique, Inc. v. Gabor and Co., 348 So.2d 1196 (Fla.3d DCA 1977), cert. denied, 366 So.2d 883 (Fla.1978); Miami Auto Auction, Inc. v. Friendly Enterprises, Inc., 257 So.2d 69 (Fla.3d DCA 1972); E. & E. Electric Contractors, Inc. v. Singer, 236 So.2d 195 (Fla.3d DCA), cert. dismissed, 239 So.2d 827 (Fla.1970). See New River Yachting Center, Inc. v. Bacchiocchi, 407 So.2d 607 (Fla. 4th DCA 1981), pet. for review denied, 415 So.2d 1360 (Fla.1982).

FERGUSON, Judge

(specially concurring).

I write only to express disagreement with the cases cited above which suggest that an order of dismissal with leave to amend within a specified number of days is an order to amend. Such an order is a nonprejudicial dismissal with permission to file an amended complaint. Failure to amend within the allotted time is not a failure to comply with an order of the court, but is a continuing failure to state a cause of action after having commenced the litigation. Appellant could have taken a voluntary dismissal, without prejudice, at any time before entry of a dismissal with prejudice. Edward L. Nezelek, Inc. v. Sunbeam Television Corporation, 413 So.2d 51 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982).

Appellant did not attempt to file an amended complaint until twenty-five days after the time permitted by the first order. I agree that appellant failed to demonstrate that the court’s dismissal of its complaint with prejudice, after a hearing on appellee’s motion, was an abuse of discretion. The notice of hearing on the motion to dismiss with prejudice did not meet the requirements of Rule 1.090(d), but the defect was waived.