Case ID: so2d_694/html/0164-02.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

Domenic FRANCHI, Appellant, v. Myron SHAPIRO, et al., Appellees.
    No. 96-1635.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
    June 4, 1997.
    Andrew C. Barnard, Miami, for appellant.
    Herzfeld & Rubin and Jeffrey M. Bell, Miami, for appellees.
    Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and NESBITT and COPE, JJ.
   PER CURIAM.

Pursuant to our mandate in Franchi v. Shapiro, 650 So.2d 161 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995), a successor judge held an evidentiary hearing at which defendant-appellant Domenic Franchi was given an opportunity to explain his actions. Ultimately, the lower court entered the order appealed which, once again, struck Franchi’s pleadings and entered a default against him.

We reverse, as the record does not support the trial court’s conclusion that Franchi wil-fully and deliberately deceived the court into believing he was too ill to testify or travel to Dade County. See, e.g., K & K World Enter., Inc. v. Union Spol, S.R.O., 692 So.2d 1000 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997).

Reversed and remanded for further proceedings. 
      
      . The relevant facts of this case are fully laid out in that opinion.