Case ID: so2d_530/html/0985-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "THOMPSON, Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Bobby G. POSEY, Appellant, v. Irene MAGILL, Appellee.
    No. 87-851.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
    Aug. 22, 1988.
    Rehearing Denied Sept. 7, 1988.
    Bobby G. Posey, in pro. per.
    Jeffrey P. Whitton, Panama City, for ap-pellee.
   THOMPSON, Judge.

Bobby G. Posey, the plaintiff below, appeals a final order dismissing his complaint against appellee and denying him leave to file an amended complaint. We reverse.

Pursuant to Fla.R.Civ.P. 1.190, a party may amend his pleading one time “as a matter of course before a responsive pleading is served.” When Posey’s initial complaint was dismissed he tendered an amended complaint and requested permission to amend, which was denied. The tendered amended complaint states causes of action for malicious prosecution, abuse of process and civil perjury. Unless it is clear from the face of a complaint that amendment would be futile, failure to grant a plaintiff at least one opportunity to amend his complaint constitutes an abuse of discretion. Ayers v. Home Owners Association of Killeam Estates, 360 So.2d 1326 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978). Accordingly, the denial of leave to amend is reversed and the cause is remanded to the trial court with instructions that Posey be afforded an opportunity to amend his initial complaint as mandated by Fla.R.Civ.P. 1.190.

SHIVERS and ZEHMER, JJ., concur.