Case ID: so2d_562/html/0440-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "SALMON, MICHAEL H., Associate Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Jimmy Allen PAYNE, Appellant, v. Ruth B. SPIER, Appellee.
    No. 89-1420.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    June 20, 1990.
    
      Jane Kreusler-Walsh of Klein & Walsh, P.A., and Betty J. King of Lytal & Reiter, West Palm Beach, for appellant.
    Thomas G. Guzda of Jones and Kaifert, Fort Lauderdale, for appellee.
   SALMON, MICHAEL H., Associate Judge.

After a favorable jury verdict and resulting judgment, the plaintiff moved to tax costs, including a requested award to reimburse for expert testimony for a rehabilitation expert and an economist. Dissatisfied with the award, the appellant filed this appeal. We reverse.

The trial judge announced that he would only award an amount for each expert which represented a reasonable fee for trial time, and declined to consider an award for research and preparation which might have been necessary to give their opinions at trial. In failing to consider these factors, the trial judge abused his discretion. Bystrom v. Florida Rock Industries, Inc., 513 So.2d 742 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987).

Reversed and remanded to reconsider the appellant’s motion to tax costs.

GLICKSTEIN and DELL, JJ., concur.