Case ID: so2d_495/html/0786-01.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

RED TOP SEDAN and Emanuel D. Mustillo, Appellants, v. Isadore APPLEBAUM, Janet Applebaum, Francine Applebaum, United Bus Owners of America, Henri C. Janneau and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Appellees.
    No. 85-2303.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    Sept. 17, 1986.
    Rehearing Denied Oct. 31, 1986.
    John M. Camillo of Morgaman & Camillo, Fort Lauderdale, for appellants.
    L. Kenneth Barnett and Susan M. Utkus of Barnett & Clark, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, for appellee Henri C. Janneau.
   PER CURIAM.

We reverse the summary final judgment entered in this automobile negligence action in favor of one of the defendant drivers, Henri C. Janneau. In doing so we acknowledge that all of the known witnesses to the accident gave testimony which in essence concluded that there was nothing that Janneau could do to avoid a collision with a phantom automobile that ran a stop sign and pulled out in front of him. The appellants, codefendants in the action, are the owner and driver of a vehicle which struck the plaintiffs’ vehicle in the rear, after the plaintiffs' vehicle had come to a stop in order to avoid colliding with the phantom vehicle and Janneau’s vehicle. Notwithstanding the opinions expressed by the witnesses, we believe issues remain as to the reasonableness of the speed of Jan-neau under the wet conditions prevailing and his actions in attempting to avoid the collision. We are especially concerned that the trier of fact have the opportunity to evaluate the actions of all of the drivers involved in attempting to determine how this accident took place and assessing responsibility. We also acknowledge the standing of the appellants to bring this appeal but reject their contention of harmful error in the trial court’s limitation of their argument at the summary judgment hearing. See Holton v. H.J. Wilson Co., 482 So.2d 341 (Fla.1986).

ANSTEAD and DELL, JJ., concur.

LETTS, J., dissents without opinion.