Case ID: so2d_540/html/0242-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "GUNTHER, Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Donald COPPOLA, Appellant, v. Isa McNAB, Appellee.
    No. 87-2906.
    District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
    March 29, 1989.
    
      Robert D. Halstead, Jupiter, and John Beranek of Klein & Beranek, P.A., West Palm Beach, for appellant.
    Terry Watterson and Pamela S. Moody of Watterson & Dickenson, Palm Beach Gardens, for appellee.
   GUNTHER, Judge.

We reverse. Donald Coppola’s counsel failed to meet with opposing counsel to draw a pre-trial statement as ordered by the trial court. As a result, the trial court sanctioned Coppola by striking his pleadings and entering a default against him. In our view, the sanction imposed, in light of the facts of this case, was too harsh a penalty for a first infraction. See Beasley v. Girten, 61 So.2d 179 (Fla.1952).

Within one day of learning he had been sanctioned, Coppola hired a new lawyer and immediately filed a sworn motion for reconsideration which was uncontroverted by the plaintiff. Under oath, Coppola’s new attorney offered to fully comply with all pre-trial procedures, and to try the case as scheduled or continue the matter if the plaintiff preferred. The only possible prejudice to plaintiff indicated by the record was a short delay in trying the eight-month-old case. Furthermore, there is no evidence that what Coppola did or did not do was in willful disobedience of a court order.

Therefore, we conclude that the trial judge abused his discretion in sanctioning Coppola by striking his pleadings and entering a default against him. Accordingly, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

ANSTEAD and WARNER, JJ., concur.