Case Title: Bonnie Barnett v. Harry Barnett

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC96-853

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2000-08-31T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme 
Court 
of 
Florida
 
____________
No. SC96853
____________
BONNIE BARNETT,
Petitioner,
vs.
HARRY BARNETT, 
as Personal Representative of 
the Estate of Elliot Barnett, deceased,
Respondent.
[August 31, 2000]
PER CURIAM.
We have for review the decision in Barnett v. Barnett, 743 So. 2d 105 (Fla.
4th DCA 1999), which held that the death of a party after the entry of a dissolution
decree but during the time allotted for filing a motion for rehearing does not affect
the dissolution decree and certified conflict with the decision in Johnson v. Feeney,
507 So. 2d 722 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987).  We have jurisdiction.  Art. V, § 3(b)(4), Fla.
Const.
1We decline to address petitioner’s second issue on appeal because it is beyond the scope of
the certified conflict in this case.
-2-
We recently answered this question in Gaines v. Sayne, Fla. L. Weekly S538
(Fla. July 13, 2000), wherein we held that the death of a party after entry of a
written, signed judgment of dissolution but prior to the rendition of a decision on a
timely motion for rehearing concerning matters collateral to the adjudication of
dissolution did not affect the dissolution decree or divest the court of jurisdiction to
decide the remaining issues between the parties.  Accordingly, we approve the
Fourth District’s decision in this case.1
It is so ordered.
WELLS, C.J., and SHAW, HARDING, ANSTEAD, PARIENTE, LEWIS and
QUINCE, JJ., concur.
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND
IF FILED, DETERMINED.
Application for Review of the Decision of the District Court of Appeal - 
Certified Direct Conflict
Fourth District - Case No. 4D98-0798 
(Broward County)
Nancy Little Hoffman, Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
for Petitioner
David A. Gart of Shutts & Bowen LLP, West Palm Beach, Florida; and Barbara J.
-3-
Compiani of Caruso, Burlington, Bohn & Compiani, P.A., West Palm Beach,
Florida,
for Respondent