Case Name: Nolan HURT and Florence Hurt, his wife, Appellants, v. LEATHERBY INSURANCE COMPANY, etc., et al., Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1978-01-31
Citations: 354 So. 2d 918
Docket Number: No. 76-2468
Parties: Nolan HURT and Florence Hurt, his wife, Appellants, v. LEATHERBY INSURANCE COMPANY, etc., et al., Appellees.
Judges: STETTIN, HERBERT, Associate Judge, concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 354
Pages: 918–920

Head Matter:
Nolan HURT and Florence Hurt, his wife, Appellants, v. LEATHERBY INSURANCE COMPANY, etc., et al., Appellees.
No. 76-2468.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
Jan. 31, 1978.
Andrew A. Graham and Frank R. Pound, Jr. of Lovering, Pound & Lober, Rockledge, for appellants.
Barbara Kane of Smalbein, Eubank, Johnson, Rosier & Bussey, Rockledge, for appellees.

Opinion:
ALDERMAN, Chief Judge.
The determinative issue in this appeal is whether a written release to one or more named joint tort-feasors and to "any other person, corporation, association or partnership which might be charged with responsibilities" also releases any joint tort-feasors not specifically named in the release. We hold that it does.
The plaintiff, Nolan Hurt, sustained personal injuries in an automobile accident when the vehicle in which he was a passenger collided with another vehicle operated by Joan Hatmaker, owned by Vivian Whit-comb and insured by Reserve Insurance Company. Hurt's claim against Hatmaker and Whitcomb was settled for $10,000, the limits of Reserve's coverage. Hurt gave a written release specifically naming Hat-maker, Whitcomb and Reserve; in addition, the release provided that "any other person, corporation, association or partnership which might be charged with responsibility" was released. Following the settlement, Hurt filed the present suit against Eugene Robertson, the driver of the automobile in which he was a passenger and Leatherby Insurance Company, Robertson's insuror. The trial court granted summary final judgment in favor of the defendants based upon the release that had been given in the previous settlement.
Prior to 1957 the rule in Florida was that a release or discharge of one or more joint tort-feasors was a discharge of them all. 28 Fla.Jur., Release, § 19. At the present time, however, Section 768.041, Florida Statutes (1975), provides that a release as to one tort-feasor shall not operate to release or discharge the liability of any other tort-feasor who may be liable for the same tort. Therefore, if Hurt had released only Hatmaker, Whitcomb and Reserve, the defendants Robertson and Leatherby would not have been released. But Hurt's release was not limited to Hatmaker, Whitcomb and Reserve; it also released "any other person, corporation, association or partnership which might be charged with responsibility." While Section 768.041 allows a release of less than all joint tort-feasors it does not prevent a person from giving a release that discharges the liability of all who might be charged with responsibility.
Hurt's release discharges all tort-feasors. If he had intended to limit the release to Hatmaker, Whitcomb and Reserve it would have been a simple matter for him to have deleted the all inclusive language. Hurt argues, however, that he made a unilateral mistake and that he really didn't intend to release everybody. This is not sufficient. The clear and unambiguous terms of a release may not be changed upon a claim of unilateral mistake where that mistake results solely from the want of due care and diligence. Dean v. Bennett M. Lifter, Inc., 336 So.2d 393 (Fla.3d DCA 1976); see also Lester v. Gatlin, 332 So.2d 660 (Fla.2d DCA 1976).
AFFIRMED.
STETTIN, HERBERT, Associate Judge, concurs.
DREW, E. HARRIS (Ret.), Associate Judge, dissents with opinion.