Case Name: Joe Nathan WALKER, a minor, by his next friend and father, Robert W. Walker, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES FIDELITY & GUARANTY COMPANY OF BALTIMORE, a corporation, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1958-01-07
Citations: 101 So. 2d 437
Docket Number: No. A-6
Parties: Joe Nathan WALKER, a minor, by his next friend and father, Robert W. Walker, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES FIDELITY & GUARANTY COMPANY OF BALTIMORE, a corporation, Appellee.
Judges: STURGIS, C. J., WIGGINTON, J., and O’CONNELL, STEPHEN C., A. J., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 101
Pages: 437–440

Head Matter:
Joe Nathan WALKER, a minor, by his next friend and father, Robert W. Walker, Appellant, v. UNITED STATES FIDELITY & GUARANTY COMPANY OF BALTIMORE, a corporation, Appellee.
No. A-6.
District Court of Appeal of Florida. First District.
Jan. 7, 1958.
On Petition to Certify Question to Supreme Court Feb. 27, 1958.
Coe & Coe, Pensacola, for appellant.
Latham & Davenport, Yonge, Beggs & Lane, Pensacola, for appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
This is an appeal from an order dismissing the surety on the official bonds of two deputy sheriffs who, with the surety, were defendants in a suit for damages alleged to result from an unlawful arrest and imprisonment.
The bond is conditioned that the principal (deputy sheriff) shall faithfully perform the duties of his office, as prescribed by law, which accords with Section 30.09, Florida Statutes 19SS, F.S.A.
This court is charged only with the interpretation of the law. It cannot subtract from or amplify the terms of a statute. Such changes are for the Legislature. Cone for the Use of Roberts v. Dean, 136 Fla. 421, 187 So. 571; Nolan v. Moore, 81 Fla. 594, 88 So. 601; Dutch v. Palm Beach Bridge Dist., 84 Fla. 504, 94 So. 155; State ex rel. Claar v. Branning, 85 Fla. 61, 95 So. 237; Kennedy v. City of Daytona Beach, 132 Fla. 675, 182 So. 228.
Affirmed on the authority of Malone v. Howell, 140 Fla. 693, 192 So. 224.
STURGIS, C. J., WIGGINTON, J., and O'CONNELL, STEPHEN C., A. J., concur.
On Petition to Certify Question Involved to Supreme Court of Florida as One of Great Public Interest.
PER CURIAM.
By our per curiam opinion rendered in this case we affirmed the judgment entered by the trial court which held in effect that the surety on an official bond furnished by a deputy sheriff was not liable in damages for the unlawful acts of the deputy sheriff done under color of his office, as distinguished from acts done by virtue of his office. The bond in question was furnished pursuant to the requirements of Sec. 30.09, F.S., F.S.A., the condition of the bond being the faithful performance by the deputy sheriff of the duties of his office. Our decision was controlled by the decision of the Supreme Court of Florida in the case of Malone v. Howell, 140 Fla. 693, 192 So. 224. In that case the Court held that the acts for which a sheriff or his surety may be held liable are acts done "virtute of-ficii", and those for which they cannot be held liable are termed "colore officii". The court defined acts virtute officii, or by virtue of office, as those within the authority of the officer but done in an improper exercise of his authority or in abuse of the law. It defined acts done colore officii, or under color of office, as those acts which are of such a nature the office gives him no authority to do.
Following our decision, the appellant petitioned this court to certify the question involved as one of great public interest pursuant to the authority contained in Section 4 of Article V of the Florida Constitution, F.S.A. Such a certificate will constitute a sufficient predicate on which the appellant may petition the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari to reexamine its decision in the Malone case above referred to. In support of this petition appellant points to the fact that the doctrine of "virtute officii", engrafted upon the decisional law of Florida, in the Malone case, was promulgated in the year 1939. Appellant contends grave doubt has been cast upon the validity of that doctrine by certain language employed by the Supreme Court of Florida in the more recent case of Holland, for Use and Benefit of Williams v. Mayes, 155 Fla. 129, 19 So.2d 709. Appellant also points to the fact that the doctrine under consideration has been discredited and receded from by recent decisions rendered in other jurisdictions, and contends that due to changed conditions and philosophies of government which have found their place in the jurisprudence of both Florida and other states, the doctrine should be re-examined. If this is to be done, it is our view that such re-examination should be made by our Supreme Court which first pronounced the doctrine as the law of Florida.
Under the above referred to provision of the Constitution, adopted in November 1956, we are of the opinion that the only issue to be decided is whether the question involved in this case is one of great public interest. The question affects the rights of the entire citizenry of our state in its relationship with the sheriffs of the sixty-seven counties, and their many deputies. We are of the view that cogent reasons suggest ample justification for re-examining the decision rendered in the Malone case in order that a current determination may be made as to whether the doctrine therein announced should either be adhered to, modified, or receded from. By this action we do not advocate, either directly or by implication, that the doctrine under consideration should be changed. By the issuance of the certificate requested by appellant, an opportunity will be afforded the Supreme Court to promptly re-examine its decision in the Malone case without waiting until such time as a District Court of Appeal may render a decision in conflict therewith. It was to accommodate situations of this kind that the framers of our Constitution provided that "he supreme court may review by certiorari any decision of a district court of appeal that passes upon a question certified by the district court of appeal to be of great public interest "
We are of the view that appellant's petition for the issuance of the certificate requested is proper and should be granted. To hold otherwise would be tantamount to reading out of the Constitution the above quoted provision which authorizes the issuance of certificates under circumstances shown to exist in this case.
For the foregoing reasons, and pursuant to Section 4(2), Article V, Constitution of Florida, we hereby certify to the Supreme Court of Florida that our decision rendered in this cause on January 7, 1958, passes upon a question of great public interest.
WIGGINTON and CARROLL, JJ., concur.