Case Name: VILLA SORRENTO, INC., Appellant, v. John ELDEN, et al., Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1984-11-07
Citations: 458 So. 2d 1177
Docket Number: No. 84-425
Parties: VILLA SORRENTO, INC., Appellant, v. John ELDEN, et al., Appellees.
Judges: HURLEY, J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 458
Pages: 1177–1178

Head Matter:
VILLA SORRENTO, INC., Appellant, v. John ELDEN, et al., Appellees.
No. 84-425.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
Nov. 7, 1984.
Joseph A. Hubert and James D. Rudd of Watson, Hubert & Clark, Fort Lauderdale, for appellant.
Anthony J. Beisler, III of Anthony J. Beisler, III, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, for ap-pellees.

Opinion:
BARKETT, Judge.
This appeal arises from an action between a cooperative association and a unit owner. The cooperative association prevailed on the merits. The lower court failed to award attorney's fees in accordance with section 719.303, Florida Statutes (1983). We reverse.
Appellees suggest that the statutory language in question, "[t]he prevailing party is entitled to attorney's fees," is not mandatory. Appellee suggests that the trial courts have discretion to determine whether to award fees. We disagree. The statutory language is mandatory. The discretion of the trial court exists only to the extent of determining the reasonableness of the amount in light of the circumstances.
Accordingly, we reverse and remand for the assessment of a reasonable fee.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
HURLEY, J., concurs.
GLICKSTEIN, J., concurs specially with opinion.