Case Name: Gonzalo A. CHACIN, Petitioner, v. GENERALI ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI SPA, Respondent
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1995-05-03
Citations: 655 So. 2d 1162
Docket Number: No. 95-552
Parties: Gonzalo A. CHACIN, Petitioner, v. GENERALI ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI SPA, Respondent.
Judges: Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and NESBITT and COPE, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 655
Pages: 1162–1163

Head Matter:
Gonzalo A. CHACIN, Petitioner, v. GENERALI ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI SPA, Respondent.
No. 95-552.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
May 3, 1995.
Rehearing Denied June 28, 1995.
Carlos Lidsky and Charles L. Vaccaro, for petitioner.
Kroll & Tract and Nicolas G. Sakellis and Hyman Hillenbrand, for respondent.
Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and NESBITT and COPE, JJ.

Opinion:
SCHWARTZ, Chief Judge.
The appellate division of the circuit court affirmed the county court's denial of the plaintiff-insured's application for attorney's fees under section 627.428, Florida Statutes (1993) on the ground that section 626.912, Florida Statutes (1993) "precludes the award of attorney [sic] fees against a surplus lines insurer" like the carrier involved in this case. We quash the decision and mandate reversal of the county court on the authority of English & American Insurance Co. v. Swain Groves, Inc., 218 So.2d 453 (Fla. 4th DCA 1969), which is squarely in point and with which we agree:
The final question involved the propriety of the award of attorney's fees where the non-admitted carriers complied with Section 626.0509, F.S.1965, F.S.A. [now § 626.912, Fla.Stat. (1993) ]. Appellants [sic] argument is that an attorney's fee is allowed in an action against an unauthorized foreign insurer only under the provi sions of Section 626.0508, F.S.1965, F.S.A., [now § 626.911, Fla.Stat. (1993) ] but that Section 626.0509 F.S.1965, F.S.A. specifically exempts therefrom an action against an unauthorized insurer arising out of a contract of insurance issued under the surplus lines law under certain conditions [which existed in the instant case]. We pretermit a determination of whether appellants were exempt from Section 626.0508, F.S.1965 by holding that the appellants were within the scope of Section 627.0127, F.S.1965, F.S.A., [now § 627.428, Fla.Stat. (1993) ] [which provides for the award of attorney's fees upon rendition of a judgment against an insurer in favor of an insured].
English & Am. Ins. Co., 218 So.2d at 458. Certiorari granted.
NESBITT, J., concurs.