Case Name: INGER SOFE SAVAS BERKOW, et al., Appellants, v. Nina ISAEVNA, et al., Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2008-06-25
Citations: 983 So. 2d 1242
Docket Number: No. 3D06-2920
Parties: INGER SOFE SAVAS BERKOW, et al., Appellants, v. Nina ISAEVNA, et al., Appellees.
Judges: Before GREEN, SUAREZ, and CORTINAS, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 983
Pages: 1242–1243

Head Matter:
INGER SOFE SAVAS BERKOW, et al., Appellants, v. Nina ISAEVNA, et al., Appellees.
No. 3D06-2920.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
June 25, 2008.
Jay B. Verona, and Jason M. Ellison, St. Petersburg, for appellants.
Wasson and Associates, and Roy D. Wasson, and Annabel C. Majewski; Scott M. Sandler, Miami, for appellees.
Before GREEN, SUAREZ, and CORTINAS, JJ.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The Appellants, Counter-Petitioners in a dispute over an estate that has escheated to the State of Florida, appeal an order that denied their motion for summary judgment, granted the Appellees/Petition-ers final summary judgment, and awarded Petitioners the escheated funds. We reverse.
The record demonstrates that there were genuine issues of material fact regarding whether the Appellees were legitimate heirs of the decedent. Hence, the court erred in granting summary judgment. Moore v. Morris, 475 So.2d 666 (Fla.1985); Copeland v. Fla. New Invs., Corp., 905 So.2d 979, 980 (Fla. 3d DCA 2005). The Appellants had presented affidavits asserting that all of the decedent's heirs above them in the statutory hierarchy had died, § 732.103, Fla. Stat. (2004), arguably entitling them to the funds. They had also presented affidavits challenging the legitimacy of the Appellees as heirs. These issues of fact cannot be resolved on summary judgment. Moreover, on summary judgment the court cannot weigh testimony or make factual findings. Deakter v. Menendez, 830 So.2d 124 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002). Therefore, the court erred in entering the orders on appeal here.
Summary judgment reversed.