Case Name: F. William Schultz, L. B. Hatch, M. C. Burton, Lewis Combs, J. W. Harvey, and James G. Campbell, Plaintiffs in Error, v. The State of Florida, ex rel. Van C. Swearingen, Attorney General, Defendant in Error
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1920-10-18
Citations: 80 Fla. 564
Docket Number: 
Parties: F. William Schultz, L. B. Hatch, M. C. Burton, Lewis Combs, J. W. Harvey, and James G. Campbell, Plaintiffs in Error, v. The State of Florida, ex rel. Van C. Swearingen, Attorney General, Defendant in Error.
Judges: Browne, C. J., and Taylor, Whitfield and Ellis, J. J., concur.
Reporter: Florida Reports
Volume: 80
Pages: 564–565

Head Matter:
F. William Schultz, L. B. Hatch, M. C. Burton, Lewis Combs, J. W. Harvey, and James G. Campbell, Plaintiffs in Error, v. The State of Florida, ex rel. Van C. Swearingen, Attorney General, Defendant in Error.
Opinion Filed October 18, 1920.
1. The Legislature has power hy a curative act to r'emeay defects of procedure in the organization of a municipal corporation created, or attempted to be created, under the provisions of Sec. 999 et sequi, Gen. Stats. 1906, if the omission, or provision of the statute violated, could have been originally dispensed with.
2. The adjudication by a court that a municipal corporation has no legal existence because of the ineligibility as incorporators of certain persons participating in the proceedings to create such corporation does not defeat the right of the Legislature by subsequent curative act to remedy the defect.
A Writ of Error to the Circuit Court for Manatee County; O. K. Reaves, Judge.
Judgment reversed.
John B. Singeltary and Gary B. Fish, for Plaintiffs in Error.
John F. Bw'lcet, for Defendant in Error.

Opinion:
West, J.
An information in the nature of a quo warranto was filed in the name of the Attorney General to test the validity of the organization of the village of Sarasota Heights in Manatee County as a municipal corporation.
Demurrer to the information was overruled. Pleas setting up the facts upon which respondent relied as authority for the exercise of the functions of a municipality were filed and the case was submitted on the merits upon an agreed statement of facts.
There was a finding that the pretended municipality of Sarasota Heights had not been legally organized and had no legal existence and judgment was rendered ousting such pretended municipality from the exercise of the functions and powers of a municipality.
Writ of error was taken from this court and an order of supersedeas was thereupon entered by the trial court.
Subsequently Chapter 8345, Acts of 1919, Laws of Florida, was passed, enacting that the incorporation of the municipality of Sarasota Heights be validated and legalized, and the ordinances enacted by the town council of such municipality and all acts done by its officers were ratified and validated.
The alleged defects in the organization havnig been corrected by this curative act and the municipality having in all respects been made valid, the judgment is reversed for appropriate action in the court below upon the authority of Givens v. County of Hillsborough et al, 46 Fla. 502, 35 South. Rep. 88; Craner v. Comm'rs Volusia County et al, 54 Fla. 526, 45 South. Rep. 455; Charlotte Harbor & N. Ry. Co. v. Welles et al., 78 Fla. 227, 82 South. Rep. 770; Board Comm'rs. v. Forbes Pioneer Boat Line, 80 Fla., 86 South. Rep. 199.
Reversed.
Browne, C. J., and Taylor, Whitfield and Ellis, J. J., concur.