Case Name: UNITED AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, a Florida corporation, Appellant, v. MIAMI DADE COUNTY MRI CORP., Health Diagnostic of Miami, LLC., d/b/a Stand Up MRI of Miami Hallandale Open MRI, LLC., and Open MRI of Miami Dade, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2011-03-09
Citations: 56 So. 3d 121
Docket Number: Nos. 3D09-3102, 3D10-848
Parties: UNITED AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, a Florida corporation, Appellant, v. MIAMI DADE COUNTY MRI CORP., Health Diagnostic of Miami, LLC., d/b/a Stand Up MRI of Miami Hallandale Open MRI, LLC., and Open MRI of Miami Dade, Appellees.
Judges: Before WELLS, SALTER and EMAS, JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 56
Pages: 121–122

Head Matter:
UNITED AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY, a Florida corporation, Appellant, v. MIAMI DADE COUNTY MRI CORP., Health Diagnostic of Miami, LLC., d/b/a Stand Up MRI of Miami Hallandale Open MRI, LLC., and Open MRI of Miami Dade, Appellees.
Nos. 3D09-3102, 3D10-848.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
March 9, 2011.
Michael J. Neimand, Miami, for appellant.
Buchalter, Hoffman & Dorchak, and Kenneth Dorchak, North Miami, for appel-lees.
Before WELLS, SALTER and EMAS, JJ.

Opinion:
WELLS, Judge.
Affirmed. § 86.011, Fla. Stat. (2010) ("The circuit and county courts have jurisdiction within their respective jurisdictional amounts to declare rights.... "); United Auto. Ins. Co. v. Kendall S. Med. Ctr., 54 So.3d 548 (Fla. 8d DCA 2011) ("[T]he Miami-Dade Circuit Court has jurisdiction of a declaratory action only if the amount in controversy exceeds $15,000 and only the county court has jurisdiction of any amount in controversy less than $15,000."); Canonico v. Devine, 130 So.2d 319, 321 (Fla. 3d DCA 1961) ("Separate and unrelated demands cannot be joined to give jurisdiction to a court which does not have jurisdiction of any one of the claims because each is below the amount required to give jurisdiction to the court."); see also § 627.428, Fla. Stat. (2010) ("Upon the rendition of a judgment or decree . against an insurer and in favor of any named or omnibus insured . the trial court . shall adjudge . in favor of the insured . a reasonable sum as fees."); Dawson v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 233 So.2d 860, 861 (Fla. 3d DCA 1970) (insured entitled to a fee award upon dismissal of an action brought by insurer even though the same issue was then pending in an administrative proceeding).