Case Name: Francis J. PILKINGTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1999-06-02
Citations: 734 So. 2d 1153
Docket Number: No. 99-00167
Parties: Francis J. PILKINGTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: THREADGILL, A.C.J., and FULMER and GREEN, JJ., Concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 734
Pages: 1153–1153

Head Matter:
Francis J. PILKINGTON, Appellant, v. STATE of Florida, Appellee.
No. 99-00167.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.
June 2, 1999.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Francis Pilkington appeals the summary denial of his motion for postconviction relief filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. We find merit in only one of Pilkington's claims and reverse on that point. The trial court's order is affirmed in all other respects.
Pilkington alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to the reasons given to support his upward departure sentence. Such a claim is cognizable in a rule 3.850 motion. See, e.g., Lang v. State, 571 So.2d 487 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990) (holding that failure to object to a scoresheet error and thereby preventing review on direct appeal is cognizable as ineffective assistance of counsel). If Pilkington's allegations are true, neither reason given for departure is legally sufficient. Therefore, Pilkington's claim is facially sufficient. On remand the trial court may again summarily deny Pilkingr ton's claim if it can be refuted by record attachments. If it cannot, the court shall hold an evidentiary hearing.
Affirmed in part; reversed in part; and remanded.
THREADGILL, A.C.J., and FULMER and GREEN, JJ., Concur.