Case Name: ESTATE OF Ernesto VAZQUEZ, et al., Appellants, v. AVANTE GROUPS, INC., Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2004-05-14
Citations: 880 So. 2d 723
Docket Number: No. 5D03-427
Parties: ESTATE OF Ernesto VAZQUEZ, et al., Appellants, v. AVANTE GROUPS, INC., Appellees.
Judges: PALMER and TORPY, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 880
Pages: 723–726

Head Matter:
ESTATE OF Ernesto VAZQUEZ, et al., Appellants, v. AVANTE GROUPS, INC., Appellees.
No. 5D03-427.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
May 14, 2004.
Opinion Denying Rehearing Aug. 20, 2004.
Susan B. Morrison, Brian L. Thompson and Kimberly M. Kohn of Wilkes & McHugh, P.A., Tampa, for Appellants.
Scott A. Mager and Elaine J. LaFlamme of Mager Law Group P.A., Fort Lauder-dale, for Appellees.

Opinion:
PLEUS, J.
This is a nursing home case in which the Estate of Ernesto Vazquez appeals from a final judgment in favor of the defendants, Avante Groups, Inc. ("Avante") and Avante at Leesburg, Inc., ("Leesburg").
At the conclusion of the jury trial, Avante moved for a directed verdict which motion was granted. The court also granted Leesburg's motion for a directed verdict on the issue of punitive damages. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Leesburg on the counts for negligence, wrongful death and a statutory claim under Chapter 400, Florida Statutes.
Of the various claims of error, only one merits discussion. The jury was instructed on the Chapter 400 claim that the alleged violations of Ernesto Vazquez's rights must have resulted in his death.
In Beverly Enterprises-Florida, Inc. v. Knowles, 766 So.2d 335 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000), rev. granted, 789 So.2d 346 (Fla. 2001), the Fourth District Court of Appeal, in a unanimous en banc decision, held that a personal representative of a deceased nursing home resident may bring an action against a nursing home for violation of the Patient's Bill of Rights only when the deprivation or infringement caused the resident's death. Knowles is presently pending in the Florida Supreme Court.
This Court recently, in Estate of Youngblood v. Halifax Convalescent Center, Ltd., 874 So.2d 596 (Fla. 5th DCA 2004), reversed a judgment in favor of the nursing home on the basis, among others, that a personal representative can sue under Chapter 400, even though the deprivation does not cause the resident's death. Youngblood certified conflict with Knowles.
The verdict on the negligence count is sustainable and accordingly is affirmed. We conclude that regardless of whether we apply Knowles or Youngblood, the allegations in the estate's complaint as to Chapter 400 are virtually identical to those contained in the negligence count, and hence, any error in the jury instruction was harmless error.
The judgment of the court below is affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
PALMER and TORPY, JJ., concur.
. Patient's Bill of Rights.