Case Name: Julia STRINGER, Appellant, v. Lawrence KATZELL, M.D., individually, Lawrence Katzell, M.D., P.A., a Professional Association, David G. Droller, M.D., individually, David G. Droller, M.D., P.A., a Professional Association, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1997-03-05
Citations: 695 So. 2d 369
Docket Number: No. 95-1242
Parties: Julia STRINGER, Appellant, v. Lawrence KATZELL, M.D., individually, Lawrence Katzell, M.D., P.A., a Professional Association, David G. Droller, M.D., individually, David G. Droller, M.D., P.A., a Professional Association, Appellees.
Judges: GROSS and KLEIN, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 695
Pages: 369–371

Head Matter:
Julia STRINGER, Appellant, v. Lawrence KATZELL, M.D., individually, Lawrence Katzell, M.D., P.A., a Professional Association, David G. Droller, M.D., individually, David G. Droller, M.D., P.A., a Professional Association, Appellees.
No. 95-1242.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.
March 5, 1997.
Rehearing Denied April 15, 1997.
Laurence T. Adelman of Laurence T. Adel-man, P.A., Coral Springs, for appellant.
Gina Caruso of Hicks, Anderson & Blum, P.A., Miami; Jennifer S. Carroll of Metzger, Sonneborn & Rutter, PA., West Palm Beach; and George Hartz Lundeen Flagg & Fulmer, Fort Lauderdale, for appellees.

Opinion:
ON MOTION FOR REVIEW OF ORDER TAXING APPELLATE COSTS
PER CURIAM.
Pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.400(c), appellees seek review of the trial court's order awarding appellate costs. In Stringer v. Katzell, 674 So .2d 193 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996), this court reversed a directed verdict in favor of appellees/defendants in a medical malpractice action and remanded the case for a new trial. Having prevailed on appeal, Stringer moved the trial court for an assessment of appellate costs under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.400(a). The trial court awarded $7,397.68 in appellate costs and denied appellees' motion for rehearing and stay of execution.
Because appellant was the prevailing party in the appeal, she was entitled to the award of appellate costs under rule 9.400(a). Department of Labor and Employment Sec. v. American Bldg. Maintenance, 449 So.2d 932 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984); Di Teodoro v. Lazy Dolphin Dev. Co., 432 So.2d 625 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983); Swan v. Wisdom, 392 So.2d 987 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981); The "prevailing party" under rule 9.400(a) is "the party who prevailed in the appellate proceeding that was the subject of the motion to tax costs, and not necessarily the party who ultimately prevail[s] after the completion of all of the litigation." Padovano, Florida Appellate Practice § 16.2 (1988).
Appellate costs under rule 9.400(a) are to be distinguished from an award of attorney's fees under rule 9.400(b), which must await the determination of the ultimate prevailing party in the litigation. See Foley v. Fleet, 652 So.2d 962 (Fla. 4th DCA 1995); Cline v. Gouge, 537 So.2d 625 (Fla. 4th DCA 1988).
The motion for review is denied and the orders of the trial court are affirmed.
GROSS and KLEIN, JJ., concur.
PARIENTE, J., dissents with opinion.