Case Name: Bobby G. POSEY, Appellant, v. Irene MAGILL, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1988-08-22
Citations: 530 So. 2d 985
Docket Number: No. 87-851
Parties: Bobby G. POSEY, Appellant, v. Irene MAGILL, Appellee.
Judges: SHIVERS and ZEHMER, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 530
Pages: 985–986

Head Matter:
Bobby G. POSEY, Appellant, v. Irene MAGILL, Appellee.
No. 87-851.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Aug. 22, 1988.
Rehearing Denied Sept. 7, 1988.
Bobby G. Posey, in pro. per.
Jeffrey P. Whitton, Panama City, for ap-pellee.

Opinion:
THOMPSON, Judge.
Bobby G. Posey, the plaintiff below, appeals a final order dismissing his complaint against appellee and denying him leave to file an amended complaint. We reverse.
Pursuant to Fla.R.Civ.P. 1.190, a party may amend his pleading one time "as a matter of course before a responsive pleading is served." When Posey's initial complaint was dismissed he tendered an amended complaint and requested permission to amend, which was denied. The tendered amended complaint states causes of action for malicious prosecution, abuse of process and civil perjury. Unless it is clear from the face of a complaint that amendment would be futile, failure to grant a plaintiff at least one opportunity to amend his complaint constitutes an abuse of discretion. Ayers v. Home Owners Association of Killeam Estates, 360 So.2d 1326 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978). Accordingly, the denial of leave to amend is reversed and the cause is remanded to the trial court with instructions that Posey be afforded an opportunity to amend his initial complaint as mandated by Fla.R.Civ.P. 1.190.
SHIVERS and ZEHMER, JJ., concur.