Case Name: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellant, v. Matthew Walter SMITH, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1992-02-14
Citations: 592 So. 2d 1277
Docket Number: No. 91-1032
Parties: DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellant, v. Matthew Walter SMITH, Appellee.
Judges: GOSHORN, C.J., and COWART, J., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 592
Pages: 1277–1277

Head Matter:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Appellant, v. Matthew Walter SMITH, Appellee.
No. 91-1032.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.
Feb. 14, 1992.
Geraldyne H. Carlton of Carlton & Carlton, P.A., Lakeland, for appellant.
Mark J. Hutchison of Hutchison, Mámele & Coover, Sanford, for appellee.

Opinion:
COBB, Judge.
In the instant appeal the trial court awarded the appellee attorney's fees in an attempt to sanction HRS for not negotiating in regard to a petition for modification of child support. The appellee recognizes that this was no basis for the award and argues instead that authority for the award is found within Chapter 61, Florida Statutes (1989). This rationale must fail, however, based on Stockman v. Downs, 573 So.2d 835 (Fla.1991), wherein the Florida Supreme Court held that an award of attorney's fees based upon a statute or contract must be included in the pleadings..
Accordingly, the post-judgment order awarding attorney's fees to the appellee is hereby reversed.
REVERSED.
GOSHORN, C.J., and COWART, J., concur.