Opinion ID: 1854566
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The State's Promise to Mexican Government

Text: Carter next claims that the State is bound by its letter to Mexican officials offering to forego the death penalty if the Mexican government returned him to the United States. He argues that the State must adhere to its offer under contract principles and the doctrine of judicial estoppel. This claim is meritless. First, under contract principles, the State did not receive the benefit of the bargain. There was no quid pro quo. Cf. State v. Swett, 772 So.2d 48, 52 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000) ([T]he plea was part of a deal whereby the prosecutor reduced the murder charge to second degree murder in exchange for the plea. The sentence was part of a quid pro quo and the defendant cannot accept the benefit of the bargain without accepting its burden.). The State's promise was conditioned upon the Mexican government's return of Carter. That condition was never fulfilled because the Mexican government released Carter before the State's letter reached the appropriate officials. He was subsequently arrested in Kentucky with no help or assistance from the government of Mexico. Therefore, the State is not bound by its offer. Second, the doctrine of judicial estoppel does not apply. Judicial estoppel is an equitable doctrine that is used to prevent litigants from taking totally inconsistent positions in separate judicial, including quasi-judicial, proceedings. Blumberg v. USAA Cas. Ins. Co., 790 So.2d 1061, 1066 (Fla.2001) (quoting Smith v. Avatar Properties, Inc., 714 So.2d 1103, 1107 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998)). The doctrine prevents parties from making a mockery of justice by inconsistent pleadings, American Nat'l Bank v. Federal Deposit Ins. Corp., 710 F.2d 1528, 1536 (11th Cir. 1983), and playing fast and loose with the courts. Russell v. Rolfs, 893 F.2d 1033, 1037 (9th Cir.1990). In this case, the State has not taken inconsistent positions in any relevant judicial proceeding. The letter at issue was a communication between the State and the Mexican government while Carter was confined in Mexico. Mexico released Carter from custody prior to receiving the letter and did not turn him over to the State of Florida. Carter was apprehended in Kentucky months later. The State's ultimate decision to seek the death penalty does not impair the integrity of the courts of Florida.