Opinion ID: 1823145
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the herberts' case

Text: The Herberts filed an action in county court against a motor vehicle dealer, alleging violations of chapter 320, Florida Statutes (1995), which also constituted deceptive trade practices under the FDUTPA. In the same action, the Herberts sought recovery from the motor vehicle dealer's surety, Aetna, which had provided a surety bond under section 320.27(10). The court determined that the dealer had in fact violated the terms of a written contract and engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices under the FDUTPA. Based upon this determination, the court entered judgment in favor of the Herberts and also awarded costs and attorney's fees against the dealer and Aetna, jointly and severally. On appeal to the circuit court, as in Hubbel, Aetna did not contest the award of costs, but instead contested only the award of attorney's fees. Unlike Hubbel, however, in the Herberts' case, Aetna challenged both the basis for the award of attorney's fees and the amount awarded. After considering the parties' arguments, the circuit court affirmed both the element of attorney's fees and the amount awarded as losses for which Aetna was responsible. Aetna again sought review in the Fifth District, and the court relied on its decision in Hubbel to quash the circuit court's appellate decision. See Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Herbert, 706 So.2d 417, 417 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998). It is under these circumstances that the present cases come before this Court for resolution.