Opinion ID: 1823145
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: hubbel

Text: Kathryn Hubbel filed a claim for $345.00 against a motor vehicle dealer alleging fraud and deceptive trade practices. She also sought recovery under the $25,000 surety bond issued to the dealer by Aetna Casualty & Surety Company (Aetna) under section 320.27(10), Florida Statutes (1997). After the dealer defaulted and a default judgment was entered, Hubbel filed a demand for judgment against Aetna for $345.00, which Aetna paid. The county court subsequently granted attorney's fees against the dealer and Aetna in favor of Hubbel in the amount of $10,000. Aetna appealed the award of attorney's fees, and the circuit court affirmed the county court order. The circuit court held that the attorney's fee provision of FDUTPA was incorporated in section 320.27(10), the statute that requires motor vehicle dealers to post a surety bond or to obtain a letter of credit to cover consumer losses. In doing so, the circuit court relied on Marshall. The district court quashed the circuit court's affirmance of the county court's award of attorney's fees. See Hubbel. First, the district court stated that Aetna's surety bond did not contain a provision for an award of attorney's fees. Next, the district court stated that the attorney's fee provision in FDUTPA does not apply to a surety bond action under chapter 320. The district court noted, however, that the First District, in Marshall, had reached a contrary conclusion under a nearly identical statute.