Opinion ID: 1697954
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Individual Cable as Personal Property

Text: As we resolve these legal issues, we should first squarely address whether we are including an individual fiber-optic cable, as a component of a larger telecommunications system and network, in the same category as other personal property subject to general Florida loss-of-use property damage law. This general loss-of-use damage law applies when personal property is damaged but not totally destroyed. One might imply from the majority opinion that the Court has now excluded a damaged individual cable that is part of a larger network from existing loss-of-use damage law. However, there is no express statement in the majority opinion that such property is excluded from the general category in which all other forms of personal property are considered in Florida, nor is there any reason provided for this exclusion. The majority diverges off into a tangential discussion of proof of loss, revenue, and profits, which are not, in my view, controlling in consideration and application of the general rule of law in Florida with regard to damage to personal property and loss-of-use damages. The majority has created at least an impression or appearance that the elements for evaluation or the measurement of loss-of-use damages are now somehow different in this particular case without addressing or applying the available, relevant, and controlling Florida law in this area. I would not exclude cable from the general category of personal property to which general Florida loss-of-use damages law applies. I see no distinction with any significant difference between an individual cable and other types of personal property, and neither party nor the majority provides any sound distinction or test to separate any particular personal property into a distinct, singular category to which general Florida law on this issue does not apply. In my view, there are various and multiple types of personal property that are singular or individual in nature, but may become integrated into or within a system or network of service, that do not and should not receive different treatment (e.g., a single bolt within a larger network system, a motor-vehicle taxi within a taxi-transport system, an individual aircraft integrated into an airline-transport system, an individual computer integrated into a larger technology system, etc.). These individual components should not receive different treatment than other types of personal property. Damage to individual and singular items of personal property should receive consistent treatment under Florida law with regard to the general issue of loss-of-use damages (and this has been the case until today)even if the personal property is connected within a larger system or network. The Eleventh Circuit recognized the necessity of resolving this initial issue when it certified the first independent question.