Opinion ID: 1794946
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Overview of Section 627.428

Text: This case requires us to review section 627.428, Florida Statutes (2006). [4] Because this issue involves the interpretation of a statute, our review is de novo. Brass & Singer, P.A. v. United Auto. Ins. Co., 944 So.2d 252, 253 (Fla.2006). Section 627.428, a provision of the Florida Insurance Code, was originally enacted in 1959, see ch. 59-205, § 477, Laws of Fla., and has been the subject of extensive interpretation by both Florida and federal courts. See, e.g., Fireman's Fund Ins. Co. v. Tropical Shipping & Constr. Co., 254 F.3d 987 (11th Cir.2001); Dadeland Depot, Inc. v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 945 So.2d 1216 (Fla.2006); Brass & Singer, 944 So.2d at 253-54; David Boland, Inc. v. Trans Coastal Roofing Co., 851 So.2d 724 (Fla.2003); Roberts v. Carter, 350 So.2d 78 (Fla.1977). Although the section authorizes an award of attorney's fees, it does so only in a discrete set of circumstances. The statute provides in pertinent part that [u]pon the rendition of a judgment or decree by any of the courts of this state against an insurer and in favor of any named or omnibus insured or the named beneficiary under a policy or contract executed by the insurer, the trial court or, in the event of an appeal in which the insured or beneficiary prevails, the appellate court shall adjudge or decree against the insurer and in favor of the insured or beneficiary a reasonable sum as fees or compensation for the insured's or beneficiary's attorney prosecuting the suit in which the recovery is had. § 627.428(1), Fla. Stat. As with any case of statutory construction, we begin with the actual language used in the statute. Borden v. East-European Ins. Co., 921 So.2d 587, 595 (Fla.2006). This is because legislative intent is determined primarily from the text. See Maggio v. Fla. Dept. of Labor & Employment Sec., 899 So.2d 1074, 1076-77 (Fla.2005). The plain language of section 627.428 provides for an award of attorney's fees to a named or omnibus insured or the named beneficiary who obtains a judgment or decree against an insurer. § 627.428, Fla. Stat. (emphasis supplied). A named insured is one who is designated as an insured under the liability policy. Romero v. Progressive Southeastern Ins. Co., 629 So.2d 286, 288 (Fla. 3d DCA 1993). An omnibus insured is one who is covered by a provision in the policy but not specifically named or designated. See Industrial Fire & Cas. Ins. Co. v. Prygrocki, 422 So.2d 314, 315 (Fla.1982) (holding that a pedestrian was an omnibus insured under a liability policy providing coverage for medical and other expenses incurred as a result of bodily injuries sustained by a pedestrian, through being struck by the insured motor vehicle); State Farm, Fire & Cas. Co. v. Kambara, 667 So.2d 831, 831-32 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996) (holding that a resident was an omnibus insured under a landlord's liability policy that provided coverage for bodily injury caused by an accident on your premises you own or rent). Additionally, the rights of an omnibus insured flow directly from his or her status under a clause of the insurance policy without regard to the issue of liability. Kambara, 667 So.2d at 833. A named beneficiary is one who is specifically designated as such in the policy. See Roberts, 350 So.2d at 79. Hartford does not contend that it falls within the narrow statutory class of entities outlined in section 627.428. Rather, it argues that it is entitled to an award of fees by standing in the shoes of Ryan, the named insured under the CGL policies, as both an assignee and equitable subrogee. Thus, the issue we must resolve is whether a surety that itself does not fall within any statutory classification may nevertheless recover attorney's fees by virtue of its relationship to an insured. [5]