Opinion ID: 77184
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Dismissal of Florida State FUFTA Claims

Text: 27 In the second amended complaint, Plaintiffs allege that in June 1997, while residing in Florida, Dorélien won $3.2 million in the lottery. Plaintiffs claim that after Dorélien was deported to Haiti and shortly after the commencement of this action in 2003, Dorélien entered into a Lottery Prize Assignment Agreement with LSC. Under the agreement LSC would pay Dorélien $1.3 million in exchange for the remaining 13 payments of $159,000 a year. Plaintiffs claim that Dorélien stated in the Assignment Agreement that he had been a resident of Florida for at least twelve months prior to the execution of the agreement and that he was not subject to an outstanding judgment. The Plaintiffs claim that these assertions are false, as Dorélien was deported several months before the agreement was signed and Plaintiffs had a judgment against Dorélien in Haiti for his role in the Raboteau Massacre. 28 The district court dismissed Plaintiffs' FUFTA claims without discussion, ruling that LSC was an innocent stakeholder and that the Plaintiffs no longer wished to pursue their FUFTA claim. Jean v. Dorélien, No. 03-20161, slip op. at 5 (S.D.Fla. Sept. 28, 2004). The district court based this conclusion on its belief that Plaintiffs' had failed to comply with the July 26, 2004 court order requiring them to list the remaining issues in the case. Jean v. Dorélien, No. 03-20161, slip op. at 3 (S.D.Fla. Oct. 29, 2004). However, the record reflects that Plaintiffs' did timely comply with the court's order in this regard. Accordingly, Plaintiffs' FUFTA claims are reinstated.