Opinion ID: 78363
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Divorce Court Proceedings

Text: In 1999, Elizabeth filed for divorce from Denis in the circuit court of Broward County, Florida, and the divorce proceedings continued for several years. As a result of ongoing disputes between Denis and Elizabeth over the operation of the hotel, Elizabeth requested the appointment of a receiver to run the hotel. The divorce court granted this request. Concluding that the Chiras were incapable of running the hotel together, the divorce court entered an order establishing procedures for the sale of the hotel, and Elizabeth immediately appealed. While the appeal was pending, pursuant to the divorce court's order, the receiver entered into a contract for the sale of the hotel with José Saal. The divorce court approved the receiver's purchase contract with Saal, but stayed the effectiveness of the sale pending the disposition of Elizabeth's appeal of the divorce court's earlier sale procedures order. Elizabeth did not appeal the order approving the sale of the hotel to Saal. Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal subsequently affirmed the sale procedures order, triggering the effectiveness of the divorce court's order approving the sale of the hotel. The divorce court then granted the joint request of Denis and Elizabeth to discharge the receiver. Despite discharging the receiver, the divorce court denied Elizabeth's subsequent motion to set aside the purchase contract between Saal and the receiver.