Opinion ID: 1823145
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: facts in the present cases

Text: Hubbel filed an action in county court against a motor vehicle dealer, alleging fraud and deceptive trade practices under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (the FDUTPA). She specifically alleged, among other things, that the motor vehicle dealer had failed to refund a $500 deposit to her in accordance with a written contract executed by the parties, and she also sought recovery under the surety bond issued by Aetna pursuant to section 320.27(10). Aetna ultimately paid an amount set forth by Hubbel in a demand for judgment, and the trial court determined that Hubbel was entitled to recover from the dealer and Aetna, jointly and severally, attorney's fees, costs, and prejudgment interest under the law applicable to the action. On appeal in the circuit court, Aetna did not contest the award of costs or prejudgment interest, but instead contested only the award of attorney's fees. Further, Aetna did not challenge the amount of attorney's fees awarded to Hubbel, but argued only that there was no basis for recovery of the attorney's fees portion of the judgment from Aetna under the surety bond. The circuit court, in its appellate capacity, held that the attorney's fees element of loss as provided to a prevailing party under section 501.2105, Florida Statutes (1999), which is part of the FDUTPA, was incorporated into section 320.27(10), the statute requiring motor vehicle dealers to annually post a surety bond, and, therefore, Hubbel was entitled to recover attorney's fees from the surety, Aetna. In so holding, the circuit court relied on the First District's decision in Marshall v. W & L Enterprises Corp., 360 So.2d 1147 (Fla. 1st DCA 1978). Aetna sought review of the circuit court's determination in the Fifth District Court of Appeal. The Fifth District quashed the circuit court's affirmance of the county court's award of attorney's fees. See Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Hubbel, 704 So.2d 1141, 1142 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998). As the majority has determined here, the Fifth District held that, in an action alleging a motor vehicle dealer's violation of the FDUTPA, attorney's fees may not be recovered on a surety bond that does not specifically provide for recovery of such fees. See id. In so holding, the Fifth District certified conflict with the First District's decision in Marshall. [8]
The Herberts filed an action in county court against a motor vehicle dealer, alleging violations of chapter 320, Florida Statutes (1995), which also constituted deceptive trade practices under the FDUTPA. In the same action, the Herberts sought recovery from the motor vehicle dealer's surety, Aetna, which had provided a surety bond under section 320.27(10). The court determined that the dealer had in fact violated the terms of a written contract and engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices under the FDUTPA. Based upon this determination, the court entered judgment in favor of the Herberts and also awarded costs and attorney's fees against the dealer and Aetna, jointly and severally. On appeal to the circuit court, as in Hubbel, Aetna did not contest the award of costs, but instead contested only the award of attorney's fees. Unlike Hubbel, however, in the Herberts' case, Aetna challenged both the basis for the award of attorney's fees and the amount awarded. After considering the parties' arguments, the circuit court affirmed both the element of attorney's fees and the amount awarded as losses for which Aetna was responsible. Aetna again sought review in the Fifth District, and the court relied on its decision in Hubbel to quash the circuit court's appellate decision. See Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co. v. Herbert, 706 So.2d 417, 417 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998). It is under these circumstances that the present cases come before this Court for resolution.