Court Opinion

ID: 4022729
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-08-09 13:03:49.444634+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:45:02.032192
License: Public Domain

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
                                       FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA

RYAN CHANDLER, FORMER                  NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO
HUSBAND,                               FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND
                                       DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED
      Appellant,
                                       CASE NO. 1D15-3038
v.

SCARLETT KIBBEY, FORMER
WIFE,

      Appellee.

_____________________________/

Opinion filed August 9, 2016.

An appeal from the Circuit Court for Duval County.
Elizabeth A. Senterfitt, Judge.

Samuel S. Jacobson of Bledsoe, Jacobson, Schmidt, Wright & Sussman,
Jacksonville, for Appellant.

Renae J. Kenny of the Law Office of Renae J. Kenny, Fleming Island, for Appellee.

PER CURIAM.

      Appellant, Ryan Chandler, appeals a Final Judgment of Dissolution. He raises

two issues on appeal, only one of which has merit. We agree with Appellant that

reversal of the attorney’s fee award to Appellee, Scarlett Kibbey, is warranted where
the trial court failed to make certain findings relating to the reasonableness of the

award. See Norman v. Norman, 939 So. 2d 240, 241-42 (Fla. 1st DCA 2006)

(holding that the trial court’s failure to make the required findings as to the amount

of fees pursuant to Florida Patient’s Compensation Fund v. Rowe, 472 So. 2d 1145

(Fla. 1985), constituted reversible error); see also Bradham v. Bradham, 120 So. 3d
1274, 1276 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013) (reversing and remanding the attorney’s fee award

where the trial court found that the former wife had a need for a contribution to her

attorney’s fees and costs, the former husband had an ability to pay, and the former

wife submitted an affidavit from her attorney’s law firm attesting to the fees and

costs incurred, but there was no indication that the trial court considered the Rowe

factors); Ard v. Ard, 765 So. 2d 106, 107 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000) (reversing and

remanding the attorney’s fee award where there was competent, substantial evidence

in the record to support the award, but the trial court failed to make factual findings

regarding the total number of hours expended by the former wife’s attorney, the

hourly rate, or the reasonableness of the fee). Accordingly, we reverse the attorney’s

fee award and remand for further proceedings. We otherwise affirm the final

judgment.

      AFFIRMED in part, REVERSED in part, and REMANDED for further

proceedings.

LEWIS, WETHERELL, and RAY, JJ., CONCUR.

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