American Enviro-Port, Inc. v. Williams, ENVIRO-POR

Decision Date04 June 1986
Docket NumberINC,ENVIRO-POR,No. BH-253,BH-253
Citation11 Fla. L. Weekly 1263,489 So.2d 839
Parties11 Fla. L. Weekly 1263 AMERICAN, a Florida corporation, Appellant, v. John L. WILLIAMS, d/b/a John L. Williams Properties, Appellee.
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

Jeffrey C. Regan, of Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones & Gay, Jacksonville, for appellant.

Daniel S. Brim, Fernandina Beach, for appellee.

BARFIELD, Judge.

The trial court entered judgment for appellee, John L. Williams, on a finding that appellant, American Enviro-Port, Inc., had abandoned its contract with appellee. Abandonment of contract is an affirmative defense that the defendant must raise in its answer, or otherwise it is waived. Appellee did not raise abandonment as a defense in its answer, and appellant consistently objected to the trial of that issue throughout the proceedings below. Therefore, the trial court's judgment is in error to the extent it is predicated on abandonment of contract.

The record suggests, and appellee argues that the trial judge intended to rule, that appellant failed to prove its performance under its contract at trial. While that determination may be made by the trial judge, it has not been made in the final judgment before this court.

The judgment of the trial court is REVERSED and REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

SHIVERS and ZEHMER, JJ., concur.

To continue reading

Request your trial
2 cases
  • Vainberg v. Avatar Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co.
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • May 19, 2021
    ...is an affirmative defense that the defendant must raise in its answer, or otherwise it is waived." Am. Enviro-Port, Inc. v. Williams , 489 So. 2d 839, 839 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986). Thus, the court erred in allowing Insurer to argue its theory of abandonment to the jury. The court abused its disc......
  • Carl Widell & Sons v. Poole
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • June 4, 1986

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT