Bush v. Belenke, 79-1174

Decision Date18 March 1980
Docket NumberNo. 79-1174,79-1174
Citation381 So.2d 315
PartiesJohn Michael BUSH, Appellant, v. Burt BELENKE, Appellee.
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

Bryson & Berman, Flynn, Rubio & Tarkoff, Miami, for appellant.

Orr, Nathan & Williams, Miami, for appellee.

Before HAVERFIELD, C. J., and NESBITT and BASKIN, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

In this replevin action, John Bush, the plaintiff, appeals the entry of a summary final judgment for the defendant Burt Belenke.

John Bush filed the instant action for return of an emerald ring or, in the alternative, for damages. He alleged that he had given the ring to Burt Belenke to sell on a commission basis. Subsequently, Bush demanded return of the ring from Belenke who was unable to sell it, but refused to return it. In his answer, Belenke alleged that he never was personally in possession of the ring. He further alleged that the ring was in the possession of Belenke Co., Inc., d/b/a the House of Diamonds, of which he is a shareholder and corporate officer. Thereafter, on this ground Belenke moved for summary judgment. Bush filed an affidavit in opposition to the motion for summary judgment and stated that he dealt with Belenke as an individual who at no time represented himself to be acting on behalf of a corporation but rather made it a point that he (Bush) was dealing with him (Belenke) personally. After hearing argument of counsel, the trial judge entered summary final judgment for Belenke and Bush perfected this appeal.

A review of the record reflects that there remains genuine issues of material facts which necessitate a reversal. See Holl v. Talcott, 191 So.2d 40 (Fla.1966). For example, an issue exists as to whether Bush dealt with Belenke as an individual or as an agent for the House of Diamonds (Belenke Co., Inc.) when he gave Belenke the ring. Further, individual officers and agents of a corporation are personally liable to any third person even if such acts are performed within the scope of their employment or as corporate officers or agents. See Dade Roofing and Insulation Corp. v. Torres, 369 So.2d 98 (Fla.3d DCA 1979). In addition, in a replevin action, although possession by the defendant of the subject property is essential, actual manual possession is not necessary. It is sufficient if a defendant has constructive possession, that is has such control over the property that he may deliver the possession of it, if he so desires, as for example, where an agent holds property for his...

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13 cases
  • Zerman v. Jacobs
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Southern District of New York
    • March 13, 1981
    ...Florida law as well, a corporate officer is not personally liable absent a showing of some individual tortious conduct. Bush v. Belenke, 381 So.2d 315 (Fla.App.1980); Gulfstar, Inc. v. Advance Mortgage Corp., 376 So.2d 243, 245 (Fla.App.1979), cert. denied, 386 So.2d 633 (Fla. 1980); Bodin ......
  • Littman v. Commercial Bank & Trust Co., s. 81-847
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • January 25, 1983
    ...employment or as corporate officers or agents. Adams v. Brickell Townhouse, Inc., 388 So.2d 1279 (Fla.3d DCA 1980); Bush v. Belenke, 381 So.2d 315, 316 (Fla.3d DCA 1980); CIC Leasing Corp. v. Dade Linen and Furniture Co., 279 So.2d 73 (Fla.3d DCA 1973) and cases cited; see Dade Roofing and ......
  • Phan v. Deutsche Bank Nat'l Trust Co., 2D14–3364.
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • February 26, 2016
    ...the principal had constructive possession of the note and standing to file a complaint for breach of the lost note); Bush v. Belenke, 381 So.2d 315, 316 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980) (noting that constructive possession exists where a person “has such control over the property that he may deliver the ......
  • Deakter v. Menendez
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • September 4, 2002
    ...had the power to exercise control over it, then Mendelson had constructive possession of the note when it was lost. See Bush v. Belenke, 381 So.2d 315 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980) (defining constructive possession as possession in which a person "has such control over the property that he may deliver......
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1 books & journal articles
  • Chapter 12-1 Introduction
    • United States
    • Full Court Press Florida Foreclosure Law 2020 Title Chapter 12 Motions for Summary Judgment in Foreclosure Cases
    • Invalid date
    ...Bank, N.A., 185 So. 3d 1277, 1279 (Fla. 4th DCA 2016); Deakter v. Menen-dez, 830 So. 2d 124, 128 (Fla. 3d DCA 2002); Bush v. Belenke, 381 So. 2d 315, 316 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980); Phan v. Deutsche Bank Nat'l Tr. Co., 198 So. 3d 744, 748 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016).[145] Fla. Stat. § 90.902(4).[146] Fla. S......

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