C.A. Hansen Corp. v. Wicker, Smith, Blomquist, Tutan, O'Hara, McCoy, Graham & Lane, P.A., 89-2800

Decision Date31 July 1990
Docket NumberNo. 89-2800,89-2800
Citation565 So.2d 812
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals
Parties15 Fla. L. Weekly D1960 C.A. HANSEN CORPORATION and C.A. Hansen, Inc., Appellants, v. WICKER, SMITH, BLOMQVIST, TUTAN, O'HARA, McCOY, GRAHAM & LANE, P.A., Appellee.

Kelley, Drye & Warren and G. Morton Good and Edward C. Vining, Jr., Miami, for appellants.

Proenza, White, Huck & Roberts and Morris C. Proenza, Miami, for appellee.

Before BASKIN, GERSTEN and GODERICH, JJ.

BASKIN, Judge.

C.A. Hansen Corporation and C.A. Hansen, Inc., [collectively "Hansen"] appeal a final summary judgment. We reverse.

The trial court entered final summary judgment in Hansen's favor in a negligence action instituted by Standard, Weisberg, Heckerling & Rosow, P.C. [Standard]. This court affirmed on appeal. Standard, Weisberg, Heckerling, and Rosow, P.A. v. C.A. Hansen, Inc., 506 So.2d 420 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987). Thereafter, Hansen sued Wicker, Smith, Blomqvist, Tutan, O'Hara, McCoy, Graham & Lane, P.A. [Wicker Smith]; Standard; American Home Assurance Co.; and D'Amato & Lynch, 1 for damages for malicious prosecution. Wicker Smith moved for summary judgment, alleging that the final summary judgment on which Hansen relied did not constitute an adjudication on the merits or a bona fide termination of the proceedings. The trial court granted the motion. Hansen filed this appeal.

A bona fide termination of the underlying lawsuit in plaintiff's favor is an essential element of a malicious prosecution action. Union Oil of Cal. v. Watson, 468 So.2d 349 (Fla. 3d DCA), review denied 479 So.2d 119 (Fla.1985); DeMarie v. Jefferson Stores, Inc., 442 So.2d 1014 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983); Weissman v. K-Mart Corp., 396 So.2d 1164 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981). To demonstrate the existence of this element, plaintiff must show either a favorable decision on the merits or a bona fide termination of the proceedings. Union Oil; Weissman. The question before us is whether the final summary judgment constituted a favorable termination of the proceedings. Finding that the summary judgment terminated the proceedings in favor of Hansen, we hold that it supports an action for malicious prosecution.

The Restatement (Second) of Torts § 674 Comment j (1977) provides:

Civil proceedings may be terminated in favor of the person against whom they are brought under the rule stated in Clause (b), by (1) the favorable adjudication of the claim by a competent tribunal, or (2) the withdrawal of the proceedings by the person bringing them, or (3) the dismissal of the proceedings because of his failure to prosecute them. A favorable adjudication may be by a judgment rendered by a court after trial, or upon a demurrer or its equivalent. In either case the adjudication is a sufficient termination of the proceedings, unless an appeal is taken. If an appeal is taken, the proceedings are not terminated until the final disposition of the appeal and of any further proceedings that it may entail.

A summary judgment is favorable to the prevailing party. The trial court entered the final summary judgment we affirmed in Standard, Weisberg, Heckerling & Rosow, P.C. v. C.A. Hansen, Inc., 506 So.2d 420 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987), based on a finding that there were no genuine issues of material fact and that Hansen was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Whitten v. Progressive Casualty Ins. Co., 410 So.2d 501 (Fla.1982); Coast Cities Coaches, Inc. v. Dade County, 178 So.2d 703 (Fla.1965); Graham v. First Marion Bank, 237 So.2d 793 (Fla. 1st DCA 1970); Graff Enter. v. Canal Ins. Co., 213 So.2d 738 (Fla. 1st DCA 1968); Fla.R.Civ.P. 1.510(c). The summary judgment was rendered by a competent tribunal, and thus, satisfies the first Restatement requirement.

We find no merit in appellant's assertion that the summary judgment in Standard, Weisberg was entered on merely technical...

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5 cases
  • Lexington Ins. Co. v. Royal Ins. Co. of America
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of Florida
    • 24 Febrero 1995
    ...disposition of the appeal and of any further proceedings that it may entail." C.A. Hansen Corp. v. Wicker, Smith, Blomqvist, Tutan, O'Hara, McCoy, Graham & Lane, P.A., 565 So.2d 812, 813 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990) (quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 674 Comment j Michigan Millers is directly o......
  • Heney v. Windsor Corp.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Middle District of Florida
    • 13 Noviembre 1991
    ...Jones v. State Farm Mutual Auto. Ins. Co., 578 So.2d 783 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991); C.A. Hansen Corp. v. Wicker, Smith, Blomqvist, Tutan, O'Hara, McCoy, Graham & Lane, 565 So.2d 812 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990), review denied, 576 So.2d 294 In sum, it should be noted that Florida's doctrine of res judicata......
  • C.A. Hansen Corp. v. Wicker, Smith, Blomqvist, Tutan, O'Hara, McCoy, Graham & Lane, P.A.
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 9 Febrero 1993
    ...of a third party complaint for indemnity and contribution filed by Wicker Smith. C.A. Hansen Corp. v. Wicker, Smith, Blomqvist, Tutan, O'Hara, McCoy, Graham & Lane P.A., 565 So.2d 812 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990), rev. denied, 576 So.2d 294 (Fla.1991). On remand, the trial court directed a verdict ag......
  • Rowen v. HOLIDAY PINES PROP. OWNERS'ASS'N INC.
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 15 Marzo 2000
    ...defendant did not have a duty to the plaintiff which would render it liable. See C.A. Hansen Corp. v. Wicker, Smith, Blomquist, Tutan, O'Hara, McCoy, Graham & Lane, P.A., 565 So.2d 812 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990). The Restatement (Second) of Torts, § 674, Comment j Civil proceedings may be terminate......
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    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Florida Causes of Action
    • 1 Abril 2022
    ...Co. , 578 So.2d 783, 785 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991); C.A. Hansen Corp. v. Wicker, Smith, Blomqvist, Tutan, O’Hara, McCoy, Graham & Lane, P.A. , 565 So.2d 812, 813 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990), rev. denied , 576 So.2d 294 (Fla. 1991). 4. Settlement: Where the matter was settled, it will not support a claim f......
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    • Full Court Press Florida Legal Malpractice Law Title Chapter 1 Basics
    • Invalid date
    ...prosecute, and malicious prosecution); C.A. Hansen Corp. v. Wicker, Smith, Blomqvist, Tutan, O'Hara, McCoy, Graham & Lane, P.A., 565 So. 2d 812 (Fla. 3d Dist. Ct. App. 1990), review denied, 576 So. 2d 294 (Fla. 1991) (malicious prosecution); Niles v. Mallardi, 828 So. 2d 1076 (Fla. 4th Dist......

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