Dave's Aluminum Siding, Inc. v. C & M Ventures

Decision Date09 July 1991
Docket NumberNo. 90-2694,90-2694
Citation582 So.2d 147
PartiesDAVE'S ALUMINUM SIDING, INC., Appellant, v. C & M VENTURES, Appellee. 582 So.2d 147, 16 Fla. L. Week. D1789
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

David M. Shenkman, Coral Gables, for appellant.

David L. Manz, Marathon, for appellee.

Before LEVY, GERSTEN and GODERICH, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

The plaintiff, Dave's Aluminum Siding, Inc., appeals from a final order dismissing its complaint against C. & M. Ventures, Inc. We reverse.

The trial court scheduled a case management conference ordering the parties to appear in court on October 17, 1990. The parties prepared and filed a written statement in compliance with the case management conference. The plaintiff contends that he had advised the trial judge's secretary the day before the conference of his inability to be at the hearing due to a scheduling conflict and requested a telephone conference. The trial judge would not allow the plaintiff's counsel to appear by telephone, despite the fact that the defendant had no objection to the plaintiff appearing by telephone. The trial court dismissed the plaintiff's complaint without prejudice due to the plaintiff's counsel failure to appear at the conference. The plaintiff appeals.

After the very professional presentation made by the attorneys on both sides and our careful review of the record, we find that the trial court abused its discretion by dismissing the plaintiff's complaint. That action was too severe a sanction where the record is devoid of evidence showing that the failure of counsel to appear at the case management conference was a willful or flagrant disregard for the court's authority. See United States Fidelity & Guar. Co. v. Herr, 539 So.2d 542 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Bullock v. Metropolitan Dade County, 438 So.2d 151 (Fla. 3d DCA 1983); Catogas v. Sapp, 397 So.2d 1182 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981); Aller v. Editorial Planeta, S.A., 389 So.2d 321 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980). Therefore, the order dismissing the plaintiff's complaint without prejudice is reversed.

Reversed and remanded.

To continue reading

Request your trial
5 cases
  • Ham v. Dunmire
    • United States
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • December 23, 2004
    ...the Third District Court of Appeal's decisions in Marin v. Batista, 639 So.2d 630 (Fla. 3d DCA 1994), Dave's Aluminum Siding, Inc. v. C & M Ventures, 582 So.2d 147 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991), and United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Herr, 539 So.2d 542 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989). We have jurisdiction. ......
  • Marin v. Batista
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • June 28, 1994
    ...appellant, we find that the trial court abused its discretion by dismissing the appellant's case. See Dave's Aluminum Siding, Inc. v. C & M Ventures, 582 So.2d 147, 147 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991); United States Fidelity & Guar. Co. v. Herr, 539 So.2d 542, 543 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Beauchamp, 500 So.2......
  • Martinez v. Collier County Public Schools
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • January 18, 2002
    ...of plaintiffs attorney to attend status conference, was too severe a sanction to impose upon plaintiff); Dave's Aluminum Siding, Inc. v. C & M Ventures, 582 So.2d 147 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991) (holding dismissal of complaint without prejudice for counsel's failure to appear at case management conf......
  • Fed. Nat'l Mortg. Ass'n v. Wild
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • May 6, 2015
    ...otherwise settle the case, do not establish the extreme circumstances that would warrant dismissal. See Dave's Aluminum Siding, Inc. v. C & M Ventures, 582 So.2d 147 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991).The appellee's reliance on Applegate v. Barnett Bank of Tallahassee, 377 So.2d 1150 (Fla.1979), is misplac......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
1 books & journal articles
  • The case management conference: tune-up needed?
    • United States
    • Florida Bar Journal Vol. 75 No. 10, November 2001
    • November 1, 2001
    ...of violation that was flagrant, persistent, willful or otherwise aggravated). (13) Dave's Aluminum Siding, Inc. v. C & M Ventures, 582 So. 2d 147 (Fla. 3d D.C.A. 1991). The parties had filed a written statement in preparation for a CMC. One attorney contended that he had told the trial ......

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