Deltona Corp. v. Jannotti, OO-465
| Decision Date | 14 January 1981 |
| Docket Number | No. OO-465,OO-465 |
| Citation | 392 So.2d 976 |
| Parties | The DELTONA CORPORATION, Appellant, v. Angelo JANNOTTI and Joan Jannotti, Appellees. |
| Court | Florida District Court of Appeals |
Joseph Mancilla, Jr., Miami, for appellant.
Jerry W. Gerde, of Davenport, Johnston, Harris, Gerde & Harrison, Panama City, for appellees.
Deltona appeals a judgment of guilty of unfair and deceptive trade practices, contrary to section 501.201 et seq., Florida Statutes (Little FTC Act), regarding the sale of carpeting and sodding purchased by the Jannottis in conjunction with their purchase of a house from Appellant. The Jannottis were awarded $3200 damages for the replacement of the defective carpeting and sodding and $2500 for attorney's fees.
Deltona raised four points on appeal, and the Jannottis cross-appealed arguing that the award of attorney's fees was insufficient. We affirm the appeal and cross-appeal.
Deltona, relying on State ex rel. Herring v. Murdock, 345 So.2d 759 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977), argued that the award of attorney's fees pursuant to section 501.210, Florida Statutes was improper because the sale of a house and lot are not "consumer transactions" within the meaning of the Act. Section 501.203(1). Murdock, supra, held that the sale of raw land (real estate lots) did not come within the definition of consumer transaction found in section 501.203(1).
It is unnecessary for us to reach the question of whether the sale of a house would be a consumer transaction within the meaning of the Act. The trial judge granted Plaintiffs/Appellees' motion for summary judgment, holding that the sale of the carpeting and sodding to the Jannottis by Deltona were consumer transactions under the Act. Under the facts of this case, we find no error in granting the summary judgment.
The Jannottis, New York residents, became interested in buying a home in Florida in 1972. They purchased a lot from Deltona in September 1972 by way of an ad in the New York Daily News. In February 1973 the Jannottis flew to Florida to view their lot in Deltona's Sunny Hills subdivision near Panama City. They flew down with approximately one hundred other individuals who were provided transportation from New York to Florida by Deltona for a nominal fee. Deltona provided this trip as part of its sales efforts for Sunny Hills. During this visit, the Jannottis purchased another lot in the subdivision.
The Jannottis again visited Florida in July 1973 and looked at the model homes in Sunny Hills. They purchased a home (Rosewood Model) and were assured that the carpeting and sodding of their home would be of the same quality as that of the model they viewed. They returned to New York until their new home was completed.
In September 1973, the Jannottis were contacted by Deltona's Queens Office in New York and told that the carpeting they had ordered was no longer available. They selected another carpeting from the available selections and were again assured that the carpet's quality would match that of the model.
Upon moving to Sunny Hills in July 1974, the Jannottis found that their carpeting was an inferior grade and had been improperly installed. Also their lawn had been improperly prepared and sodded. The Jannottis instituted proceedings below against Deltona for unfair and deceptive practices regarding the sale of the sodding and carpeting. At trial one of Deltona's former employees, who worked for Deltona when the Jannottis moved into their new...
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