Estate of Danese, In re, 91-2583

Decision Date11 May 1992
Docket NumberNo. 91-2583,91-2583
Citation601 So.2d 570
PartiesIn re ESTATE OF Bernard L. DANESE, Deceased. 601 So.2d 570, 17 Fla. L. Week. D1216
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

Clay B. Tousey, Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball, and Dana G. Bradford, II and Randal H. Drew, Baumer, Bradford, Walters & Liles, Jacksonville, for appellant.

James M. McLean, Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones & Gay, Jacksonville, for appellee.

KAHN, Judge.

The personal representatives of the estate of Bernard L. Danese and the decedent's spouse appeal an order of the circuit court, the effect of which was to reopen the estate in order to conduct further administration. Since 1984 the estate, through the personal representatives of the decedent, has been a party defendant in a civil claim pending in the circuit court. In Steigman v. Danese, 502 So.2d 463 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987), rev. denied, 511 So.2d 998 (Fla.1987), this court ruled, inter alia, that a civil complaint naming the estate, filed and actually served upon all parties interested in the estate within three months of publication of the first notice of administration, was sufficient to satisfy the provisions of section 733.702, Florida Statutes. Unbeknownst to the successful appellants in that case, however, the probate court had entered an order closing the estate matter on January 23, 1986. The estate was briefly reopened for administration on May 22, 1989, and closed on September 21, 1989. In the order now under review, the lower court reopened the probate matter, finding that "further administration of the Estate is necessary until the disposition of the tort action against the Personal Representative." After entry of the lower court order, and during the pendency of this appeal, the Florida Supreme Court decided Spohr v. Berryman, 589 So.2d 225 (Fla.1991), expressly disapproving this court's Steigman decision, and holding that the filing of a civil lawsuit within the nonclaim period does not constitute compliance with section 733.702.

The Spohr decision would appear to apply to the civil action against the estate. This is necessarily true, since, during the pendency of the civil action, the supreme court has specifically disapproved our prior holding in Steigman. See Maserati Automobiles, Inc. v. Caplan, 551 So.2d 501 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989).

We vacate the order and remand to the lower court for reconsideration in light of Spohr, with due regard for the current status of the civil...

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7 cases
  • Key v. Trattmann
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • May 25, 2007
    ...disapproved of on other grounds by Spohr v. Berryman, 589 So.2d 225, 228-29 (Fla. 1991), and order vacated by In re Estate of Danese, 601 So.2d 570, 571 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992). See also F.J. Holmes Equip., Inc. v. Babcock Bldg. Supply, Inc., 553 So.2d 748, 749 (Fla. 5th DCA 1989) ("A resulting......
  • In re Todd
    • United States
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of Florida
    • July 16, 2008
    ...disapproved of on other grounds by Spohr v. Berryman, 589 So.2d 225, 228-29 (Fla.1991), and order vacated by In re Estate of Danese, 601 So.2d 570, 571 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992). In a trust relationship the trust beneficiary possesses an equitable ownership interest in the trust property, while t......
  • In re 21st Century Satellite Communications, Inc.
    • United States
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Middle District of Florida
    • May 15, 2002
    ...and good conscience retain. See Steigman v. Danese, 502 So.2d 463 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987), vacated on other grounds, In re Estate of Danese, 601 So.2d 570 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992). See also Bender v. Centrust Mortgage Corporation, 51 F.3d 1027 (11th Cir.1995). Another essential element for the asser......
  • American & Foreign Ins. Co. v. Dimson, 93-1494
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • October 26, 1994
    ...Roberts v. Jassy, 436 So.2d 394 (Fla.2d DCA 1983); see also Spohr v. Berryman, 589 So.2d 225 (Fla.1991); In re Estate of Danese, 601 So.2d 570 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992). Filing a claim with the estate is a process separate from the procedures for substitution of parties in the pending litigation ......
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2 books & journal articles
  • Business & commercial cases
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Florida Causes of Action
    • April 1, 2022
    ...1987), overruled on other grounds by Spohr v. Berryman, 589 So.2d 225, 228-29 (Fla. 1991), and order vacated by In re Estate of Danese , 601 So.2d 570, 571 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992). See Also 1. Harrell v. Branson, 344 So.2d 604, 606 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977), cert. denied, 353 So.2d 675 (Fla. 1977). §......
  • Fraud
    • United States
    • James Publishing Practical Law Books Florida Causes of Action
    • April 1, 2022
    ...( overruled on other grounds by Baillargeon v. Sewell , 33 So.3d 130 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010)), and order vacated by In re Estate of Danese , 601 So.2d 570, 571 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992) (Constructive fraud arises when a confidential or fiduciary relationship has been used to take advantage of the part......

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