Koubek v. Caulfield

Decision Date24 July 1968
Docket Number37559,Nos. 37404,s. 37404
Citation213 So.2d 417
PartiesVlastimil KOUBEK et al., Appellants, v. Hubert CAULFIELD et al., Appellees. Hubert CAULFIELD, Appellant, v. Vlastimil KOUBEK et al., Appellees.
CourtFlorida Supreme Court

Harrison, Greene, Mann, Davenport, Rowe & Stanton, St. Petersburg, and Parker, Foster & Mandigan and Leo L. Foster, Tallahassee, for Vlastimil Koubek and Homer Davis, Carl R. Linn, St. Petersburg, for City of St. Petersburg, appellants-appellees.

John Germany and John R. Lawson, Jr. of Knight, Jones, Whitaker & Germany, Tampa, and J. Lewis Hall of Hall, Hartwell, Hall & Canada, Tallahassee, for Hubert Caulfield, appellees-appellants.

PER CURIAM.

This appeal comes here by virtue of a decree of the Circuit Court holding certain acts valid and constitutional.

The Circuit Judge held the Statute valid and otherwise resolved the equities against plaintiff.

Thereupon the two defendants took this appeal, complaining that the Court should have gone further and enjoined plaintiff from filing another suit. We find no merit in this contention.

Cross-assignments of error by the original plaintiff question the city's authority to acquire downtown property in the City of St. Petersburg and enter into a longtime contract for construction and operation of a downtown parking facility.

In our judgment this decree is correct and should be approved. It seems to us that this lengthy litigation should be ended. We must assume that the city officials acted in good faith in trying to solve a traffic problem which had reached major proportions. The Circuit Judge was nearer the scene than this Court and on the equities we are unable to substitute our judgment for his.

The cross-assignments of error in essence claim that the expenditure of public money to acquire the land, erect the complex and lease same would violate § 5, § 7, and § 10 of Article IX, Florida Constitution, F.S.A.

The trial court found the city had authority to enter into this undertaking under General Statute, F.S. 183.03, F.S.A., and also under Special Act, Chapter 57--1801. The trial court also held the above statutes valid and constitutional.

We find the decree free of error and affirm same.

Affirmed.

CALDWELL, C.J., THOMAS, ROBERTS, THORNAL, ERVIN and ADAMS, JJ., and SPECTOR, District Court Judge, concur.

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3 cases
  • Jackson-Shaw Co. v. Jacksonville Aviation Auth.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Middle District of Florida
    • January 8, 2007
    ...change the Court's analysis; it is the form and substance of the arrangement that controls, not its name. 34. See also Koubek v. Caulfield, 213 So.2d 417 (Fla.1968)(city had authority to spend public money to acquire downtown property and to enter into a long term contract for the erection ......
  • Baycol, Inc. v. Downtown Development Authority of City of Fort Lauderdale
    • United States
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • June 23, 1975
    ...that a gasoline filling station would be leased to a private enterprise on the premises did not defeat the project. In Koubek v. Caulfield, 213 So.2d 417 (Fla.1968), this Court held that the City of St. Petersburg had the authority to expend public money to acquire downtown property and to ......
  • Roess v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Middle District of Florida
    • November 8, 1974
    ...trial court in the taxpayer's action; and subsequently, on August 19, 1968, the Court denied a petition for rehearing. Koubek v. Caulfield, 213 So.2d 417 (Fla.1968). On October 2, 1970, an amended complaint was filed in this Court in the case of Koubek v. Caulfield and Roess (Case No. 69-49......

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