Main v. Miami Money Store, Inc., 94-666

• Decision Date: 03 May 1995
• Docket Number: No. 94-666,94-666
• Citation: 655 So.2d 148
• Parties: 20 Fla. L. Weekly D1086 Patricia MAIN, Appellant, v. MIAMI MONEY STORE, INC., et al., Appellees.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

Page 148

655 So.2d 148

20 Fla. L. Weekly D1086

Patricia MAIN, Appellant, v. MIAMI MONEY STORE, INC., et al., Appellees.

No. 94-666.

District Court of Appeal of Florida,

Third District.

May 3, 1995.

Conroy, Simberg & Lewis and Robert I. Buchsbaum and Robert M. Flayman, Hollywood, for appellant.

Abrams, Anton, Robbins, Resnick and Schneider and Scott Alan Orth, Hollywood, for appellees.

Before COPE, GODERICH and GREEN, JJ.

PER CURIAM.

The plaintiff, Patricia Main, appeals from an order denying her motion for attorney's fees. We affirm.

Ms. Main's 6.2 carat diamond was stolen in an armed robbery. Days later, unaware that the diamond had been stolen, Miami Money Store, Inc., a secondhand dealer, purchased the diamond for resale. After an undercover investigation, the City of Miami Police Department confiscated the diamond and retained possession pending a judicial determination of its rightful owner.

Ms. Main filed a third amended complaint against the City of Miami and Miami Money Store seeking a writ of replevin under Chapters 78 and 538, Florida Statutes (1991). The City of Miami was sued pursuant to Chapter 78, the general replevin statute, and Miami Money Store was sued pursuant to Chapter 538, the secondhand dealer statute, which provides for an action for replevin. Sec. 538.08, Fla.Stat. (1991).

Although Miami Money Store had previously asserted that the diamond confiscated by the City of Miami Police Department was not the same diamond stolen from Ms. Main, during the bench trial, Miami Money Store stipulated that the diamond it had purchased was Ms. Main's diamond. The trial court entered a directed verdict granting Ms. Main a writ of replevin against the City of Miami.

Ms. Main moved for an award of attorney's fees as the prevailing party only against Miami Money Store pursuant to Section 538.08, Florida Statutes (1991). The trial court denied the motion. This appeal follows.

Attorney's fees are recoverable only if provided for by contract or by statute. P.A.G. v. A.F., 602 So.2d 1259, 1260 (Fla.1992); Vining v. Carmona, 596 So.2d 154 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992). In the instant case, the directed verdict against the City of Miami was entered pursuant to Chapter 78, the general replevin statute. The trial court's order was not based on Chapter 538. While Chapter 538 does provide for an award of attorney's fees to the prevailing party, Chapter 78 does not. Therefore, since the order granting the writ of replevin against the City of Miami was entered pursuant to Chapter 78, the trial court correctly denied the motion for attorney's fees.

Even though the order was entered against only the City of Miami pursuant to Chapter 78, Ms. Main also argues that she is entitled to an award of attorney's fees against Miami Money Store pursuant to Section 538.08, Florida Statutes (1991). We disagree.

Section 538.08(1), Florida Statutes (1991), provides, in part, as follows:

If the secondhand dealer contests the identification or ownership of the property, the lawful owner of any stolen goods in the possession of a secondhand dealer may, provided that a timely report of the theft of the goods was made to the proper authorities, bring an action for replevin....

Sec. 538.08(1), Fla.Stat. (1991) (emphasis added). The trial court correctly found that Section 538.08(1), Florida Statutes (1991), was not applicable in the instant case since Miami Money Store, the secondhand dealer, was not in possession of the diamond. It is clear that the City of Miami was in actual, physical possession of the diamond. Ms. Main argues that the term "possession" should be interpreted to also encompass "constructive possession." ¹ Under the facts of this case, Miami Money Store was not in constructive possession of the diamond since it did not have the power to control the diamond. Black's Law Dictionary 285 (5th ed. 1979) defines the term as follows: "A person has constructive possession of property if he has the power to control and intent to control such item."

Ms. Main also argues that pursuant to the 1993 amendment to Section 538.08(1), she is entitled to an award of attorney's fees against Miami Money Store. We disagree.

Section 538.08(1), Florida Statutes (1993), provides, in part, as follows:

(1) If the secondhand dealer contests the identification or ownership of the property, the person alleging ownership of the property may, provided that a timely report of the theft of the goods was made to the proper authorities, bring an action for replevin in the county or circuit court by petition in substantially the following form:

Plaintiff A.B., sues defendant C.D., and alleges:

1. This is an action to recover possession of personal property in _____ County, Florida.

2. The description of the property is: (list property). To the best of plaintiff's knowledge, information, and belief, the value of the property is $_____.

3. Plaintiff is entitled to the possession of the property under a security agreement dated _____, 19__, a copy of which is attached.

4. To plaintiff's best knowledge, information, and belief, the property is located at _________.

5. The property is wrongfully detained by defendant. Defendant came into possession of the property by (describe method of possession). To plaintiff's best knowledge, information, and belief, defendant detains the property because (give reason).

6. The property has not been taken under execution or attachment against plaintiff's property.

....

(3) Upon...