Wagner v. Bank of Am., N.A.

• Decision Date: 18 July 2014
• Docket Number: No. 2D12–6131.,2D12–6131.
• Parties: Paul WAGNER, Appellant, v. BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., successor by merger to BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P., f/n/a Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, L.P., Appellee.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

143 So.3d 447

Paul WAGNER, Appellant,

v.BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., successor by merger to BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P., f/n/a Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, L.P., Appellee.

No. 2D12–6131.

District Court of Appeal of Florida,

Second District.

July 18, 2014.

Richard R. Kosan, Brandon, for Appellant.

Tricia J. Duthiers and J. Randolph Liebler of Liebler, Gonzalez & Portuondo, P.A., Miami, for Appellee.

MORRIS, Judge.

Paul Wagner appeals a final judgment of foreclosure entered in favor of BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP, the predecessor in interest to appellee Bank of America, N.A. (collectively referred to as the bank). We affirm the finding of liability in the final judgment without comment, but we reverse and remand for further proceedings on damages.

Wagner claims that the trial court erred in awarding $9588.85 for the costs of collection (including attorney's fees) when there was no evidence presented to support this amount. He also contends that the trial court erred in including $3619 for property inspections because there was no evidence to support this amount.

A damages award must be supported by competent, substantial evidence. See Shakespeare v. Prince, 129 So.3d 412, 413–14 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013). The $3619 awarded to the bank for property inspections was not reflected on the payment history admitted at trial, which was the only evidence offered by the bank regarding the non-principal amounts owed by Wagner. The $9588.85 for costs of collection, which included costs paid by the bank's counsel and attorney's fees charged by the bank's counsel, were also not reflected on the payment history. The only evidence of these costs and fees was an affidavit filed by the bank's counsel prior to trial, but as all parties agreed below, Wagner was entitled to an evidentiary hearing on the amount of attorney's fees and costs sought by the bank.¹See Newman v. Newman, 121 So.3d 661, 662 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013) (holding that trial court “erred in awarding fees and costs without conducting a hearing and giving [a]ppellant the opportunity to dispute the reasonableness of the attorney's hourly rate and time claimed”). Therefore, there was no competent, substantial evidence to support the award of damages for the $9588.85 for costs of collection or the $3619 for property inspections.

Wagner also argues that the trial court's calculations for insurance damages exceeded the actual amount reflected on the payment history, and our review of the payment history...