Williams v. SUSQUEHANNA VEAL FARMS, INC.,, 1D01-3984.

CourtCourt of Appeal of Florida (US)
Writing for the CourtPER CURIAM.
Citation828 So.2d 420
PartiesVida R. WILLIAMS, individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Edgar B. Williams, deceased; Suwannee River Holstein, Ltd., a Florida limited partnership; and Florida Veal, Inc., a Florida corporation, Appellants/Cross-Appellees, v. SUSQUEHANNA VEAL FARMS, INC., a dissolved Florida corporation, and Susquehanna Industries, Inc., a foreign corporation, Appellees/Cross-Appellants.
Docket NumberNo. 1D01-3984.,1D01-3984.
Decision Date04 October 2002

828 So.2d 420

Vida R. WILLIAMS, individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Edgar B. Williams, deceased; Suwannee River Holstein, Ltd., a Florida limited partnership; and Florida Veal, Inc., a Florida corporation, Appellants/Cross-Appellees,
v.
SUSQUEHANNA VEAL FARMS, INC., a dissolved Florida corporation, and Susquehanna Industries, Inc., a foreign corporation, Appellees/Cross-Appellants

No. 1D01-3984.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.

October 4, 2002.


Alan E. McMichael, Gainesville, Attorney for Appellant Vida R. Williams, individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Edgar B. Williams.

Richard B. Davis, Jr., Gainesville, Attorney for Appellants Florida Veal, Inc., and Suwannee River Holstein, Ltd., a Florida limited partnership.

Jeffrey S. York and Bryan S. Gowdy of McGuire Woods LLP, Jacksonville, Attorneys for Appellee/Cross-Appellant Susquehanna Industries, Inc.

Don H. Lester of Lester & Mitchell, P.A., Jacksonville, Attorney for Appellee/Cross Appellant Susquehanna Veal Farms, Inc.

PER CURIAM.

This appeal and cross-appeal arise from the trial court's dismissal for failure to prosecute the case below. We affirm

828 So.2d 421
the trial court's ruling that Appellants failed to submit any record activity for one year preceding the motion to dismiss and failed to show good cause precluding dismissal. However, we agree with the argument on cross-appeal that the entire action should have been dismissed

The trial court reversibly erred by declining to dismiss the entire action as to all defendants. Dismissal for failure to prosecute under rule 1.420(e), Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, is a remedy that is available only as to an entire case. On a motion for failure to prosecute, a court may not dismiss a single claim among others, nor one defending party among others. See Gadinsky v. Bruno, 695 So.2d 867 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997); Utset v. Campos, 548 So.2d 834 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989); Simmons v. Dakal Dev. Corp., 632 So.2d 717 (Fla. 2d DCA 1994). Cross Appellants have standing to appeal the order of dismissal because the order was not wholly favorable to them. See Katz v. Red Top Sedan, 136 So.2d 11 (Fla. 3d DCA 1962); Save Anna Maria, Inc. v. Department of Transp., 700 So.2d 113 (Fla. 2d DCA 1997).

We affirm the trial court's dismissal for failure to prosecute and reverse as to that portion of the order declining to dismiss all defendants. The case is remanded for entry of an order dismissing...

To continue reading

Request your trial
1 cases
  • Jones v. VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA NORTH & CENTRAL FLORIDA, INC., 2D01-4261.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Florida (US)
    • December 13, 2002
    ...to be a party to the action. The entire action was subject to dismissal, not just the inactive defendant. Williams v. Susquehanna Veal Farms, Inc., 828 So.2d 420 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002) (holding that dismissal for failure to prosecute under rule 1.420(e) is a remedy that is available only as to......

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT