PHILIP v. STATE (2009)

Robert Philip appeals the denial of his motion for postconviction relief filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850, in which he raised twelve grounds for relief.   We affirm the postconviction court's order on all grounds except on ground 3(a).   Pursuant to Spera v. State, 971 So.2d 754, 761 (Fla.2007), we reverse and remand for further proceedings on ground 3(a) only.

In ground 3(a) of his motion Philip alleged that his counsel was ineffective for failing to depose the State's witnesses in preparation for trial.   The trial court denied this claim because it “failed to allege specific omissions due to counsel's failure to depose State's witnesses.”   We find no error in the postconviction court's summary denial of ground 3(a) because it was facially insufficient.   However, under Spera the court should have given Philip an opportunity to amend his motion to state a facially sufficient claim.¹ 971 So.2d at 761 (holding that “when a defendant's initial rule 3.850 motion for postconviction relief is determined to be legally insufficient for failure to meet either the rule's or other pleading requirements, the trial court abuses its discretion when it fails to allow the defendant at least one opportunity to amend the motion” within a reasonable period of time not to exceed thirty days).   Accordingly, we reverse the denial of ground 3(a) and remand for the court to strike the claim with leave to amend within a specific period of time not to exceed thirty days, if Philip can do so in good faith.   If Philip files an amended motion on this ground, the postconviction court may again summarily deny the claim if it is once again facially insufficient or if the court attaches portions of the record conclusively refuting his allegations.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded with directions.

FOOTNOTES

1.   We recognize that the postconviction court did not have the benefit of the Spera decision when it issued the order denying this claim on June 22, 2007.

VILLANTI, Judge.

ALTENBERND and FULMER, JJ., Concur.