BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION 2003 2003 v. CROTEAU (2015)

In this appeal, the plaintiff challenges an order dismissing its foreclosure suit as a sanction for its failure to be ready for trial. In the weeks prior to the trial date, plaintiff sought to continue the case, citing its desire to amend the complaint to name additional defendants, including the homeowners' association, and the recent health problems of defendants' counsel. The day before trial, defendants' counsel filed his own motion to continue the case due to his recent hospitalization. Neither the defendants nor their counsel appeared for the trial. The trial court, however, refused to continue the case and, instead, dismissed the suit as a sanction for the plaintiff's failure to be ready for trial. The dismissal was an abuse of the trial court's discretion.

First, Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.440 permits a case to be set for trial when it is “at issue.” Here, although the Croteaus failed to answer the complaint, the bank never obtained a default. This failure prevented the action from being “at issue.” Ocean Bank v. Garcia–Villalta, 141 So.3d 256, 257–58 (Fla. 3d DCA 2014); Bennett v. Cont'l Chems., Inc., 492 So.2d 724, 727 n. 1 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986). Second, dismissal is considered the most extreme of sanctions and “should be reserved for cases involving flagrant violations of procedural rules.” Goldberg v. Law Office of Sara Lawrence, P.A., 150 So.3d 862, 864 (Fla. 4th DCA 2014). Such an extreme sanction was not warranted under the facts of this case. See also Krock v. Rozinsky, 78 So.3d 38, 41 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012) (recognizing factors to be considered in assessing whether denial of motion for continuance was an abuse of discretion are (1) whether denial creates injustice for moving party; (2) whether cause of request was unforeseeable by moving party and not result of dilatory practices; and (3) whether opposing party would suffer prejudice or inconvenience).

Accordingly, the order of dismissal is reversed and the matter is remanded for further proceedings.

Reversed and Remanded.

PER CURIAM.

STEVENSON, CIKLIN and KLINGENSMITH, JJ., concur.