BAIRD v. NEUTZE (2019)

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fifth District.

Scot BAIRD and Debbie Baird, Appellants, v. Dennis R. NEUTZE and Arlene Neutze, Appellees.

Case No. 5D18-2638

Decided: November 01, 2019

Scot Baird and Debbie Baird, The Villages, pro se. Thomas Andrew Player, of Thomas Andrew Player, P.A., Winter Park, for Appellees.

Appellants appeal a judgment awarding attorney's fees and costs to Appellees. We affirm the trial court's finding of entitlement to attorney's fees, but reverse and remand the case for the trial court to make specific written findings as to the fee amount awarded. See Levine v. Keaster, 862 So. 2d 876, 881 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003) (“In computing attorneys' fees, the trial judge should (1) determine the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation; (2) determine the reasonable hourly rate for this type of litigation; (3) multiply the result of (1) and (2); and, when appropriate, (4) adjust the fee on the basis of the nature of the litigation or the representation.” (citing Fla. Patient's Comp. Fund v. Rowe, 472 So. 2d 1145, 1151 (Fla. 1985))). On remand, the trial court is not required to conduct an evidentiary hearing if the record from the initial hearing is adequate for the court to make the mandatory findings.

AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED in part; and REMANDED with instructions.

PER CURIAM.

EVANDER, C.J., and COHEN and GROSSHANS, JJ., concur.

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