PINESIDE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION INC v. REY (2022)

Appellee Ana M. Rey, plaintiff below, sued Appellant Pineside Condominium Association Inc., defendant below, for failing to maintain the common areas of the condominium in which she resides, causing her damage. The trial court entered an order granting Rey's motion for default judgment as to liability only, denying Pineside's motion to set aside the default, and ordering that the case proceed to trial on damages. Because the order is not a final order or an appealable interlocutory order identified in Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.130(a)(3), it is not ripe for appellate review. Accordingly, we dismiss for lack of jurisdiction.

The Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure authorize appeals from final orders in civil cases pursuant to Rule 9.110 and non-final orders as prescribed by Rule 9.130. Although Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.130(a)(3)(C)(iv) previously allowed appeals of nonfinal orders that determine the issue of liability in favor of a party seeking affirmative relief, this changed in 2000. See Amends. to Fla. R. App. P., 780 So. 2d 834, 838 (Fla. 2000). As a result of the amendment, orders determining the issue of liability only are not appealable until a final judgment has been entered. United Auto. Ins. Co. v. Buchalter, 14 So. 3d 1100 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009). Appeals of non-final orders that fall outside the scope of Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.130(a)(3) must be dismissed. See, e.g., Valledor Co. v. Decky, 47 Fla. L. Weekly D256, ––– So.3d ––––, 2022 WL 163905 (Fla. 3d DCA Jan. 19, 2022).

Dismissed.

PER CURIAM.