SCHMIDT v. TAYLOR (2026)

District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.

Janet L. SCHMIDT, Appellant, v. James S. TAYLOR, Susan Taylor, James R. Taylor, Zachary Joseph Taylor and Mary J. Spear, as nominated personal representative of The Estate of John Joseph Schmidt, Appellees.

No. 1D2025-1603

Decided: September 02, 2026

Brian Hoffman and Jack Henry Pouchert of Carver, Darden, Koretzsky, Tessier, Finn, Blossman & Areaux, LLC, Pensacola, for Appellant. David Edward Hightower of Hightower Law Firm, Pensacola, for Appellee Mary J. Spear. Philip Alan Bates and Carol Ann Ruebsamen of Philip A. Bates, P.A., Pensacola, for Appellees James S. Taylor, Susan Taylor, James R. Taylor, and Zachary Taylor.

In the course of this long-running probate case, the decedent's sister (Appellant) attempted to join James and Susan Taylor—residents of Wisconsin—as defendants. Appellant alleged that the Taylors unduly influenced the decedent in his decision to leave substantial assets to their children, also Wisconsin residents. All of these Taylors had been close friends with the decedent.

The trial court found that it lacked personal jurisdiction over the elder Taylors, quashed service on them, and dismissed them from the pending adversary proceeding. The trial court concluded that they did not exercise any alleged undue influence over the decedent in Florida, committed no tortious act in Florida, and did not waive or otherwise consent to jurisdiction in Florida. We find no factual, legal, or procedural error in the trial court's ruling. See, e.g., Kendrix v. Kulp, 403 So. 3d 481, 483–84 (Fla. 1st DCA 2025) (finding no basis for specific personal jurisdiction in Florida); Hannibal v. Navarro, 317 So. 3d 1179, 1182 (Fla. 3d DCA 2021) (refusing to reweigh evidence of alleged undue influence).

Affirmed.

Per Curiam.

Bilbrey, Kelsey, and M.K. Thomas, JJ., concur.

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