District Court of Appeal of Florida

A partial final money judgments and final declaratory judgment entered against an insurer in a class action seeking recovery under policies for losses incurred during the 2004 hurricane season are reversed where, because the judgments were entered while an appeal of the non-final order certifying the class was pending, the circuit court lacked jurisdiction to enter them.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/21/2006
• Published 12/21/2006

Judges

• BENTON, J.

Court

• District Court of Appeal of Florida

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Elizabeth K. Russo of Russo Appellate Firm, P.A., Miami, for Amicus Curiae, State Farm Florida Insurance Company and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies., Elizabeth McArthur, David A. Yon, and Travis L. Miller of Radey, Thomas, Yon & Clark, P.A., Tallahassee, and J. Stephen Zielezienski, Vice President and Associate General Counsel of American Insurance Association, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Curiae, American Insurance Association., Stephen A. Marino, Jr. of Ver Ploeg & Lumpkin, P.A., Miami, Amicus Curiae, Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers., Charles F. Beall, Jr. of Moore, Hill & Westmoreland, P.A., Pensacola, Amicus Curiae, Helping Hands Legal Center.


• For Appellees:
  
• Barry Richard of Greenberg Traurig, P.A., Tallahassee, Elliot H. Scherker, and Elliot B. Kula of Greenberg Traurig, P.A., Miami, for Appellant/Cross-Appellee., Stuart R. Michelson and Ilene L. Michelson of the Law Office of Stuart R. Michelson, Fort Lauderdale, Scott C. Maddox of Maddox Horne, PLLC, Tallahassee, and John Beranek of Ausley & McMullen, Tallahassee, for Appellees/Cross-Appellants.