From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Powell v. Allstate Ins. Co.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District
Jan 2, 1986
479 So. 2d 149 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1986)

Opinion

Nos. 84-398, 84-736.

November 6, 1985. Rehearing Denied January 2, 1986.

Appeal from the Circuit Court, Palm Beach County, William C. Owen, Jr., J.

James A. Bonfiglio, West Palm Beach, for appellant/cross appellee Powell.

Roger J. Slaydon and Wayne T. Gill of Walton Lantaff Schroeder Carson, West Palm Beach, for appellee/cross appellant Allstate.

Guy C. Hill of Schneider Maxwell Considine Spillias and Hill, West Palm Beach, for appellees/cross appellants Cockerham.

Frank W. Weathers of Weathers Seaman, Lantana, for appellee State Farm.


Based upon our study of the record and briefs, in light of the oral presentation, we hold as follows:

1. The trial court erred when it failed to enter judgment for David G. Powell against Allstate Insurance Company. We feel that this occurred as a matter of oversight since the judgment in favor of Allstate as to the Powell claim is inconsistent with the explicit oral findings in record and the explicit findings in the judgment.

2. Inasmuch as Powell is the prevailing party, the trial court should have granted Powell's motion for attorney's fees pursuant to section 627.428, Florida Statutes (1983).

3. The trial court erred by granting John C. Cockerham attorney's fees against Allstate Insurance Company. As we view the record and the trial court's order, Cockerham was but a third party beneficiary under Powell's Allstate policy. A third party claimant is not within the class of insureds who may recover attorney's fees pursuant to section 627.428(1), Florida Statutes (1983). Industrial Fire Casualty Insurance Co. v. Prygrocki, 422 So.2d 314 (Fla. 1982).

Affirmed in part; reversed in part; and remanded for further proceedings consistent herewith.

HERSEY, C.J., WALDEN and FLEET, JJ., and LEONARD, Associate Judge, concur.


Summaries of

Powell v. Allstate Ins. Co.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District
Jan 2, 1986
479 So. 2d 149 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1986)
Case details for

Powell v. Allstate Ins. Co.

Case Details

Full title:DAVID G. POWELL, APPELLANT/CROSS APPELLEE, v. ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY…

Court:District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District

Date published: Jan 2, 1986

Citations

479 So. 2d 149 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1986)

Citing Cases

Nat'l Builders Ins. Co. v. RQ Bldg. Prods., Inc.

Wilder v. Wright, 278 So. 2d 1, 3 (Fla. 1973) ("[T]he attorney fee provision of section 627.428 was not…

Aperm of Fla. v. Trans-Coastal Maint

It is clear that the statute does not provide for the insurer's liability for attorney's fees when a third…