Opinion
No. 4D08-4257.
June 30, 2010.
Appeal from the Circuit Court for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit; Broward County, Ronald J. Rothschild, Judge; L.T. Case No. 04-14172(08) and 05-17836(08).
Eric L. Stettin of Kuvin Stettin, LLC, Weston, for appellant Ilene Richmond.
Robin Lea Hanger and C. Ryan Reetz of Squire, Sanders Dempsey, L.L.P. Miami, for appellant Stephanie Richmond.
Stephen Rakusin of The Rakusin Law Firm, A Professional Association, Fort Lauderdale, for appellee.
In S I Investments v. Payless Flea Market, Inc., 36 So.3d 909 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010), involving a dispute between landlord and tenant, this Court reversed, directing entry of judgment in favor of landlord. Landlord now appeals the trial court's order awarding attorney's fees and costs to tenant, arguing this Court's recent decision in the underlying appeal mandates reversal. We agree and reverse.
"Where a court awards prevailing party attorneys fees and the underlying judgment is vacated, the attorney's fee judgment must also be vacated." Viets v. Am. Recruiters Enters., Inc., 922 So.2d 1090, 1096 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006); see also Marty v. Bainter, 727 So.2d 1124, 1125 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999). Because we reversed the final judgment in favor of tenant, we must also reverse the award of attorney's fees and costs predicated thereon.
Reversed.
FARMER, DAMOORGIAN and LEVINE, JJ., concur.