The landlord filed a two-count eviction action against tenant for possession and for money damages. The tenant filed a motion to dismiss. Two days before the hearing on Defendant’s motion to dismiss, Plaintiff filed a “Voluntary Dismissal of Count 1 Eviction Only”.
The Court ruled that the notice of voluntary dismissal is a legal nullity and of no effect as it is well-settled case law there can be no partial dismissal of less than all causes of action. Only an entire action may be voluntarily dismissed under Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.420. Heston v. Vitale, 432 So.2d 744 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983) (citing Deseret Ranches of Florida, Inc. v. Bowman, 340 So.2d 1232 (Fla. 4th DCA 1980); Dave Hess, Inc. v. Black Angus of Pompano, Inc., 288 So.2d 286, 287 (Fla. 4th DCA 1974); Cooper v. Carroll, 239 So.2d 511 (Fla. 3d DCA 1970); Scott v. Permacrete, Inc., 124 So.2d 887, 889 (Fla. 1st DCA 1960); see also Smith, Kline & French Laboratories v. A.H. Robins Co., 61 F.R.D. 24 (E.D.Pa. 1973); Etablissements Neyrpic v. Elmer C. Gardner, Inc., 175 F. Supp. 355 (S.D.Tex. 1959); Neiman-Marcus Co. v. Lait, 14 F.R.D. 159 (S.D.N.Y. 1953); Harvey Aluminum, Inc. v. American Cyanamid Co., 203 F.2d 105 (2d Cir. 1953); Trawick, Florida Practice and Procedure § 21-2 (1975).
The court went on the award the tenant’s attorney $5,932.50 in attorney’s fees.
GHOLAM JAFARI, Plaintiff, vs. CASEY PRESTON & WILLIAM E. HILLS, JR, Defendants. County Court, 9th Judicial Circuit in and for Orange County, Civil Division. Case No. 2012-CC-011226-O, Division 72. September 7, 2012. Wilfredo Martinez, Judge. Counsel: Gholam Jafari, Maitland, pro se Plaintiff. Jaisen J. Stango, Jaisen J. Stango, LLC, Orlando, for Defendant. Online Reference: FLWSUPP 1912GJAF.