Dude v. Congress Plaza, LLC et al
Filing
134
ORDER granting in part and denying in part 77 Defendant S&J Property Holdings LLC's Motion to Discharge Lis Pendens or, in the alternative, Require Plaintiff to Post A Bond. On or before January 18, 2018, Plaintiff shall post a bond in the amount of $800,000 and shall file proof of compliance. Signed by Magistrate Judge William Matthewman on 12/18/2017. (kza)
UN I
TED STATES D I
STRI CO U RT
CT
SOU TH ERN D I
STRI OF FLO RI
CT
DA
Cas N o.1 80522- v- aai M a t
e
7Ci M
thewm a
n
DI
ETM AR D U DE,
Pl i t f,
a n if
Ft 0 d
IE y
VS.
CON GRESS PLAZA ,LLC , Fl i
a orda
Li t d Li biiy Com pa CON GRESS 1 0
mie a lt
ny,
01
LLC,a Fl i Li ied Li biiy Com pa
orda m t
a lt
ny,
etal,
.
t,.
ç
1 2 13 2
*
%uVzta..Rlmi
cE E @,t= '.
I4aNl i MôI
.
A ?
w :
'
S
S. PF'LA..*;.
D. F
BB.
.
Dee
f ndan s
t.
O RD ER G R AN TI G I PAR T A ND D EN YI G I PA RT DEFEN DA N T.S & J
N N
N N
PR O PE RTY H O LDI G S'M O TI N T O D I H A R G E LI PEN D EN S O R.I T H E
N
O
SC
S
N
ALTERNATI REOUI PLAI FFS TO POST A BOND I 771
VE.
RE
NTI
DE
THI CAUSE i be or t Cour upon Def nda , S & J Pr pe t Hol ngs
S
s f e he
t
e nt
o ry
di '
(r ef nt' M oi t Dic r Li Pe nsor i t Ale nai RequiePlitf t Pos a
i enda ' ton o s ha ge s nde ,n he tr tve,
)
r anif o t
Bond (t i ' g 77j Pli if Dit rDude(ç antf ) fl aRe pons ( 901 a
dMoton') DE . antf, ema
û i if', ied s e DE , nd
pl
Defnda tl a Re y g 1 . Thi matrwas rfred t t unde sg d by Unie
e nt ied
pl DE 00q
s te
eer o he
rine
td
St t s Di t i t J
ae
s rc udge Ke h A . M a r f a opr a e di pos ton. See D E 82. The
nnet
r a or ppr i t s ii
s te s
i or
unde s gne he d a e de i r he r ng on D e m ber l 201 Thi m a t r i now r pe f
r i d l n vi nta y a i
ce
2, 7.
r vi .
e ew
Bac ound
kzr
Def nt i m ovi unde s c i 48. Fl i St t e , a Loc Rul 7. t
enda s
ng
r e ton
23, orda a ut s nd
al
e 1 o
dic r et Noi ofLi Pe ns(1 sPende ' tld a r or d by Pl ntf. ( 771
sha g he tce
s nde 1
Li
ns' ie nd ec de
)
ai if DE .
I t ale na i D e e nti m ovi t r quie Pl i ift pos a bond i a am ounti e e s
n he t r tve, f nda s
ng o e r a ntf o t
n n
n xc s
of$16 milo i s ppor oft Li Pe
. li n n u t he s ndens 1 Pli if o t ot rhand,r quesst tt
. d. antf , n he he
e t ha he
Li Pe d nsb e tnd d tr u h til ( 9 1 Plitf as a g st a t e lw rq ie a
s n e e xe e h o g ra. DE 0 . anif lo r ue h t h a e ur s
bond be c i r d,butdoe notr quie t a bond a t ly be i pos d. 1
ons de e
s
e r hat
c ua l
m e
d.
Evi i H eari
dentaa
n:
The under i d hel a e de ir hea i on De mber 1 201 De enda c l
sgne
d n vi nta y rng
ce
2, 7.
f nt aled
Lawr nc W .Sm ih,Es ,a is s e wines t e t ih t a ountoft bond t Pl ntf
e e
t
q. s t ol t s o sabls he m
he
hat ai if
s d be r qui e t pos . M r Sm ih,a a t ne w ih Ga y,D ytyc & Rya P. . t s ii d
houl
e rd o t
. t n tor y t
r
r h
n, A , e tf e
t he r pr en e De enda i M a a J of 2016,pror t Pl ntf flng oft Li
hat
e es t d f nt n y nd une
i o ai ifs ii
he s
Pe ns wih r ga d t a fna al ta a ton. M r Sm ih was i tuc e t us t
nde , t e r o
i nci r ns c i
.
t
nsr t d o e wo
pr r i - t fr tofw hi h i t t e pa ce s t tD e e ntpu c e f om Congr s Pl za
ope tes he i s
c s he hr e r l ha f nda
r has d r
es a
i Oct r201 and t s ond ofwhih i a pr t unr l t t t s c e a owne b a
n
obe
2
he ec
c s
opery e aed o hi as nd
d y n
e iy ot r t n D e e nt t s ur a s ngl l n on be l of D e e nt s owne , J
ntt he ha
f nda - o ec e
i e oa
ha f
f nda '
r ohn
St l . Thede wa f at t ll n of$6. m ilo
auppi
al s or o a oa
095 li n.
M r Sm ih f t r t sii d t t i Fe ua y 201 he r ceved ha
.
t urhe e tfe ha , n
br r
6,
e i
ndwrte
it n
c rs
ore ponde e fom Di mar Du as e tng a cai on t t e pa ces pur ha e fom
nc r
et
de s ri
lm
he hr e r l
c sd r
Congr s Pl a. M r Dude di notm e i a u ec ded morga
e s az
.
d
nton ny nr or
t ge. M r Sm ih r e ve a
. t ec i d
s ond l te f om M r D ude' a t ney a s as e tng a c a m t t t e pa ce s pur ha e f om
ec
e tr r
.
s tor
lo s ri
l i o he hr e r l
c sd r
Congr s Pl z on M r Dude' be l, but sm iary wih no m e i of a unr c ded
es aa
.
s haf
i l l
t
nton
ny
e or
morg
tage. Ther a tr a dif r nt al ne r t i d by De e nt tl a cli wih t tte
e fe ,
fe e tor y e a ne
f nda ied
am t he il
i ur nce polc bas d on t c ai a s r e i t t l te s Bec us oft Di t a Dude
ns a
iy e
he l m s e t d n he wo e t r .
a e
he e m r
cl i a t tte polc i ur nc c a m , M r Sm ih e l d t pr t pur s d f om
a m nd he il
i y ns a e l i
.
t xc ude he opery
cha e r
Congr s Pl za f om t tna ng dea . The t t l s c ed by M r Sm ih on be f of
es a r
he i nci
l
o al oan e ur
.
t
hal
Def ntsowne usng t unr l ed pr ry a s urt wa $4. m ilon.
enda '
r i he eat ope t s ec iy s 735 li
M r Sm ih f t r t s i i d t t he be i ved t t M r D ude' and M r K a m a s l te s
. t ur he e tfe ha
le
ha
.
s
. uf n' e t r
pe t ne t a J nua y 201 m orgage on t t ee pa c s bec us t t w a t l s r or d
rai d o a r
0
t
he hr
r el
a e ha
s he a t ec de
doc
umen r ga di t pr ry. He e anedt tnow t theunde sa t tM r Dudea
t e r ng he ope t
xpl i ha
ha
rt nds ha .
nd
M r K a m a w e e r f rng t a c ai i vi a unr c de m orgage he bele s t t he
. uf n r e er i o l m nvol ng n
e or d
t ,
i ve ha
c d c rnty fnanc t pr ry f $1. milon ( 095 milon ls $4. milon)but
oul ure l i e he ope t or 36 li $6.
li e s 735 li
f e se oft Li Pende . The es e ofM r Sm ih' t si on wast t e n t h
or xitnce he s
ns
s nce
. t s e tm y
ha , ve houg
t t e par el of pr ry pur has d f om Congr s Pl a wer pr ous y e l d f om
he hr e c s
ope t
c e r
es az
e evi l xc ude r
be ng us d as s c iy f t l n s e y due t t D i t a Dude c a m a tt e i ur nc
i
e
e ur t or he oa ol l
o he e m r
l i nd il ns a e
polc cli m a on t pr pe t whih pr e t flng oft Li Pe
i y a m de
he o ry, c ec ded he ii
he s ndensi t sc e,he
n hi as
now bei ve t t pr - s Pende c am s woul no l r pr cl t us of t t z e
le s hat he e Li
ns l i
d
onge e ude he e
he h e
pa ce sass urt f a l n. Howe r ac r ng t M r Smih,t Li Pe nsdoespr cude
r l
ec iy or oa
ve , co di o . t he s nde
el
us oft t e pa c s a s urt f a l n.
e he hr e r el s ec iy or oa
De e nt a tonaly i r ed fve e bis and Pli if i r ed one e bi.
f nda ddii l ntoduc i xhi t ,
antf ntoduc
xhi t
SeeDE 1
27. TheCou tha c r f l r vi
r s a e uly e ewed al oft e bis
1 he xhi t .
Fi l att he rng,Pl i ifa De e ntsi aed t tt a ountofa t ne s
naly, he a i
antf nd f nda tpul t ha he m
tor y'
f sa is wih r ga d t t bo i bewe $1 000 a $ 000.
ee t s ue t e r o he nd s t en 50,
nd 250,
A nal s
vsi
The Cour hasc e uly r viwed t e de
t
ar f l e e
he vi nce,t tm o ar
esi ny, gume ofc
nt ouns l and t
e,
he
e iedoc ti t sc e. The Co ta es ese h r e tis bel
ntr
ke n hi as
ur ddr s ac elvan s ue ow.
a. Fai N exus
r
Fis,snc De e
rt i e f ndantc
once d att Dec m be 1 201 he i t t e i a f i
de
he
e r 2, 7 arng hat her s ar
nexus be w e n t ap r nt owner hi oft pr r y a t di put e bodi d i t l w s t
t e he pa e
s p
he ope t nd he s e m
e n he a ui,
De e nt t r by a
f nda he e
bandone is a gum e t t Li Pe ns s d be di c r d.
d t r
nt hat he s nde
houl
s ha ge
M or over t Cour ha i pe nty r vi
e , he
t s nde nde l e ewed t f ct oft sc e a fndst ta f rnexus
he a s hi as nd i ha ai
bet e n t a r nt owne s p of t pr t a t diput e bodi i t l w s t does
w e he ppa e
r hi
he opery nd he s e m
ed n he a ui
*
CXI t
S.
b. Good Ca e f Extnson oft Li Pende
us or e i
he s
ns
Sec Snc t Li Pe nse r i Se e r2017,purua t s ton48. 2)
ond, i e he s nde xpied n ptmbe
s nt o eci
234 ,
Fl i St t e ,t Cour m us m a a fndi ofgood c us f e e ng t Li Pe ens
orda aut s he
t t ke i ng
a e or xt ndi he s nd .
G i n t f c ua a l ga i
ve he a t l le tons a t c e of a ton a s r e i t Se nd Am e d
nd he aus s
ci
s e t d n he co
nde
Compl i ,t Coul fn t tt r i g
ant he
' i ds ha he e s ood ca e f r e e ng t Li Pe ns i or t
t
us o xt ndi he s nde n der o
p oe tPli tf' itr s fo b ig i ar d o e tn u s e . J I v t k Flrd ,I c r
r tc anifs n ee t r m en mp ie r x ig ih d JB. n . / % o ia n . .
Masank 1 So.3d 726,729 ( a.5t DCA 201 . Furhe,Dee ntdi notmake a
l a, 63
Fl h
5)
t r fnda d
ny
a gum e orpr s nta e de e a t Dec mbe 1 201 he rng i opposton t Pli ifs
r
nt
e e ny vi nc t he
e r 2, 7 a i n
ii o a ntf
a gum e t tt r i good c us t e e t Li Pe ns
r
nt ha he e s
a e o xt nd he s nde .
W hehera Bond Shoul be Req se t be Pose i Fa ofDe e ntS & J a i
t
d
ue t d o
td n vor
f nda
. nd. f
s t Amountoft Bond
o. he
he
Theonl r mai ng diput is ,t r f e,i whehe t Cour s d i
y e ni
s ed s ue he e or s
t r he
t houl mpos abond,
e
a i t Cour doess t a ou oft bond. ilhe pr ry- derde e
nd, f he
t
o, he m nt he
çope t hol
f ndantsrghtt a
' i o
bond s d be c toned u n a demonsr ton oft pot nta l sordamage t de e nt
houl
ondii
po
ta i
he e i l os
he f nda
willk l ic ri t en tc o lsp n n i u j tte . Me . cl isDe . I c v fit
l iey n u f h o ie f i e de s s nusi d'
i '
d Fa ii e v, n . . tl
t
e
Ar h Cr ek Pr per i s I . 675 So. 915, 8( a.1
c
e
o te , nc,
ei i
2d
91 Fl 996) l-- e dam agescan m atralze
. llhes
i a va it ofwa i l ng m o tr ha m ,whih t pr pe t hol r de e nts
n
rey
ys nc udi
nea y r
c he o ry- de f nda howe i
d n
t c s a ba ,or nonm one a y ha ' I The a ount of t ls pe ns bo l us bea a
he a e t r
t r nn. d
'
m
he i nde
nd t t r
m
r a ona e r l tons p t t amountofda age whih t pr ry hol de onsr t wil
e s bl e ai hi o he
m s c he ope t
der m taes l
l eyrs l i i i ltrd tnn n dt t h noieo 1sp n e si u j tte . fie v Anl ,
i l e ut f t s ae ee i e ha t e tc f i e d n s nusi d' c a . l
k
i '
o
691So.2d 29,30 ( a.3d DCA 1 . Thepr ry hol rhast bur n ofs ng t t
Fl
997)
ope t de
he de
howi ha
i 1 t a ten tc o 1sp n e s i u j siid, l l eyr s ti l so d ma e a ( )t e
1 ) h t h o ie f i e d n ,f nu tfe wil i l eul n os r a g , nd 2 h
(
k
a o
m unt of dam a
ges w hi w il lkel r s t' 1 M or over s c i 48. of t Fl i
ch l i y e ul. d.
'
e
, e ton 23
he orda
St t e é nnis a r cove y of t at r y' f es i ured i obt ni a dic r of
aut s ç
pe t
e
r
he to ne s e nc r n
ai ng
s ha ge
a1spe
i ndens' SdrTBuidesv.Gl Prpete ,I .944 So. 302,305( a.2006)(ii
.
'
l r
obe o ris nc,
2d
Fl
ctng
j48. 3) Fl Stt (
234 , a. a. 2005). The r uie ntf t bond s d be te td i t sme
)
eq rme or he
houl
rae n he n
ma n ra ab n f ratmp rr ij cinwo l b te td Wes , 2 So 3 a 6 (i n
n e s o d o e o a y nun to ud e r ae . is 2 7 . d t 91 ct g
i
Se ton48. 3) Fl St .201 )
ci
234 , a. at( 7).
Th Co r fn sta Dee d n h se tbih d ta Plitf' Li Pe d n ,fu j siid
e u t id h t fn a t a sa l e h t anifs s n e s i n u tfe ,
s
willkey r s ti l s or da a
l i l e ul n os
m ge. Ba e u
s d pon a 1of t f t pr entd t t Cour,t
l
he ac s es e o he
t he
Cour fndst ta bond s d be i
t i ha
houl
mpos d i t sca e i f
e n hi s n avorofDe e ntS & J The Cou t
f nda
.
r
m us,t r f e,de e m i t r as
t he e or
t r ne he e onabl a ountof t bond t t s ul be s ti t s c s
e m
he
ha ho d
e n hi a e.
W ih r ga d t t amountoft bond,t $136 m ilon fgur pr ed by De e ntast
t e r o he
he
he .
li i e opos
f nda
he
a
mountofda
mage t De enda wils f i Def ntc notus t pr ry a is t
s hat f nt l ufer f enda an
e he ope t t s ue o
s c e a l n i t s ul tve
e ur oa s oo pec a i .
Fis,M r Sm ih t tfe durng Pl ntf ' c
r t . t esi d i
ai ifs ouns ls c os - xa i i t tt pr - s
e ' r s e m naton ha he e Li
Pe ns c am on t tte i ur nc polc silsa . Def ndants c
nde l i
he il ns a e i y tl t nds
e
' ouns l e a gue t t
el atr r d ha
t cai on t ttei ur nc polcy woul no afe tt fna i oft pr ry a is ,but
he l m
he il ns a e i
d t f c he i ncng he ope t t s ue
t Cour i s ewhat s ptc l of t s a gum e . Til i ur r a e c e va i e a
he
t s om
ke i a
hi r
nt
te ns e s r ons r tv nd
r s a r e e ii ,a t Cour be i ve t t t pror pr Li Pe ns D i t a D u c a m
i k- ve s nttes nd he
t le s ha he i
e- s nde
e m r de l i
a tte i ur nc polc cai c d r as bl bee c e t afe tt fna i va ueoft
nd il ns a e iy l m oul e ona y
xpe t d o f c he i nc ng l
he
pr t The ef e,t Cour fnds t t i w oul be r as
opery.
r or he
ti
ha t
d
e onabl t r duce t bond a o
e o e
he
m unt
bas on t outt ndi tte i ur nc polc cl m a clm pr vi l a s re by Dit a
ed
he sa ng il ns a e iy ai nd a
e ousy s e td
em r
Dude a hi c
nd s ouns l
e.
Se
cond,a m or i po t nty,t orgi de l a t t t by M r Sm ih i ve t o
nd
e m r a l he i nal a tesed o
. t nvol d w
dif r ntpr r i ,a t ne i tons t pl e ove a ye r a
fe e
ope tes nd he gota i ook ac
r
a go. I i pos i e,e n lke y,
t s s bl ve i l
t tDe e ntcoul notobt n a l n f e cty $1. milon on t pa ce a i s gi n t
ha f nda
d
ai oa or xa l 36 li
he r l t s ue ve he
cha
nge i c r m s a s and t pa s ge of tm e. The va ue of t pr pe t a gued by
n icu t nce
he s a
i
l
he o ry r
Def nda i notbas on a r e a a s loft a t lpr r y a i s or a o he c r t
e nt s
ed
ec nt ppr i a
he c ua ope t t s ue
ny t r onc e e
e de e.
vi nc
The Co tha alo c i r t pari s si ai r ga di a t ney' f e . Usng
ur s s onsde ed he te ' tpul ton e r ng tor s e s
i
is br d dicr ton, t Cour fnds t t t a o
t oa
s ei
he
t i
ha he m unt of da a
m ges t t bea a r s na e
ha
r ea o bl
r l i hi t t a ountofda a swhih willkel r s ti i i lt rde e ne t tt Li
eatons p o he m
m ge
c l i y e ul f t s a e t nui d ha he s
Pe d n i u j siid i $ 0 0 0. Thsa un icu e $ 0 0 0 frt ep o e t is l a d
n e s s nu tfe s 8 0,0
i mo t n ld s 6 0,0 o h r p ry tef n
$200, f ato
000 or tnwy' f es The e or t Cour wilr quie Pl i ift pos a bond i t
se .
r f e, he
t l e r antf o t
n he
a ountof$800,
m
000. Thi bond a
s
mountwils fcinty pr ec De e ntfom a potnta
l ufi e l ot t f nda r ny e il
ls o d ma eDee a t llk l ic ri teLi Pe d nsi u j siid.
o s r a g fnd n wil iey n u f h s n e s n u tfe
l lg oft f e ng, heCour ORDERS a ADJUDGES a f l :
n i ht he or goi t
t
nd
s olows
1. De e ntsM oton t Dicha ge Li Pe
f nda '
i o s r
s ndensor i t Ale natve Re r Pl i ift
, n he tr i , quie antf o
Pos aBond ( 77)i GRANTED I PART AND DENI I PART. TheM oi
t
DE
s
N
ED N
ton
i de e t t ex e t tt Cour w ilnotdi c r t Li Pe ns The M oton i
s ni d o he t nt ha he
t l
s ha ge he s nde .
i s
g an e t t e e t t t Cour w ilr r Pl i if t pos a bond t m a n a n t
r t d o he xt nt ha he
t l equie a ntf o
t
o i t i he
Li Pe ns
s nde .
2. On orbef eJ nua y 1 201 Pl ntf s l pos abond i t a ountof$8 000 and
or a r 8, 8, ai if ha l t
n he m
00,
s l fl pr ofc
hal ie oof ompla i t sc s I t tbond i pose i a tme y ma r t
ince n hi a e. f ha
s td n i l nne , he
Li Pe d nss al ee e d dt ou ht c n lso o til n j d me i t i c s .
s n e h l b xtn e l g he o cu in f ra a d u g ntn hs a e
u
l Pl ntf f ist tm ey pos t bond a fl pr ofc pla e,t Cour wilo der
f ai if a l o i l
t he
nd ie oof om i nc he
t l r
t Li Pe nsdi s ved.
he s nde
s ol
7y f cmb r
D O N E AN D O R D ERED i Cha ber t s 1! d o De e e, 2017 atw e tPa m
n
m s hi
s l
Bea h i t Sout n Di t i tofFl i
c n he
her s rc
orda.
e
s
W I A M M A T EW M AN
LLI
UNI
TED STATES M AGI
STRATE J
UDGE
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?