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A L Underground v. City, Pt. Richey

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District
May 21, 1999
732 So. 2d 480 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1999)

Summary

holding that the clear language of the statute allowed recovery "for the total cost of any loss," which included purely economic losses

Summary of this case from Peoples Gas Sys. v. Posen Constr., Inc.

Opinion

No. 98-03209

Opinion filed May 21, 1999.

Appeal from the Circuit Court for Pasco County; W. Lowell Bray, Jr., Judge.

Donald E. Hemke of Carlton Fields Ward Emmanuel Smith Cutler, Tampa, for Appellant.

Brett D. Divers of Fowler, White, Gillen, Boggs, Villareal and Banker, P.A., Tampa, for Appellee.


A L Underground, Inc., appeals an order granting summary judgment in favor of the City of Port Richey. The trial court held that A L could not recover economic losses pursuant to its complaint for violations of the Underground Facility Damage Prevention and Safety Act. See Ch. 556, Fla. Stat. (1995). We reverse.

A L was hired by the City of Clearwater to expand Clearwater's underground gas distribution system. That expansion ran through the City of Port Richey. Prior to underground excavation in Port Richey, A L requested Port Richey to locate and mark its underground utilities as required by chapter 556. Port Richey did so, but inaccurately. As a result, A L damaged underground utilities and incurred delay and repair costs.

A L sued Port Richey for statutory violations of chapter 556. Port Richey argued, and the trial court ruled, that A L could only recover damages for personal injuries or property damage under chapter 556. A L's claim was purely for economic losses. We conclude that the clear language of section 556.106(3), Florida Statutes (1995), allows recovery for purely economic losses. That statute permits an excavator, such as A L, to recover "for the total cost of any loss." See Followell v. Central Illinois Pub. Serv. Co., 663 N.E.2d 1122 (Ill. App. 5th Dist. 1996). We reject Port Richey's argument that this language is surplusage.

We do not address the issue of sovereign immunity, as it was not properly raised in the trial court.

Accordingly, we reverse the entry of summary judgment in favor of the City of Port Richey and remand this cause for proceedings consistent with this opinion.

CAMPBELL, A.C.J., and STRINGER, JJ., Concur.


Summaries of

A L Underground v. City, Pt. Richey

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District
May 21, 1999
732 So. 2d 480 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1999)

holding that the clear language of the statute allowed recovery "for the total cost of any loss," which included purely economic losses

Summary of this case from Peoples Gas Sys. v. Posen Constr., Inc.

finding the statute allowed recovery for delay and repair costs

Summary of this case from Peoples Gas Sys. v. Posen Constr., Inc.

concluding an excavator is entitled to recovery of delay and repair costs in an action for violations of section 556.106, Florida Statutes, because the language providing for the recovery of "the total cost of any loss" allowed recovery for purely economic losses

Summary of this case from Peoples Gas Sys. v. Posen Constr., Inc.

permitting recovery under the Act in favor of plaintiff-excavator for purely economic losses in the form of delay and repair costs after rupturing lines that defendant-municipality failed to mark

Summary of this case from Peoples Gas Sys. v. Posen Constr., Inc.
Case details for

A L Underground v. City, Pt. Richey

Case Details

Full title:A L UNDERGROUND, INC., Appellant, v. CITY OF PORT RICHEY, Appellee

Court:District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District

Date published: May 21, 1999

Citations

732 So. 2d 480 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1999)

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