Summary
holding that prevailing party on appeal was entitled to recover appellate costs judgment and enjoy immediate execution without awaiting disposition of case on remand
Summary of this case from Lucas v. Barnett Bank of Lee CountyOpinion
No. 81-358.
May 31, 1983.
Appeal from the Circuit Court, Monroe County, Helio Gomez, J.
Thomas Thomas and Frank Thomas, Hollywood, for appellants.
Fertig Curtis and Richard S. Womble, David Wm. Boone, Fort Lauderdale, for appellee.
Before SCHWARTZ, C.J., and NESBITT and BASKIN, JJ.
ORDER ON REVIEW OF TAXATION OF COSTS
The appellants seek review of an order postponing the taxation of appellate costs relating to a prior appeal in this cause, Di Teodoro v. Lazy Dolphin Development Co., 418 So.2d 428 (Fla. 3d DCA 1982), until after the entire case has been disposed of at trial.
Under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.400(a), the prevailing party in this court is automatically entitled to taxation of certain enumerated costs unless otherwise directed by the respective courts of appeal. The rule expressly provides:
Costs shall be taxed by the lower tribunal on motion served within 30 days after issuance of the mandate.
Because plaintiff prevailed in this court, he was, after issuance of our mandate, entitled to then recover his cost judgment and enjoy an immediate writ of execution. Yost v. Congress International Development Corp., 383 So.2d 732 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980). He is not required to await the ultimate disposition of the case on remand.
For the foregoing reason, the cause is reversed and remanded with directions to immediately award appellate costs.