Opinion
No. 3D09-1289.
May 27, 2009.
A Case of Original Jurisdiction — Mandamus, Maxine Cohen Lando, Circuit Judge.
McDonald Hopkins and Duncan J. Farmer and Alan M. Burger, West Palm Beach, for petitioner.
Hyman Spector Mars and Michael L. Hyman and Marc A. Smiley, Miami, for respondent, Los Latinos Restaurant, Inc.
Before SHEPHERD and SUAREZ, JJ., and SCHWARTZ, Senior Judge.
Upon the lessee's failure to timely deposit a monthly rental payment into the registry as required by court order under section 83.232, Florida Statute, the petitioner — landlord was absolutely entitled to an ex parte, immediate default for a writ of possession of the premises by section 83.232(5), Florida Statute. See Key Largo Watersports, Inc. v. Whitehurst Family P'ship, 954 So.2d 1278 (Fla. 3d DCA 2007); 2U Main St. Corp. v. Tanksley, 947 So.2d 490 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006); Courthouse Tower, Ltd. v. Manzini Assoc., 683 So.2d 215 (Fla. 3d DCA 1996). See also Miami Subs Real Estate Corp. v. Manhattan House, Inc., 973 So.2d 593 (Fla. 3d DCA 2008) (per curiam). Because the trial court refused, after an adversarial hearing which was itself unauthorized, to issue the writ and, notwithstanding such wholly irrelevant facts as that the payment was subsequently tendered, see Main St. Corp., 947 So.2d at 492, we grant the present application for mandamus and order that a writ of possession issue forthwith. See Main St. Corp., 947 So.2d at 492; Courthouse Tower, Ltd, 683 So.2d at 215. See also Comcoa, Inc. v. Coe, 587 So.2d 474 (Fla. 3d DCA 1991).
The payment was due February 1, 2009, the landlord sought, filed an ex parte motion for possession on February 2, 2009. The tenant did not tender a payment until February 5, 2009.
§ 83.232(5), Fla. Stat, provides:
Failure of the tenant to pay the rent into the court registry pursuant to court order shall be deemed an absolute waiver of the tenant's defenses. In such case, the landlord is entitled to an immediate default for possession without further notice or hearing thereon.
This decision takes effect immediately without regard to the filing or disposition of any motion for rehearing.