Opinion
No. BL-76.
February 24, 1987. On Motion for Rehearing May 19, 1987.
An Appeal from an Order of the Department of Transportation.
Gerald S. Livingston, Orlando, for appellant.
Franz Eric Dorn, Appellate Atty., Maxine F. Ferguson, Trial Atty., and A.J. Spalla, General Counsel, Dept. of Transp., Tallahassee, for appellee.
This cause is before us on appeal from a final order of the Department of Transportation (DOT) revoking several outdoor sign permits originally obtained by Henderson Signs and later transferred to Tri-State Systems, Inc. (Tri-State). The permits were revoked on the basis that the signs were found not to comport with the requirements of Section 479.01(10)(d), Florida Statutes (1977), which recently has been reinterpreted by DOT.
Both below and on appeal, Tri-State argued equitable estoppel, asserting that it had relied on assurances from Henderson Signs and DOT that the permits were valid before purchasing the permits from Henderson Signs. The hearing officer ruled that Tri-State failed to prove the first element of estoppel — that DOT made a representation of material fact contrary to a later-asserted position — on the basis of his finding that the testimony of Tri-State's witnesses was "self-serving without some form of corroboration, and . . . not of sufficient quality to support a finding of fact." The identical issue, under virtually identical facts involving the same parties, has been resolved by this court in Tri-State Systems, Inc. v. Department of Transportation, 500 So.2d 212 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986). On the authority of Tri-State, we reverse.
REVERSED.
ZEHMER, J., and J. LEWIS HALL, Jr., Associate Judge, concur.
WENTWORTH, J., agrees to conclusion only.
ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
Appellee has pointed out in its motion for rehearing that, even though this court has found one element of equitable estoppel to have been shown, there are no findings relative to the other elements of estoppel, namely reliance and, if any, damages. Accordingly, this cause is remanded for such a determination of said issues.
WENTWORTH and ZEHMER, JJ., and J. LEWIS HALL, Jr., Associate Judge, concur.