Kolkey v. Grossinger

¶4HUTCHESON, Chief Judge.

¶5Alleging, in paragraph one of her complaint, that she “brings this action against … defendant … for alienating the affections of the. plaintiff’s husband … as hereinafter set forth”, plaintiff below, appellant here, set out at great length the acts and things relied on as constituting such action, and sued for one million dollars as damages caused thereby.

¶6The defendant, invoking the Florida statute, F.S.A. § 771.01, abolishing “the rights of action heretofore existing to recover sums of money as damage for the alienation of affections, criminal conversation, seduction or breach of contract to marry”, moved to dismiss the action.

¶7The district judge, upon consideration of the motion, entered an order1 dismissing the complaint with prejudice, and this appeal followed.

¶8Here, though his complaint denominates his action as one for alienation of affections, and he fully concedes that the Florida Statute prohibits such an action, appellant’s counsel puts up a straw man to try to knock him down. Beginning his statement of the case thus: “This is a suit … to recover damages … for the enticing away of appellant’s husband by the appellee.” and ending thus:

¶9“Statement of Question Involved and Specification of Errors.

¶10“Does the Florida statute which prohibits the action of alienation of affections also prohibit the action of enticement?” he devotes his brief to this question, which, tendered for the first time here, is not before us for decision.

¶11Matters standing thus, though appellee has taken up appellant’s gauntlet and invited us to judge the outcome of their *526academic tilting, we must decline to do so. Addressing ourselves to the question before us: Did the judge err in dismissing the action ?, we find ourselves in no doubt, that he did not, and that the judgment should be affirmed.

¶12Affirmed.