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297 So. 2d 876

Herrera v. Gosnell

District Court of Appeal of Florida · decided 1974-07-26

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently October 1975

1 state decisions

Relies on Reyes v. Banks · 299 So. 2d 661 - White v. Reserve Insurance Company · State Farm Automobile Insurance Co. v. Hauser

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1974-07-26

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PER CURIAM.

¶1Appellant appeals a trial court order requiring him to pay back 100% of the benefits he’d received from Reserve Insurance Company. The order was based upon the trial court’s interpretation of F.S. 627.736 (1971). We reverse and remand upon the authority of Catches v. Gov’t. Employees Ins. Co., 295 So.2d 116 (1st D.C.A.Fla.1974); Reyes v. Banks, 292 So.2d 39 (4th D.C.A.Fla.1974); Schwartz v. Hughey, 292 So.2d 43 (4th D.C.A.Fla.1974), and White v. Reserve Ins. Co., 299 So.2d 661 (1st D.C.A.Fla.1974). There should be an equitable distribution of the insurance funds in accordance with F.S. 627.736(3) (b) (1971) and these authorities.

¶2The Third District has also endorsed equitable distribution under like circumstances, Liberty Mutual Ins. Co. v. Guillet, 294 So.2d 1 (3d D.C.A.Fla.1974); Murray v. Leatherby Ins. Co., 287 So.2d 344 (3d D.C.A.Fla.1973); State Farm Automobile Ins. Co. v. Hauser, 281 So.2d 563 (3d D.C.A.Fla.1973); but has added a requirement that suit must have been filed in order to warrant equitable distribution. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. v. Manee, 292 So.2d 52 (3d D.C.A.Fla.1974). We do not subscribe to this requirement and hold equitable distribution does not depend upon the filing of suit. In so doing we align ourselves with the First District. See Catches v. Gov’t. Employees Ins. Co., supra.

¶3Reversed and remanded.

OWEN, C. J., WALDEN, J., and FAR-RINGTON, OTIS, Associate Judge, concur.
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