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Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance v. S & C Excavating, Inc.

Citations: 813 So. 2d 993; 2002 Fla. App. LEXIS 3589Docket: No. 2D01-1576

Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida; March 19, 2002; Florida; State Appellate Court

Narrative Opinion Summary

The circuit court denied Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company’s objection to Edward and Shirley Bonamase's designation of certain real property as their homestead, which would exempt it from levy. The appellate court reversed this decision, stating that a prior unappealed judgment from the United States Bankruptcy Court precluded relitigation of the homestead designation issue. The reversal is supported by precedent set in Stoll v. Gottlieb and Northcutt v. Robert J. Bryan, P.A. The case is remanded for further proceedings, with Judges Parker and Casanueva concurring.

Legal Issues Addressed

Exemption of Homestead from Levy

Application: The circuit court's decision to deny the objection to the homestead designation was initially based on the property being exempt from levy.

Reasoning: The circuit court denied Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company’s objection to Edward and Shirley Bonamase's designation of certain real property as their homestead, which would exempt it from levy.

Precedent in Appellate Reversal

Application: The appellate court's decision to reverse the circuit court was supported by precedent, specifically referring to cases Stoll v. Gottlieb and Northcutt v. Robert J. Bryan, P.A.

Reasoning: The reversal is supported by precedent set in Stoll v. Gottlieb and Northcutt v. Robert J. Bryan, P.A.

Preclusion by Prior Unappealed Judgment

Application: The appellate court applied the principle that a prior unappealed judgment from the United States Bankruptcy Court precluded the relitigation of the homestead designation issue.

Reasoning: The appellate court reversed this decision, stating that a prior unappealed judgment from the United States Bankruptcy Court precluded relitigation of the homestead designation issue.