Neal D. EVANS, Jr., et al., Petitioners,
v.
ST. REGIS PAPER COMPANY, a Corporation et al., Respondents.
Supreme Court of Florida.
Neal D. Evans, Jr., of Evans, Stewart, Perry & Stelogeannis, Jacksonville, for petitioners.
Reinstine, Reinstine & Panken, and Bedell, Bedell, Dittmar, Smith & Zehmer; Kent, Durden & Kent; Marks, Gray, Conroy & Gibbs; Mathews, Osborne, Ehrlich, McNatt, Gobelman & Cobb; Freeman, Richardson, Watson, Slade, McCarthy & Kelly; MacLean & Brooke, Wm. Joe Sears; Jennings, Watts, Clarke, Hamilton & Corrigan; Mahoney, Hadlow, Chambers & Adams; Boyd, Jenerette, Leemis & Staas; Howell, Kirby, Montgomery, D'Aiuto, Dean & Hallowes; Milam, Martin & Ade; Ulmer, Murchison, Ashby & Ball, Jacksonville; Goldstein, Franklin & Schrank, North Miami Beach; David C. Goodman and Earle C. Moss, Jr., Jacksonville, for respondents.
*297 DEKLE, Justice.
Petitioners attempted to institute a class action on behalf of all property owners in Duval County against respondents, twenty private companies and three municipalities, seeking money damages for the pollution of the St. John's River. The trial court dismissed the action as to Palatka and Green Cove Springs for lack of proper venue, and dismissed the action as to the remainder of the defendants for failure to state a cause of action, allowing plaintiffs 20 days to file an amended complaint on their own behalves, and not as a class action. Petitioners chose not to amend the complaint, and the cause was dismissed. The District Court affirmed, per curiam, on the authority of its Harrell v. Hess Oil and Chemical Corp.,
Conflict exists between the decision of the 1st DCA in the instant action reported at
The trial court specifically found that the complaint here failed to allege the existence of a concert of action among the named defendants which would justify their joinder as joint tortfeasors. In great detail, the trial court also found that the factual considerations of the case would preclude a class action. We agree with the trial court that no class action was properly plead in this cause. See Port Royal, Inc. v. Conboy,
We note, however, that neither the trial court nor the District Court of Appeal had the benefit of our decision in Hess Oil when they considered the present cause. Accordingly, this cause is remanded to the Circuit Court of Duval County for reconsideration in light of our opinion in Harrell v. Hess Oil and Chemical Corp.,
It is so ordered.
CARLTON, C.J., and ADKINS, BOYD and McCAIN, JJ., concur.
