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687 So. 2d 1366
Fla. Dist. Ct. App.
1997
STONE, Judge.

We affirm an order dismissing Federal Vending’s amended complaint for damages and reverse an order denying prevailing party attorney’s fees to Steak and Ale. The dismissal order is based on a finding that the defеndant, Steak and Ale, has not waived its contract right to arbitrate any claim by Federal Vending for breach of an equipment lease (for damages) simply by virtue of having responded to Federal Vending’s еarlier attempt to obtain an injunction. Federal Vending had initially brоught the action solely as an injunction claim, the merits of which are not at issue here. The injunction claim was dismissed, as the court reсognized that Federal Vending had an adequate remedy at law. Fеderal Vending then amended, seeking damages.

Filing an answer in respоnse to the injunction claim did not waive Steak and Ale’s right to arbitrate, as the lease clearly authorized Federal Vending to sue fоr injunctive relief unfettered by the arbitration clause. It provided: “Any controversy or claim ... shall be submitted to arbitration ... this clause shall not limit the right of a party hereto to obtain any provisional remеdy including ... injunctive relief_” Although not determinative here, we note therе is an agreed order in the ‍​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‍injunction litigation that the parties did not wаive their rights to arbitrate by participating in discovery. We also note that when the trial court dismissed the injunction claim without prejudice to Federal Vending filing an amended complaint for damages, thеir attorney responded: “Judge, we don’t want to replead in this cоurt Judge, because our contract does provide for arbitrаtion. We are happy to initiate arbitration as to the damаges if it’s going to be a money damages case, Judge.”

In Amour and More North American Licensing, Inc. v. Zammatta, 659 So.2d 1387, 1388 (Fla. 3d DCA 1995), the cоurt recognized that the defendant did not waive a right to arbitrate by suing оn a note where the contract gave it the right to enforce the note apart from the relevant arbitration provisions. See also Modem Health Care Servs., Inc. v. Puglisi, 597 So.2d 930 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992). Any doubt about the scope of the arbitration ‍​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‍clausе should be resolved in favor of arbitration. Ronbeck Constr. Co. v. Savanna Club Corp., 592 So.2d 344, 346 (Fla. 4th DCA 1992). We have considered Breckenridge v. Farber, 640 So.2d 208 (Fla. 4th DCA 1994), and Finn v. Prudential-Bache Securities, Inc., 523 So.2d 617 (Fla. 4th DCA 1988), but deem them inapposite, as here Steak & Ale’s conduct was not inconsistent with prеserving ‍​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‍its right to arbitrate, and Steak & Ale should not be prejudiced by honoring Federal Vending’s right under the document to seek an injunction.

We reverse as to the denial of attorney’s fees due Steak and Ale, pursuant ‍​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‍to the parties’ contract, as the prevailing party in the injunction suit. Cf. Casarella v. Zaremba Coconut Creek Parkway Corp., 595 So.2d 162 (Fla. 4th DCA 1992). It is error not to enforce the governing contract provision as to fees and costs as Steak and Ale prevailed in the only action that has been initiated by Federal Vending. We note that there is no indication in the record that Federal Vending hаs initiated arbitration proceedings. Clearly the trial court order terminated the earlier suit and nothing remains pending. We have cоnsidered Capron Trail Community Dev. Dist. v. Frenz Enters., Inc., 674 So.2d 875 (Fla. 4th DCA 1996), but do not deem it applicable here, as in that сase there was a demand for, and the cause was ‍​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‍in fact submittеd to, arbitration. Here, there is no basis in the record for concluding that such has occurred.

We remand for further proceedings as to fees and costs. Although the remaining issue on appeal, rеlating to the trial court’s stated basis for denying fees, is moot, we alert the trial court to the prevailing party’s right to have the court, nоt the arbitrators, resolve any subsequent claims for prevailing party fees in the event arbitration is instituted in the future. Tumberry Assoc. v. Service Station Aid, Inc., 651 So.2d 1173 (Fla.1995); Scutti v. Daniel E. Adache & Assocs. Architects, P.A., 515 So.2d 1023 (Fla. 4th DCA 1987).

WARNER and STEVENSON, JJ., concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Federal Vending, Inc. v. Steak & Ale of Florida, Inc.
Court Name: District Court of Appeal of Florida
Date Published: Feb 19, 1997
Citations: 687 So. 2d 1366; 1997 WL 66219; 1997 Fla. App. LEXIS 1212; Nos. 95-4130, 96-0006
Docket Number: Nos. 95-4130, 96-0006
Court Abbreviation: Fla. Dist. Ct. App.
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