In this will contest case, the issue we address is whether the trial court erred in granting a motion for involuntary dismissal at the close of Appellant's case. Appellant argues that the court improperly weighed the evidence when ruling on the motion rather than determining whether Appellant had established a prima facie case on the causes of action asserted. While we agree with Appellant that the trial court applied the wrong standard in considering the motion, we nevertheless affirm the final judgment pursuant to the “tipsy coachman” doctrine.
The decedent in this case is Ann Nancy Luciani. Appellant is her son and is one of the beneficiaries under the decedent’s will, dated October 4, 2011.
A final “judgment entered on a trial court’s decision to grant a motion for involuntary dismissal at the close of the plaintiffs case [is reviewed] de novo.” Brundage v. Bank of America,
In making a motion for involuntary dismissal pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.420(b), “the movant admits the truth of all facts in evidence and every reasonable conclusion or inference” that can be drawn from the evidence favorable to the non-moving party. Day v. Amini,
In the present case, it is clear from the record that the trial court improperly weighed the evidence and determined that Appellant had not met his evi-dentiary burden of proof on any of his causes of action.
We nevertheless affirm the final judgment in all respects pursuant to the “tipsy coachman” doctrine. This doctrine “allows an appellate court to affirm a trial court that ‘reaches the right result, but for the wrong reasons[,]’ so long as ‘there is any basis which would support the judgment in the record.’ ” Robertson v. State,
AFFIRMED.
Notes
. Decedent passed away approximately six months later on April 5, 2012.
. On appeal, Appellee does not contest that the trial court improperly weighed the evidence.
. We further conclude that Appellant waived any alleged error in the dismissal of his undue influence claim by not sufficiently addressing the error in his initial brief. City of Miami v. Steckloff,
