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Simon Debartolo Group, Inc. v. BratleySimon Debartolo Group, Inc. v. Bratley

District Court of Appeal of Florida
Mar 10, 2003
No. 1D02-1355
Versions:838 So. 2d 1239
2003 WL 826011
2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 3061
PER CURIAM.

We affirm. See Lewis v. Bondy, 752 So.2d 1225 (Fla. 1st DCA 2000); see also Labaton v. Mellert, 772 So.2d 622 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000). Because section 768.79(7)(b), Florida Statutes, directs trial courts to consider, in determining the reasonableness of an attorney’s fee award, certain enumerated factors “along with all other relevant criteria,” and because sections 768.79(6)(a) and (b), Florida Statutes, refer trial courts to the guidelines promulgated by the supreme court, we agree with the Second and Fourth Districts that the Legislature authorized trial courts to consider *1240and apply a contingency risk multiplier when awarding an attorney’s fee award pursuant to section 768.79. See Island Hoppers, Ltd. v. Keith, 820 So.2d 967, 974 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002); Pirelli Armstrong Tire Corp. v. Jensen, 752 So.2d 1275, 1276 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000). In doing so, we note conflict with Allstate Insurance Co. v. Sarkis, 809 So.2d 6 (Fla. 5th DCA 2001) (en banc), review granted, 826 So.2d 992 (Fla.2002).

AFFIRMED.

BOOTH, WEBSTER and LEWIS, JJ„ concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Simon Debartolo Group, Inc. v. Bratley
Court Name: District Court of Appeal of Florida
Date Published: Mar 10, 2003
Citations: 838 So. 2d 1239; 2003 WL 826011; 2003 Fla. App. LEXIS 3061; No. 1D02-1355
Docket Number: No. 1D02-1355
Court Abbreviation: Fla. Dist. Ct. App.
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