542 So. 2d 439 | Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | 1989
Titus Brothers Roofing Company (Titus Brothers) and Joseph Titus appeal from an order denying their motion to vacate a summary judgment in favor of appellees, Earl Blank, et al. The summary final judgment was entered at a hearing which appellants’ counsel did not attend and appellants’ motion was predicated on their counsel’s alleged failure to receive a copy of the motion for summary judgment, accompanying affidavit, and notice of hearing on said motion. Appellants filed an affidavit of their counsel’s secretary to the effect that she never received these documents in the mail. The documents themselves reflect service on appellants’ counsel by mail and
The question of whether the presumption of receipt is overcome is a factual one for the trial court. Hammett v. Hammett, 510 So.2d 632 (Fla. 3d DCA 1987); Abrams v. Paul, 453 So.2d 826 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984). A sworn denial of receipt of a pleading or notice creates a question of fact for the trial court as to whether the presumption of receipt is overcome. Only if the evidence is uncontroverted that the pleading or notice was misdirected and not received must the court grant the motion to vacate. See Falkner v. Amerifirst Federal Savings and Loan Association, 489 So.2d 758 (Fla. 3d DCA 1986).
The record here shows the court had before it the sworn affidavit of appellants’ counsel’s secretary that she did not receive a copy of the pleadings in the mail. Counsel signed the unverified motion to vacate and did not himself file an affidavit. Appellees’ countered with the affidavit of their counsel’s secretary as to the regular and usual office practice of mailing pleadings to counsel listed in the certificate of service and that the instant pleadings had not been returned in the mail.
Given this evidence as well as the lack of a transcript of the hearing on the motion,
AFFIRMED as to Joseph Titus; STAYED as to Titus Brothers.
. Appellants do not argue that they were in any way denied the opportunity to present all the evidence they desired.
. See Beasley v. Beasley, 463 So.2d 1248 (Fla. 5th DCA 1985).