Dames v. Dames

HORTON, Judge. Joseph Dames seeks, by petition under Rule 3.16, Florida Appellate Rules, 31 F. S.A., a review of a judgment for costs. We conclude that the petition should be dismissed upon the ground that it was not timely filed as required by Rule 3.16(c), supra. This rule provides that a petition to review a cost judgment be filed “within 20 days after the entry of said judgment[Emphasis supplied.] The record before us discloses that the cost judgment sought to be reviewed was entered on April 26, 1963. A petition for rehearing, allegedly duly filed, was denied on June 27, 1963. The petition to review costs was filed in this court on July 17, 1963. Unlike the provisions of Rule 3.16(c), supra, the rule governing appeals generally in civil cases, Rule 3.2(b), Florida Appellate Rules, permits appeals from judgments, orders or decrees "within 60 days from the rendition of the * * * order, judgment or decree * * *.” [Emphasis supplied] Rule 1.3, Florida Appellate Rules defines rendition as the signing, recording, and if recording is not required, then the filing of the order, judgment or decree. This rule further provides: "Where there has been a timely and proper motion or petition for a new trial, rehearing or reconsideration by the lower court, the decision, judgment, order or decree shall not be deemed rendered until such motion or petition is disposed of.” [Emphasis supplied] Obviously the rule makers, by the use of the word “entry” did not intend to permit the tolling of the time for filing petitions for the review of cost judgments; otherwise they would have used the word “rendition.” Undoubtedly they were well aware of the meaning as well as the effect of the two words used. It is unlikely that the promulgators of the appellate rules would have intended the same result by the use of different words. Cost judgments as a rule are post-judgment in character and as such, their review is by petition with accelerated procedural steps. The court having noted the jurisdictional defect, ex mero motu concludes that the petition should be dismissed. It is so ordered.